Modus Operandi

“The pattern in which one operates.”

The two ends in the spectrum of operation can be observed in a Looney Tunes cartoon show that a lot of us are familiar with. Its characters Beep Beep and Wile E. Coyote can easily represent dualities with how most of us would choose to operate.

Action

You only see a blur and a dust trail as Beep Beep goes from A to B. Where is she going? Why is she running? Does it matter? The road runner is true to her identity and she doesn’t stop to explain herself.

The one who chooses to run their own path is unstoppable. So unstoppable in fact that she can even make roads appear where there is none. Painted boulders meant to deceive and entrap are nothing for the one who is set to keep on going.

Waiting

While one is set on running their course, the other waits and sets traps. Even with all the coyote’s cunning and innovation, his plans for harm always backfires – with most of it harming himself instead. True to his identity, sure. One can even praise him for being the epitome of persistence. But when persistence becomes stagnation, we have to move on.

There are times for thinking, planning, and deliberating. The benefits of each one are not dismissed nor ignored here. But how often do we encounter the crippling effects of waiting? Whether it’s for the right timing, right plan, or whatever factor that is that we think is the missing piece to trigger a start.

What to choose

It’s not about striking or finding the right balance between action and waiting. It’s all about deciding to go. Finding solutions along the way. Meeting challenges head on instead of camping out under the safety of preparation and overthinking.

It’s also about deciding to move on. True defeat is not in charting a new course or taking on a new road.

True defeat is life wasted as a result of pride and fear.

How do you choose to operate in your life journey? Are you decisive enough where it matters?

It takes a bit of courage to decide to go. And it takes a bit of humility to change course. Learning when is knowledge pursued. Deciding when is applied wisdom, or wisdom earned. Either way, decide to win.