If It's Imminent, It Should Be Immediate
I am not positive who gets credit for this saying, but I saw it attributed to an NFL owner when asked for his perspective on when to fire the head coach.
In essence, he is saying, when you know, you are going to do it, why wait? Who is that helping? Usually nobody.
I witness many, if not all, business owners struggle when faced with having to let a team member go. Even after it has become obvious the fit just isn’t there – regardless of reason – we hesitate.
Food for thought: when something is described as imminent, it implies urgency. But most people treat it as a warning, not a cue to act.
That’s a mistake. If something is imminent, it should be immediate.
Imminence is tricky because it creates a mental buffer. “It’s about to happen” feels like “there’s still time.” But there usually isn’t. By the time something is imminent, the window for preparation has likely passed. Acting immediately is the only way to catch up.
This applies in business, emergencies, and even daily life. If a team member’s performance is poor, and letting them go is imminent, it’s too late for the development plan. If a storm or fire is imminent, it’s not the time to debate whether to leave; it’s time to go.
The difference between imminent and immediate is often the difference between reacting and anticipating. If you wait until you’re forced to act, you’re reacting. If you act as soon as something becomes imminent, you’re still in control.
People hesitate because acting immediately feels premature. But the costs of overreacting are almost always smaller than the costs of waiting too long.
Lesson Learned: The rule is simple: treat imminent as immediate. It’s not a prediction; it’s a signal. When something’s about to happen, act like it already has. You’ll almost always end up ahead and rarely regret it.