#98 - Let's have some resilient fun: I am actively waiting

"Let's have some resilient fun" shows some important topics in a more relaxed and joyful way. After all, humour is quoted as a desirable characteristic of resilient individuals like us!

“I Am Actively Waiting”—And Other Unexpected Wisdom

A while ago I was responsible for a long, complex transformation project.

Each week, we held a Steering Committee meeting where the core team presented the project status to the Sponsor. One of my team members, a talented and proactive young man, was in a phase of the project where he didn’t have much to do. When asked about his current and upcoming activities, he replied, quite proudly:

We all laughed at the time. But as the project progressed, and even years later, I began to appreciate the wisdom hidden in that phrase.

What does it mean to “actively wait”? And what does that have to do with resilience?

Active Waiting: Readiness, Not Restlessness

In a world addicted to urgency and activity, slowing down often feels like failure. But what if quiet times are exactly when we prepare best for what comes next?

“Actively waiting” means being ready. It’s the discipline of not just waiting for your next opportunity, but preparing for it: sharpening your skills, observing the landscape, taking care of yourself, and staying engaged even when the spotlight isn’t on you.

Resilience, isn’t just about how you act in crisis, but how you prepare in calm, rather than slipping into distraction, scrolling endlessly, letting the edge dull.

Lessons from the Steppe

Dan Carlin, in Wrath of the Khans, argues that the Mongol horse archer might have been the greatest soldier in history.

Why? Because life on the steppe was brutally hard. That hardship forged the Mongols’ strength. Their leaders knew that too much luxury would soften them—so even during peacetime, the Mongol armies stayed in the field, honing their skills. They were always in motion, always ready.

Genghis Khan had little tolerance for comfort or complacency. He understood that strength fades when discipline fades. In a way, the Mongols were “actively waiting” - even in the breaks between campaigns, they stayed sharp.

Abundance Isn’t Laziness

Resilient systems are not always the leanest. They have buffers: extra capacity to absorb shocks. In contrast, lean organisations where everyone is busy all the time are more likely likely to suffer under pressure because there’s no room to breathe or adapt.

But if your “buffer” sits idle too long, it dulls. That’s why actively waiting is perhaps the missing ingredient. To have resources available and keep them sharp, we need environments that encourage readiness, not just rest. In other words, we may need our own version of the steppe.

A Modern Reminder

So—are you actively waiting?

Are you using the quiet times to read, learn, train, rest well, or build relationships? Or do you default to noise and numbness?

“Actively waiting” doesn’t mean being on high alert, it means staying ready without being restless. It’s a small but mighty mindset shift. And maybe, just maybe, it’s a quiet superpower of the resilient.

Disclaimer: This post is satirical. Any resemblance to actual management techniques or specific individuals is purely coincidental and frankly, a bit concerning.

References and Notes

Carlin, D. (Host). (2012–2013). Hardcore History: Wrath of the Khans [Audio podcast series]. Dan Carlin. https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/

Weatherford, J. (2004). Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. New York: Crown.