Napoleon was famous for moving with lighting speed. He believed that speed was essential to outmaneuver an enemy and win a battle. He consistently shocked his adversaries by his surprise appearances at unexpected moments and places.
Napoleon instructed his staff to follow an extraordinary pattern. As he rode in a specially designed carriage at top speed, he used a built-in desk to write battle orders. When he finished, a signal was sent to riders who were following on horseback. When they saw the signal, they increased their speed and hurried alongside the moving carriage where the orders would be handed to them from a window. No one stopped and no one slowed down. Each exchange happened while the carriage and the riders were hurtling forward. When a report arrived, another rider would ride up to the carriage window, hand in the report and ride on as the carriage continued to surge ahead. This enabled Napoleon to stay ahead of every general he faced.
Winston Churchill was so convinced of the need for great timing, that he had hundreds of adhesive-backed paper tabs printed so he could attach them to memos he sent to his staff. Each tab read, “Action Today!” If someone failed to follow that direction, they were immediately replaced. Churchill believed that he and his country were engaged in a struggle to save Christian civilization and that every moment mattered.
Dwight Eisenhower, the commander of the largest military force in history, made his hardest decisions early in the day. He believed that action started best in the morning and refused to make major decisions after 3 O’clock in the afternoon. He said that starting late lowered his odds of winning and that he was not at his best after 3.
I was mentored by a remarkable man who developed an enormous, multi-million-dollar international business. One night we were traveling in his car when I said that one of his top business leaders had recently asked me for prayer about a personal need. My friend said that we should not only pray for him at that moment, but we should also call him and to provide encouragement. I suggested waiting until we arrived at his home, but he insisted that we “do it now.” He told me that when you are sure what to do then it was always best to act immediately. I realized that this attitude had been fundamental to his remarkable success.
What do you need to do NOW to move your life forward? What do you need to do NOW to improve your relationships? What do you need to do NOW to fix your finances? What do you need to do NOW to fulfill God’s plan for you?
Whatever it is, DO IT NOW.
The Bible says in Ephesians 5:16,
Make the most of every opportunity… (NLT)
