Strategizing for Success
Nothing is more important than our mindset when striving for success. If we don't have the right attitude, we will ultimately crumble. Today, we have emphasized winning so much that we have lost sight of success in today's society.
Of course, many suggest that winning is the start of success, but I argue that winning is sometimes at the root of being unsuccessful. Winning dictates that one person or entity must be number one, relegating the remaining competitors to losers. But how often has a win been hollow and empty? Focusing on winning at all costs is frequently driven by impatience. Impatience is usually short-term, whereas success is long-term and requires patience. This patience should reassure us that success is a journey, not a destination, and taking our time is okay.
"Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming." -John Wooden
If I can trust John Wooden's words, then our focus should always be on becoming the best that we are capable of becoming, which takes effort, training, and failure to learn from. This emphasis on learning from failure should instill in us a sense of resilience and optimism. It's not about the failure itself but about what we learn from it and how we use that knowledge to improve and succeed in the future.
"Focus on effort, not winning. Winning is a byproduct of effort." -John Wooden
To strategize for success, we have to weigh every choice we make. Will the choices we make every day make us healthier and more well-rounded people who will ultimately be capable of sustaining the success we desire to achieve?
Are our choices financially, ethically, physically, and emotionally helping us achieve long-term success? Can we keep our endgame in mind as we go through life and find ourselves with easy and hard choices?
Being a consummate strategic thinker can be very difficult. We are all emotional, and we have biases that can make us feel trapped by temptations that will not help us move forward. However, strategic thinking is about distancing ourselves from unproductive emotions and biases. It's about making decisions based on a clear understanding of our long-term goals and the potential consequences of our actions. It's about considering all possible options and choosing the one that aligns best with our values and principles.
When we let go of the things hurting us and focus on the things that benefit us and others, we will ultimately become more strategic thinkers than we may have thought.
Deciding to be strategic thinkers means we can't be afraid of making hard choices. Once we have chosen, we must stick to our values and principles and see our plan through like leaders. If our program goes the way we planned, then we can celebrate. If it doesn't work out, consider it a learning experience and move on. Regardless of whether our plan goes according to our expectations, we should not regret our choices as long as we are faithful to our values.
Before making any choices, we must examine their consequences in every possible light. Think of it as a strategic game of chess. If you are making a move, you have to imagine what may happen three steps ahead at the very least. This simple step will help us plan for any challenges we face so that we are not discouraged when encountering any obstacle. By considering the potential outcomes of our decisions, we can better prepare for the future and ensure that our actions align with our long-term goals.
Don't be afraid to consider the worst-case scenario for our decisions for ourselves, those around us, and society. We should do so regularly. A concise, clear, and authentic decision-making process lets us know we are doing everything to strategize for success.
Once we begin to understand our power over our lives with every bit of choice we make, we will ultimately begin to understand just how incredible our position is. We have the opportunity to change our lives every single day. We have to take the first step and start strategizing for success.
