Conditions are never perfect. ‘Someday’ is a disease… and honestly, that’s one of the most brutal truths you’ll ever hear. It’s a call to stop waiting for the stars to align and to start building your rocket ship right now, in the rain, with the tools you have.
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Meaning
At its core, this quote is about the deadly trap of procrastination disguised as preparation. It means that waiting for the perfect moment is a fool’s errand that ultimately leads to a life of regret.
Explanation
Let me break this down for you. The first part, “Conditions are never perfect,” is a simple statement of fact. The market will always be volatile. You’ll never have *all* the information. There will always be a reason to hesitate if you’re looking for one.
But the second part is the real killer. Framing “Someday” as a disease is what makes this concept stick. It’s not just a bad habit; it’s a sickness that eats away at your potential, slowly and quietly, until it’s too late. I’ve seen it happen. Brilliant people with world-changing ideas who are still “getting ready” years later. The “someday” mentality is the single biggest dream-killer I’ve encountered in my career.
Quote Summary
Reading Level73
Aesthetic Score80
Origin & Factcheck
This is straight from Tim Ferriss’s 2016 book, Tools of Titans. It’s his own original phrasing, a distillation of the principles he gathered from interviewing hundreds of top performers. You sometimes see similar sentiments misattributed to others, but this specific, powerful wording is 100% Ferriss.
Attribution Summary
Where is this quotation located?
| Quotation | Conditions are never perfect. 'Someday' is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you |
| Book Details | Publication Year: 2016; ISBN: 9781328683786; Last edition: 2017 Paperback; Number of pages: 707 |
| Where is it? | Part I: Healthy, Section: Fear-setting, Approximate page from 2016 edition: 126 |
Context
In the book, this isn’t just a random piece of advice. It’s embedded in a section about fear-setting and overcoming paralysis. Ferriss uses this line to jolt the reader into action, to move from being a passive consumer of information to an active participant in building their life.
Usage Examples
So how do you actually use this? You internalize it. You make it a mantra.
- For the aspiring entrepreneur: Instead of saying, “I’ll launch my business someday when I have more savings,” you launch a minimum viable product this quarter. You trade perfect for published.
- For the creative: Instead of “I’ll write my novel someday when I have a free month,” you commit to writing 300 words, today. Right after this coffee.
- For anyone wanting a life change: Instead of “I’ll travel someday,” you book the flight for six months from now. You create a deadline that forces action.
This quote is for the perpetual planner, the over-thinker, the one who feels they’re not quite ready. It’s a kick in the pants they desperately need.
To whom it appeals?
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Motivation Score94
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FAQ
Question: Isn’t this just about being reckless and not planning?
Answer: Not at all. It’s about the difference between strategic planning and paralytic planning. Do the necessary prep, then take the leap. Don’t plan until the “perfect” moment that will never come.
Question: What if I genuinely don’t have the resources right now?
Answer: The quote doesn’t say “conditions are easy.” It says they’re “never perfect.” The question to ask is, “What is the very first small step I can take with what I have today?” Action, even tiny action, builds momentum and creates new resources.
Question: How do you fight the “someday” feeling when it’s so comfortable?
Answer: You make it uncomfortable. You attach a real cost to inaction. Visualize yourself at the end of your life, looking back at the dream you kept on the shelf. That regret is far more painful than the temporary discomfort of starting.
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