We tend to measure success in terms of talent, innovation, or resources. But look closely at the greatest breakthroughs in history, and you’ll notice another constant: time.
Time is the invisible force that shapes outcomes. It’s the difference between a good idea and a world-changing discovery, between near disaster and a history-making triumph. Sometimes, it’s just a few extra seconds. Other times, it’s weeks of preparation or support from a strong team. And while we can’t create more hours in a day, how we leverage our time determines how much we can accomplish. The truth is, buying back time (whether for individuals, teams, or leaders) always pays off.
To see this in action, let’s revisit three pivotal moments in history where having just a little more time made the impossible possible.
The Penicillin Discovery: A Vacation That Saved Millions
In 1928, Scottish scientist Alexander Fleming prepared Petri dishes with Staphylococcus bacteria before leaving for a two-week vacation. Normally, he would have cleaned them up, but this time he didn’t.
When he returned, something remarkable had happened: a mold spore had drifted into one of the dishes, and over the extended time he was away, it grew into a colony. Around that mold, the bacteria had been destroyed. Fleming had discovered penicillin, the world’s first true antibiotic.
If those cultures hadn’t had extra time to sit, the mold wouldn’t have developed enough to reveal its bacteria-killing effect. What looked like messy lab plates became the foundation of modern medicine, saving countless lives.
Business Parallel:
In business, results often require time to develop beneath the surface before they become visible. Think of a marketing campaign or a new product launch: the early investments in branding, research, or content creation don’t always yield instant results. But by giving them time to gain traction, letting ads optimize, SEO rankings climb, or customer trust build, you create the conditions for exponential impact. Leaders who pull the plug too soon risk missing their own “penicillin moment.”
Lesson: Sometimes, breakthroughs come not from rushing, but from allowing time for discovery.
Eliud Kipchoge: Shaving Seconds to Break the Impossible
For decades, running a marathon in under two hours was seen as humanly impossible. Then, in 2019, Eliud Kipchoge proved otherwise.
His historic 1:59:40 run wasn’t just about talent; it was about a team of experts who gave him time back at every stage:
- Training: Carefully extended preparation cycles allowed his body to adapt fully without injury.
- Course & Pacing: Vienna’s flat course and rotating pacemakers minimized wasted seconds.
- Logistics: Nutrition was delivered on bikes at precise moments, saving him the time lost slowing down.
By shaving fractions of time, his team created the conditions for history. Small moments added up to a giant leap for human endurance.
Business Parallel:
For modern companies, efficiency gains often come from small but consistent time savings, similar to how Kipchoge’s team orchestrated his run. Streamlined workflows, automated reporting, and dedicated support staff may only shave minutes off daily tasks, but across an entire organization, those reclaimed moments add up to monumental gains. Just as seconds defined the difference between “impossible” and “possible” in Vienna, those small efficiencies can be the edge that lets businesses outpace competitors.
Lesson: Even seconds of saved time can add up to achieving the “impossible.”
Apollo 11: Seconds That Changed History
The first moon landing in 1969 nearly ended in disaster.
As the Lunar Module descended, computer alarms flashed, and the planned landing site turned out to be a boulder field. Neil Armstrong took manual control, scanning for a safe spot. With only about 15–30 seconds of fuel left, he finally touched down.
Behind the scenes, it was teamwork that bought those precious seconds. Engineers in Houston cleared the alarms as safe, Aldrin called out data, and Collins orbited above, ready to assist. Each role saved time, giving Armstrong the margin he needed to land.
Business Parallel:
Businesses also face high-pressure moments when quick, decisive action determines success or failure. Whether it’s handling a customer crisis, responding to a market shift, or navigating an internal challenge, leaders need the time and clarity to act. Strong support teams buy those critical seconds by filtering noise, clearing obstacles, and surfacing only what matters most. With the right people behind you, you gain the bandwidth to steer through turbulence and land safely, just like Armstrong did.
Lesson: When time is tight, a strong team can provide the extra seconds that make the difference between failure and success.
Buying Back Time in Business
These stories might feel larger-than-life, but the principle applies everywhere, especially in business.
- Time is what allows leaders to step back from the noise and focus on strategy.
- Time is what gives teams space to innovate instead of drowning in busywork.
- Time is what enables individuals to move from “just getting by” to doing their best work.
At MyOutDesk, we help leaders, teams, and contributors buy back their time by providing world-class virtual professionals. Whether it’s handling administrative tasks, managing operations, supporting customers, or keeping workflows running smoothly, our virtual teams free you from the constant pull of smaller tasks, the ones that slip through the cracks, pile up, and steal your focus.
When your time is reclaimed, you can put it toward the things that matter most: growth, innovation, leadership, and yes, even breakthroughs.
Make Time Work For You
Alexander Fleming’s discovery, Eliud Kipchoge’s record-breaking run, and the Apollo 11 landing all remind us: time changes outcomes. Sometimes it’s minutes, or even weeks, but the value is always immeasurable.
What could you achieve with more time? With MyOutDesk, you don’t have to wonder; you can make it happen. We specialize in providing remote-working talent, in the form of individual assistants or entire teams, thoroughly vetted and ready to work.
Invest in your most valuable asset: time. Schedule a free strategy demo here, and let us help you find the time for your next breakthrough.
