Don’t wait to do something
On January 15, 2009, if the Captain had hesitated to make his call, the crew delayed in making their announcements, the passengers didn’t take immediate action, and the NY Waterways waited to deploy their ferries, the outcome of that day would have been much different.
If anyone had hesitated that day, the outcome would have been drastically different. If the Captain starts to evaluate the four different choices he had, time runs out. If the crew doesn’t make their announcements, passengers wouldn’t start to prepare. If the passengers procrastinated, they may not have been able to evacuate, and if Arthur Imperatore, CEO of the NY Waterways, doesn’t give his permission for the ferries to deploy immediately, the passengers and crew would not have had anywhere to go. If anybody would have hesitated, a miracle turns into a tragedy.
The question I received last week was, WHY didn’t anyone hesitate?
The first magazine interview I did after the Miracle on the Hudson was in the “Purpose Driven Connection” magazine. I shared what happened to me and how faith was the driving force behind what happened that day.
Everyone involved during the short flight of US Airways 1549 and after had something bigger than themselves guiding them that day. Whether they prayed, which many did, or had more in their life to accomplish, their faith removed whatever hesitation they may have had to take action.
I wasn’t supposed to be on that flight. I think God put me, the crew, and other passengers on that plane for a reason. He gave us all the courage not to hesitate and take action. As Jesus stated in Matthew 21:21-22, “I tell all of you with certainty, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you be able to do what has been done to the fig tree…If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”…”
Faith is having complete trust or confidence in someone or something. As Napolean Hill wrote, “FAITH is the basis of all “miracles,” and all mysteries which cannot be analyzed by the rules of science!”
When you have faith, you do not hesitate. You give certainty to those who have uncertainty.
As we watch the 2023 Masters tournament, the low amateur Sam Bennett plays for something bigger than a Green Jacket. Sam’s father came down with Alzheimer’s Disease at the age of 45. The last thing his father wrote to him before he passed away was, “Don’t wait to do something,” which is tattooed on the inside of his forearm. Sam has trust in his father entirely and is not waiting to fulfill his father’s vision to be a major champion because faith removes hesitation.
The Captain had faith that his call was the best opportunity for survival. The crew had faith because they had rehearsed and practiced for emergencies. The passengers had faith because the people with the most certainty became leaders and led, even without any formal training. And Arthur had faith that his team had the resources needed for that moment.
At that moment, I thought that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. And though, through faith, I believe that God put all the right people in all the right places at all the correct times that day.
Right now, the world is changing so quickly that you don’t have time to hesitate. And you don’t need to sacrifice your values and culture to pivot in a different direction. When you have people on your team that are aligned with your core company values, faith removes hesitation and distraction from taking action toward your mission.
As I shared in my blog on March 24, 2023, people want to have a relationship with someone who gives them confidence. When you provide confidence, your clients come to you to help them with their most important issues. They do not hesitate to call you because you have removed any questions, thoughts, or doubts in their mind, as their faith in you removes hesitation to be and/or work with you.
In these uncertain times, you will face decisions that determine your destiny. Approach these decisions with complete confidence in yourself, which will remove procrastination or hesitancy, and you will make significant progress in realizing your flight plan for your future!