“It’s now or never. We are going to do this Toto. We are gonna do this!” Eventually, thanks to a new plan (data-driven), Lewis Hamilton went on to win a race that was originally lost on the first lap.
But the plan was only thought to be feasible about 20 minutes ago.
My Own “Now or Never” Decisions
2024 has been quite the whirlwind of many “now or never” decisions. Writing ISACA articles and journal entries never factored in my resolutions, but proved extremely helpful.
One way to describe such behaviour is “opportunistic”. But this was not the only opportunistic decision.
I wanted to embark on my Georgia Tech masters earlier this year (I am proud to say that the first semester results are to my liking), partly because I love the learning process. But part of it was also because I felt I was in a “now or never” position — if I did not do my masters now, would I have the time to sink two (or more) good years into such an adventure amidst rising commitments?
But the stakes keep getting higher as there are more decisions to make at different levels. These decisions can occur at different levels.
Analysis Paralysis
Such a picture is enormously useful in understanding how opportunistic decisions are often at the operational level and sometimes bleeding into the tactical level. But we can overuse frameworks and overthinking, causing grief to ourselves through analytical paralysis.
Analysis paralysis can, and has struck in many I know. Questions typically include, in the cybersecurity space:
- What certification should I take in my cyber journey?
- When is the best time to take an examination?
But these can also happen in other aspects of life, and what we sometimes do (or not do) in our careers also affects other parts of life. The scope of such questions merits its own article.
The key point of this year’s reflections, though, is this: if there is something in line with our broader plans and could work out, I felt that the right answer has always been to just do it. The rewards are not always visible. Not every plan I executed has direct rewards such as ISACA’s publications, or a formal certification. But rewards also come in the form of learning from process of failed ideas, so we learn how to do better.
One other positive I learnt from 2024 is keeping the brain in a cycle where there is plenty to look forward to, and given the wide spectrum of ideas and involvements I have, some will inevitably lead to wins (even if small) that can motivate me to keep going, do more, and keep our dreams and resolutions alive.
2025 is another “now or never” year. But with the right contacts and partners to achieve our resolutions together, we can do this forever! (ずっと できる!) A Merry Christmas to you, the reader, and a happy new year.