The Cost of Waiting and Seeing
- Elisa Cool Murphy
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Why hesitation costs momentum—and how bold moves, in history and in real estate, change everything.
Every press conference, every headline—"the Fed will wait and see." On its face, that sounds cautious and informed. And, when the person controlling interest rates signals hesitation, it also gives the rest of us permission to hesitate too. Permission to tell ourselves that we’ll know when the time is right, that life will line up and make the hard decisions easy.
But alignment doesn’t exist this side of heaven. And waiting? Waiting costs more than we realize. History has proven it, time and again.
⚔️ When Victory Hung in the Balance—and Hesitation Lost It
The British at the Battle of New Orleans (January 8, 1815)
British forces outnumbered Andrew Jackson’s defenders and had the firepower to seize New Orleans. But when General Edward Pakenham fell early in the battle, leadership fractured. Confidence dissolved. Despite their strength, hesitation spread through the ranks. The British retreated, sailing home in defeat—but soon regrouped and joined the fight at Waterloo.
Napoleon at Waterloo (June 18, 1815)
Months later, Napoleon had returned from exile to reclaim his empire. Facing Britain and its allies, he delayed launching key attacks, waiting for reinforcements and better field conditions. In the time he waited, British and Prussian forces united. That hesitation cost him the battle—and his empire. Two moments of hesitation, an ocean apart, shaped the course of history.
⚠️ Thomas Edison’s Early Pause
Edison’s incandescent bulb promised to change the world. But in the early days of electrification, he hesitated—clinging to direct current while waiting for regulatory clarity. Meanwhile, George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla struck quickly, licensing AC patents for $255,000 (over $6 million today) and building power stations nationwide. Billions in potential market share slipped from Edison’s hands as others seized the future.
🌟 The Bold Ones Who Acted—and Won
Thomas Edison’s Redemption
Edison’s legacy isn’t defined by his hesitation—it’s defined by how he overcame it. Recognizing his mistake, he pivoted into bold action—building networks of electric light before rules even existed. That risk lit the modern world and made Edison General Electric a household name, its successor companies now worth nearly $300 billion. Edison reclaimed history because he stopped waiting and started building.
Julia Child
At 36, Julia Child could have stayed in quiet comfort. Instead, she moved to Paris, trained at Le Cordon Bleu, and carved her own path in a male-dominated culinary world. She introduced French cooking to American homes, forever changing how we cook and eat. Julia Child didn’t wait for opportunity—she created it.
Madame Pontalba
By the mid‑1800s, Jackson Square sat neglected as city officials debated redevelopment. Pontalba didn’t wait for permits or bureaucrats. She used her own wealth, designed and managed construction herself, and even sewed her skirts into pantaloons to climb scaffolding and keep contractors in line. She defied every expectation of her era and left a legacy that still defines the French Quarter today.
Anne Rice
In 1976, Anne Rice turned grief into creation. After the loss of her daughter, she wrote Interview with the Vampire—a story publishers warned would fail. Instead, she invented an entire genre of gothic fiction. Born and raised in New Orleans, her bold move reshaped literature and inspired generations. She built a legacy by moving forward when it would have been easier to stop.
Mahalia Jackson
Born in New Orleans, Mahalia Jackson grew up singing in church and refused to wait her turn. A bold creator, she didn’t wait for opportunities—she created them. She took gospel music out of church walls and onto the world stage, becoming one of the most influential voices in American music. During the Civil Rights Movement, she marched, sang at rallies, and famously urged Martin Luther King Jr. to “tell them about the dream.” Mahalia didn’t wait for change—she lifted her voice and made it.
💪 My Own Move‑Maker Moment
When I came to New Orleans, I had no employer waiting. No network. I bought my home nearly unseen because something inside me said this was right. Three months later, I met my husband, Matt. With no safety net, I started my own business and built Cool Murphy Real Estate from scratch.
I’m not Edison or Jackson or Pontalba— (perhaps a little 2025 Childs meets Rice) but I understand them all. Bold moves rarely happen when everything is aligned. They happen because you step forward despite misalignment—and change your own story.
🏡 Why Waiting in Real Estate Isn’t Neutral
Consider what hesitation has cost—empires lost, fortunes surrendered, ideas stolen.
When you think about it that way, doesn’t making a move on the place you live feel a little less daunting?
If you’re waiting to sell, you might avoid a short-term loss—but the real win often lies in your next purchase, where you can buy better and negotiate harder.
If you’re waiting to buy, every day you hesitate is another deal that passes you by. Inventory shifts, pricing moves—and the opportunities go to someone willing to act.
If you’re renting, every month is 100% interest paid to someone else’s mortgage—money you’ll never see again.
History remembers Napoleon because hesitation shifted nations. How many names are forgotten because they waited and never moved?
🚀 New Orleans Remembers the Creators
New Orleans remembers those who took the leap. Who made moves. Who created something lasting instead of waiting for permission.
Edison, Julia Child, Pontalba, Anne Rice, Jackson —they didn’t wait for the perfect moment. They built it.
If you’re wondering whether to sell, buy, or finally leave renting behind, make the move. Not because you have to, but because your next chapter is waiting.
And we’re here to help those brave enough to take that step. The whole journey may sound daunting—but the first step is easy. It starts with a text: 504‑321‑3194.
Voted Neighborhood Favorite by Nextdoor three years in a row, Cool Murphy Real Estate is a top-producing, licensed real estate team based in New Orleans, brokered by Cool Murphy, LLC.
Celebrated for her next-level creative approach to real estate, Elisa Cool Murphy is an award-winning, top-performing real estate broker in New Orleans and the founder of Cool Murphy Real Estate.
Contact Her -
email: cool@coolmurphy.com
Facebook: @homeinneworleans
IG: @coolmurphynola
YouTube: @coolmurphynola
phone: 504-321-3194
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