Learning to Wait When Everything Says “Go”

I’ve never been good at sitting still. As a kid in Brisbane I was always on the move. Golf gave me something different. It taught me that you can only swing when the moment is right. If you rush the shot, you lose control. If you wait too long, you lose rhythm. The sweet spot is in the balance between patience and timing.

That same lesson follows me every day in real estate. Everyone wants results now. Buyers want to close tomorrow. Sellers want top dollar yesterday. Agents want to grow faster than their foundations can hold. But the truth is, wealth, trust, and good deals all grow on a slow clock. The people who understand that usually end up further ahead than the ones who chase quick wins.

The Market Is a Tide, Not a Race

Real estate is full of people who treat it like a sprint. They move from listing to listing trying to catch every opportunity. I used to do that too. It feels exciting until you realize you are working harder but not necessarily smarter.

The market moves more like the ocean. You can paddle all you want, but if the tide is going out, you are just exhausting yourself. Smart investors and agents learn to read the current. They wait for the set to come in. When timing aligns with preparation, everything feels easier.

I tell first-time buyers the same thing. Do not panic when the headlines scream that prices are rising. Make sure the home fits your life. The right deal at the wrong time still ends up being the wrong deal. It is better to be a month late on the market than ten years early on regret.

Patience Is Not Passive

People hear “patience” and think it means waiting around. It doesn’t. Patience is active. It is the work you do when nobody notices. It is studying neighborhoods, building relationships, and saving when spending looks more fun. It is staying consistent when the rewards have not arrived yet.

In my early years as a realtor, I used to spend hours at open houses that never turned into sales. I thought I was wasting time. What I did not see was how many people I met during those slow afternoons. Some of those same people came back years later ready to buy or sell. They remembered how I treated them when I had nothing to gain. That is patience at work. You plant before you harvest.

Golf and Real Estate Share the Same Rhythm

When I walk onto a golf course, the temptation is to swing harder. But the best players know the magic happens in tempo. You can’t force a birdie. You set yourself up with one good shot at a time.

In real estate, the same rhythm applies. Each conversation, each showing, and each small improvement builds momentum. It might take months before you see the payoff. But when it arrives, it feels like the ball finally finding the cup after rolling forever.

I remember a client who wanted to flip properties fast. He kept saying, “Let’s buy low, sell high, move on.” We slowed down his approach. He learned to focus on renovation quality, not just turnaround time. Three years later, his returns doubled because buyers trusted his product. He stopped chasing deals and started attracting them. Timing and patience made the difference.

The Emotional Side of Timing

Timing is not only about numbers. It is also emotional. Life has seasons. There are moments to push forward and moments to step back. I have learned that forcing big decisions during stressful times rarely ends well.

I once expanded my team too quickly because I felt pressure to grow. We had more listings than we could handle, but not enough structure. Service suffered. I had to shrink back down to rebuild. That experience reminded me that timing is not only about opportunity but readiness. You can have the best idea in the world, but if your mindset or system is not ready, success turns into strain.

Trusting the Process

The hardest part of patience is trust. You have to believe that what you are building will pay off even when results are invisible. Some people call that faith. I call it focus.

I keep a small notebook where I write the three things I must do each day. They are never big tasks. It might be “call one past client,” “check the new subdivision permits,” or “thank someone who helped me.” Those small consistent actions compound like interest. You may not notice progress week to week, but after a year, the difference is clear. That is how wealth is built, not only financial wealth but relational and emotional wealth too.

Teaching Clients to Play the Long Game

When clients ask me what kind of property to buy, I often ask, “What kind of life do you want in five or ten years?” It surprises them. Most expect me to talk about square footage and price per foot. But real estate is about lifestyle and stability, not just profit.

If you buy a home you love in a community that grows around you, the value takes care of itself. The people who rush in and out of neighborhoods rarely see the full return. The families who stay, improve, and connect to their surroundings do. That is the long game, living in alignment with your investment.

Teeing Off

Whether it is golf, business, or relationships, patience and timing are partners. One without the other does not work. Too much patience without timing becomes hesitation. Too much timing without patience becomes burnout.

We live in a world that rewards speed, but the best outcomes still belong to those who can wait, prepare, and act at the right moment. So when life feels like it is moving too fast, take a breath. Check your stance. Trust the swing you have practiced. The ball will find its way.

That is the long game, in real estate and in life.