By Mubarak Opeyemi Lawal
Until the deregulation of the milk industry in the 1990s, doorstep delivery was the preferred method of receiving milk in the United Kingdom, especially for busy families. This daily ritual ensured a fresh supply of milk and a sense of reliability in households across the country. Post-1990s, with supermarkets entering the market, this charming tradition began to fade. Yet, for many, doorstep milk delivery remains a fond symbol of British domestic history.
Milk deliveries were simple: bottles were left on the doorstep in the early hours, cash was tucked safely under a mat, and later, payments transitioned to more modern systems like Direct Debit. The image of milk bottles waiting patiently at the door carries a certain nostalgia, a quiet reminder of a time when trust and simplicity ruled.
The Lesson Behind the Milk
When I joined a fast-growing government consulting company in the UK, I was handed an onboarding handbook emblazoned with the phrase: “Don’t Step Over the Milk.” It caught my attention immediately, and little did I know it would change my perspective on life and work forever.
The phrase, I soon learned, was more than just a quirky saying. Idiomatically, it meant being proactive, addressing issues head-on, and taking ownership, even of things that might not seem like your responsibility. If milk is delivered to your doorstep and you decide to step over it instead of picking it up-whether out of indifference, procrastination, or the belief that it’s “not your job”-you run the risk of regretting it later when you need that very milk.
For me, “don’t step over the milk” became the antidote to my procrastination. I was someone who often let things linger, believing there was always “tomorrow” or assuming someone else would handle it. This mindset held me back in ways I didn’t even realize. But once I embraced this principle, I began to see every “milk bottle” in my life as an opportunity-an invitation to act, to grow, and to take charge.
From Procrastination to Proactivity
Before this revelation, procrastination and nonchalance were pressing weights on my potential. I would delay tasks, avoid challenges, and sidestep opportunities that seemed inconvenient or outside my immediate purview. But the simple act of picking up the metaphorical milk-taking responsibility, no matter how small or unrelated the task seemed, transformed my trajectory.
I stopped stepping over every milk bottle, figuratively speaking, and started grabbing opportunities by the horn. I took the initiative, addressed problems before they escalated, and even stepped into roles that weren’t officially mine. The results were remarkable.
Procrastination is a debacle for success. It delays progress, stifles growth, and breeds regret. By choosing to be proactive, I unlocked a life of purpose and achievement.
Pick up the Milk
The next time you encounter your version of the milk on the doorstep – be it a task you’ve been avoiding, a challenge that feels outside your comfort zone, or a responsibility that doesn’t “belong” to you – don’t step over it. Pick it up. Handle it. Take ownership. In doing so, you’ll find that the small, consistent acts of proactivity create ripples that lead to remarkable outcomes.
Success doesn’t come from grand gestures but from the daily habit of taking action. So, don’t step over the milk. Your future self will thank you.
Mubarak Opeyemi Lawal is a Political Scientist, Business Analysis Consultant, and Software Development Specialist based in the UK.