Entrepreneurship often glamourizes speed, but impactful results come from knowing when to pause, observe, and wait for the right moment. While others race ahead chasing every new trend, the founders who truly succeed are those who have the patience to assess, reflect, and act only when conditions align—turning timing and strategic waiting into their greatest edge.

You might encounter moments where you’ve invested time and heart into a promising venture, but the market simply isn’t ready to meet you halfway. I’ve experienced that myself, where the local timing wasn’t on our side in my hometown of Vancouver—so instead of forcing it, we looked beyond what was directly in front of us—going international. Drawing on lessons forged during those relentless early build phases, and a willingness to take a wider view when circumstances demanded it, we shifted focus, opening the door to opportunities far bigger than a single city, with The Pinnacle List on the global stage.

Trusting your instincts allows you to see beyond the immediate horizon. I can look back now and see how foundational those formative experiences were, especially the ones that happened behind the scenes and in long conversations that shaped my approach to pivots and timing. The power to wait and watch—developed over years—is what makes certain leaps possible. In fact, making those kinds of bold moves is a theme that runs constant in the unexpected turns that shape our journeys.

So how do you know when to pause or push ahead? Here are a few signals:

• Pause when the market’s not responding despite genuine effort, or if you sense your motivation to press forward is more about urgency than clarity. Sometimes stepping back allows key signals to emerge and informs your next steps.
• Push when your research uncovers new alignment, when you see patterns of steady organic traction, or when your team’s energy is unified around a refined focus.

Remember, strategic waiting is anything but idle—during these windows, real work is happening beneath the surface: listening, learning, and preparing for your next decisive move.

The lesson: Don’t let the world rush you out of your best thinking. When the timing isn’t quite right where you stand, zoom out. Sometimes your biggest opportunities are waiting on a different stage—a truth that only reveals itself if you have the discipline to step back, reflect, and then act with purpose.