That Virtue of Virtues: Patience

My dear videographer friend called me last night to say that he’d completed a first draft of the EPK (electronic press kit) we’d dreamed up last summer. I finished my exercises and eagerly rebooted my computer to see what he’d created, and it’s marvelous!

Bless his heart, he had been consistently giving himself a hard time about being “seven months late.” And, admittedly, he had taken that amount of time to get it done, but . . . I didn’t consider it late. I considered it right on time.

It got me to thinking about patience, as in, you know, patience is a virtue.

I remember in seminary our prayer professor told us never, but never, to pray for patience because we’d be given opportunities to practice it. Do you consider yourself a patient person? I don’t know many who do.

So why was it so easy for me to stay patient with my friend?

Well, first off, he’d agreed to do the project because of his belief in my work, and as an opportunity to practice his budding video skills. The fee was zero in terms of dollars, and yet, one can’t really get anything for free in this life. Either things cost or they contribute.

I asked myself what purpose would have been served if I’d gotten impatient. I’d have made him feel ever worse than he already did. I’d be suffering from the anger that’s often under impatience. It would have been a lose/lose situation. But even that isn’t why I was able to remain patient.

Why is because I had my priorities clear.

Did I want the EPK? Sure.
Did I need the EPK? At some point, probably. My press agent will surely use it.
Did I value my friendship with this precious man over any EPK ever? You bet.

And that’s why it was easy to remain patient. Loving my friend and my friend loving me won out over artificial timelines my friend and I had chosen.

The next time you’re feeling impatient, stop. Ask yourself a question: what is most important here?

My friend, Steve Lishansky, an amazing strategic alignment wizard, calls it WIMI.

What is most important? WIMI?

When you give yourself the gift of a pause to ask WIMI, I’m willing to bet that nine out of ten times, your impatience disappears.

I also know that had I said to my friend, “Oprah’s team is waiting for it,” he’d have had it done ASAP.

WIMI, dear one? And kiss your impatience a sweet, permanent good-bye.