Episode 31: Seizing the Opportunity: Knowing How to Capture the Right Time!

Quote: "You don't have to swing hard to hit a home run. If you got the timing, it'll go." - Yogi Berra

Folks, you may have heard the phrase that timing is everything. Have you ever encountered people in your life where you're like: "wow, they always seem to have great timing! being at the right place at the right time." Or perhaps the opposite, "man, they always seem to have bad timing?" Do you learn how to capture the opportunity when it presents itself, or do you miss that window because your timing was off?

Quote: "The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot." - Michael Altshuler

How do you seize the opportunity when it presents itself? If timing is of the essence, how do you hone in on getting better at identifying the right time? In today's episode, I'm going to share my secret recipe of how to capture good timing.  How does the 80/20 rule + combined with the lessons I learned in a wine class have taught me about capturing good timing?  In today's episode, I will share:

1. 80/20 Rule
2. Interview question at Google: 
3. My personal story of lessons that I learned in wine class.
4. I'll share action steps (the BIAS Method) that will help you identify what moves the needle the most in your business, career or life!

Show Notes

[1:52] - Hi folks, welcome back to episode 31 of the Boom Vision podcast! Today's episode is all about timing. In the past few weeks, the conversations I've been having with my friends and clients have all centered around timing. Is it the right time to buy or sell my house? Is it the right time to double down on my business with this looming recession?

The overarching response that I share in these discussions is: well, you got to be able to zoom out, zoom in and identify what matters.

Quote: “Things that matter most must never be at the mercy of things that matter least.” - Richard Koch,  The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Achieving More with Less

[2:26] - 80/20 Rule

So what is the 80/20 Rule? Also known as the Pareto Principle, it basically means that 80% of the outcomes result from 20% of all causes for any given event.

[4:11] - Interview Question at Google: Shishir Mehrotra (co-founder and CEO of Coda), at one point was VP of Product, Engineering at Google.

An interview question his team would ask candidates back at Google:

A group of scientist has invented a teleportation device. They hired you to be their business counterpart, to bring this device to market. Question: What do you do?

At some point, the interview will share with the candidate, you have only 2 more questions to ask before sharing your plan and recommendation.

1. Is it safe enough for humans or not?
2. Is it more expensive to buy them or to run them?

Takeaway: Main takeaway regarding the 80-20 rule: Prioritizes the top 20% of factors that will produce 80% of the results.

[7:29] - Personal Story: Wine Class at Cornell University.

At a fine dining setting, I'd ask 2 questions to my guest/s:

1. What would you like to order for tonight's dinner?
2. Do you prefer sweeter white wine, or a dry, more tannic red wine?

Prefix, A La Carte, Dessert?

[10:25] - Question: What will make a more memorable or lasting impression? Being an wine expert that can decode the entire wine list?  Or pairing the right solution to the right need, at the right time? 

Main Takeaway I got from the wine class wasn't that I became a sommelier (wine expert). I am no means a wine expert. But I remember key learnings from that wine course that enabled me to be confident when I on a date or hosting a group at dinner at a restaurant. 

You don't need to know EVERYTHING there is to know to be come an expert.  Experiences are impactful when you pair the right solution to the right problem at the right time. It enhances and makes that experience that much more memorable.

[12:05] - Action Steps: BIAS Method

1. B - Breathe: Calm yourself by taking a deep breathe, like the  breathwork exercise 1 min. exercise.
2. I - Identify:  Identify what are the 20% factors in your business, career, or project that will move 80% of the needle. I want you to frame it by asking yourself only 2 questions. What 2 questions about your situation (business, career or project) will have the most impact? Asking yourself only 2 questions forces you practicing being clear and concise on how to identify what matters, what moves the needle.
3. A - Assess:   Assess the situation, the needs of your client, your audience, your guests. What time is the most relevant in their problem or needs? Prefix, A La Carte, Dessert?
4. S - Solutions: What are the top 2 Solutions that best pairs these needs? It's not about being the expert at everything, only picking the top 2 solutions forces you to be clear and concise. 

The purpose of this week's actions steps in identifying the top 2 questions, in selecting the top 2 solutions is so you can practice and strengthen what will truly move the needle in your business, your project, your life. 

[15:27] - Final Thoughts

Quote: “Time is an illusion, timing is an art.” – Stefan Emunds

Folks I hope you enjoy today's sharing of my key recipe in how you can get better in capturing the best timing. Timing is truly an art, it takes practice in identifying when's the right time, and I hope by understanding the principles of the 80/20 rule and my sharing of the key learnings of the wine class, that you start putting this week's action steps to practice.

I'd love to hear your thoughts! Send me a DM on IG (@benjaminyeh). Hit that subscribe button to this Boom Vision podcast if you want to thrive together. And if you resonate with today's topic, please leave a positive comment and 5 star review on Apple Podcast so that more people benefit in listening to this show.