Many people don’t realize that things can take time to form before they become visible. This lack of understanding often leads to impatience, especially in business. Often, people invest for a few months and then get disappointed when they don’t see results. However, it is crucial to understand that everything, depending on its magnitude, takes time to become visible. The bigger the business or project you’re building, the more time it will take to show its true potential. Patience is the key to achieving greatness. In this article, we will explore various examples of how time plays a significant role in the creation of remarkable things.

“Good things come to those who wait.”

Proverb

The first time I launched a 6-month intensive program that helped individuals become public figures from almost zero backgrounds, I witnessed that motivation was wearing off in my students due to the time it takes to become a public figure. Despite enrolling in a 6-month program, their minds were not ready to work for months without being able to demonstrate anything to the world.

I understand them, as I was exactly like that until I learned that all great things develop in unknownness and unspotted, unseen. It takes time to learn this skill. Few people in my life were actually living like that, building in solitude. One was one of my mentors, Dr. Sunday Adelaja; another was my work partner, musician Blynx. Both were building and accumulating products without showing them to the world. Little by little I was adopting this philosophy.

I did not feel like accumulating six months of work in the beginning. I could hardly hide the ideas I had, let alone the things I had started to do. I always wanted to share ideas and intentions. I felt a burst of energy from that. But actually, it turned out that more energy accumulates when we are hiding the product we are working on. The anticipation of the day this product will see the world grow every day. You know that the time will come to reveal your work to the world, and it brings joy and excitement. Whereas if you share the ideas and intentions upfront, it is like you are throwing out the energy.

“Trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.”

Molière

This experience taught me a valuable lesson about the importance of patience and the invisible clock that governs the fruition of all significant endeavors. Just like my students struggled to see the immediate results of their hard work, many of us often forget that the most remarkable achievements develop in the unseen, taking time to manifest. Just as I learned from my mentors and colleagues, it’s crucial to understand that everything worth achieving requires time. Now, let’s look at a list of various examples that highlight how different things take time to become visible and impactful.

A list of different things and how long they take to become visible:

1. Human baby – 9 months
2. Elephant calf – 22 months (almost 2 years)
3. Tree (from seed to sapling) – Several years, depending on the species
4. Butterfly (from egg to adult) – A few weeks to months
5. Chicken egg – 21 days
6. Human habits – About 21 days to form
7. Writer’s book – Months to years
8. Film production – Months to years
9. University degree – 3 to 4 years
10. Startup company – 3 to 5 years to become profitable
11. Wine (aging) – Months to years
12. Construction of a house – Several months to a year
13. Artist’s painting – Days to months
14. Technology innovation – Years
15. Athlete’s training for the Olympics – Years
16. Space mission preparation – Years
17. Bamboo growth (some species) – 3 to 4 years to mature
18. Real estate investment – 5 to 10 years to see significant returns
19. Diamond formation – Millions of years
20. Formation of a mountain – Millions of years
21. Coral reef growth – Thousands of years
22. Formation of petroleum – Millions of years
23. Evolution of a species – Millions of years
24. Fossilization process – Thousands to millions of years

So, you see, the most amazing things, the things that make us feel awe, all take time. Patience is key in any endeavor, especially in building something great. Keep this in mind as you work towards your goals. The invisible clock is always ticking, and understanding the time required for big results can lead to greater satisfaction and success in your endeavors. Remember, “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” Embrace the journey, trust the process, and let the anticipation of revealing your work to the world fuel your perseverance.