The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.
… what this Chinese Proverb means to you now?
At first glance, it’s about trees and timing. But in reality, it’s about opportunity — the kind we often miss while regretting the past or waiting for the “perfect” future. In business, this truth is even sharper: every day you delay is another day your dream doesn’t grow.
The Business Owner Who Waited Too Long
I once heard about a small business owner who dreamed of moving into e-commerce back in 2010. He had the products, the passion, and even the market, but he kept telling himself: “I’ll start when the timing is right, when I have more money, when I know more.”
Years went by. Competitors moved online, scaled their stores, and captured customers. By the time he launched, he wasn’t ahead — he was catching up.
His best time was a decade earlier. But his second best time was still the moment he finally stopped waiting and started acting.
Stop Romanticizing the Past
It’s tempting to look backward and say:
- “If only I had invested in Apple stock in the 90s.”
- “If only I had started a YouTube channel before it was saturated.”
- “If only I had launched my idea before someone else did.”
But regrets don’t water your tree. The only moment you have power over is now.
A Real-Life Story: Colonel Sanders & KFC
Take Colonel Harland Sanders, for example. At age 65, when most people were slowing down, Sanders was broke, frustrated, and living off a small Social Security check. But instead of giving up, he took a leap.
He started traveling across the U.S., sleeping in his car, pitching his fried chicken recipe to restaurants. After hearing 1,009 rejections, someone finally said “yes.” That spark became Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) — one of the largest fast-food empires in the world.
If Sanders had spent his life dwelling on the fact that he didn’t start earlier, he would’ve missed the chance to build a global legacy. His best time might have been 20 years earlier — but his second best time was the moment he finally acted.
Growth Takes Time, So Start Today
A tree planted today doesn’t provide shade tomorrow. It takes years of roots, storms, and seasons. Business works the same way.
- The brand you build today may be small, but with patience, it can become unshakable.
- The investment you make today may feel insignificant, but it can be the foundation of your future success.
- The skills you learn today may not pay off immediately, but they compound over time until they define your strength.
Action Creates Opportunity
The difference between entrepreneurs who succeed and those who don’t isn’t timing — it’s action.
- One keeps waiting for conditions to be perfect.
- The other starts, learns, adapts, and grows.
In five years, the first one will still be waiting. The second will have built a thriving business.
Final Thought: Plant Your Tree Today
Your business might not have been planted 20 years ago. That’s okay. Plant it now. Nurture it. Build it.
Twenty years from today, you’ll either be grateful you started — or regretful that you didn’t.
Remember Colonel Sanders. Remember that small business owner who waited too long. Remember this: the best time may have been 20 years ago, but the second best time is right now.
