The other day, I stumbled upon a quote that stopped me in my tracks:
“Some people spend their entire life waiting for their ship to come in, not realizing that they are standing in an airport.” That imagery hit hard.
That imagery hit hard. It made me think about how many of us are standing around, hoping for our big break, a lucky moment, or a helping hand that will magically make things better. But here’s the thing: that kind of waiting is a trap.
Waiting, in many cases, is disguised procrastination. It feels passive and harmless—like we’re just giving the universe a little time to work things out. But what we’re really doing is handing over control. We’re hoping someone else will drive the bus, steer the ship, or fly the plane—when in reality, no one is coming to pick us up.
Let’s take a few examples.
You want to get healthier, maybe lose a few pounds. Instead of adjusting your diet or starting that walking routine, you’re waiting for a miracle pill. Your “ship” is a future invention or a doctor’s prescription. You’re standing in an airport.
Or maybe you’re counting on Social Security to fund your retirement. You’ve put off saving because you believe the government will take care of it. Again, you’re not in control—you’re hoping someone else will come to the rescue. That’s standing in the airport.
But entrepreneurs? They don’t wait for a ship—they build it. Nail by nail, board by board, sometimes with duct tape and grit, they figure it out. They take responsibility for their outcomes. They choose action over inaction, intention over hope.
This doesn’t mean you have to be an entrepreneur to take control of your life. But it does mean thinking like one. Entrepreneurs plan. They learn. They act. They invest in themselves and their ideas. They fail and adjust. They know that no one is coming to save them—and honestly, that’s their greatest superpower.
The world has changed. We’re in an era where waiting is more dangerous than ever. Technology is moving fast. Markets shift quickly. Opportunities come and go. If you’re not building, someone else is.
So, how do you start building your own ship?
Reflect on where you’re currently “waiting”
Identify one small action you can take today
Get comfortable with imperfect progress
Surround yourself with others who are building too
The sooner you start, the sooner your ship actually comes in—because you built it yourself.
At the end of the day, standing in the wrong terminal waiting for the wrong ride won’t get you anywhere. But taking a step toward building? That’s the beginning of everything.
What’s one area in your life where you’ve been waiting—when you could be building instead?
