Attach yourself to a mission.
Prepare to Succeed: Winning Your Battles Before They Start
Sun Tzu’s ancient wisdom, ‘Every battle is won before it is fought,’ holds true across various aspects of life and business. This philosophy underscores the importance of preparation and strategy. Here are five key ways to ensure you’re well-prepared, mirroring the principles of winning a battle even before it commences.
- Thorough Research and Planning: Just like a General studies the battlefield, it’s essential to do your homework before tackling any challenge. For instance, a successful marketer researches their audience extensively to craft messages that resonate. Similarly, understanding the ins and outs of your ‘battlefield,’ whether it’s a market, a project, or a personal goal, ensures you’re not caught off guard.
- Understanding Your Strengths and Weaknesses: Sun Tzu emphasized knowing both yourself and your enemy. Apply this by assessing your skills and limitations. Think of a chess player who knows their best strategies but also recognizes their vulnerable spots. This self-awareness helps in developing strategies that play to your strengths while mitigating weaknesses.
- Effective Resource Management: Every battle requires resources, be it time, money, or people. Efficiently managing these resources can be the difference between success and failure. Consider a startup: careful budgeting and allocation of funds to the right areas can set the foundation for success before the business fully launches.
- Adaptability and Flexibility: The ability to adapt to changing circumstances can pre-determine success. A great example is the tech industry, where companies that quickly adapt to emerging technologies often outperform competitors. Being flexible and ready to pivot strategies as needed is crucial.
- Building a Strong Team: No general goes to battle alone. Building a team with diverse skills and talents is like assembling a well-rounded army. Each member brings unique strengths, much like how a football team has players with specialized roles, all contributing to the team’s overall success. A strong, cohesive team can effectively execute plans and overcome challenges.
These steps embody the essence of winning the battle before it’s fought, by being prepared, informed, and adaptable in any situation.
#preparation #sunTzu #artofwar
Book Notes: Hidden Potential (20 Nov 2023)
Adam Grant’s new book was a good read and had some fascinating insights, which makes it a must-read. There are people who mark in the books, which, though effective, is not something I have been able to do consistently. I’ve compiled notes that serve as a summary or review points for future reference. I find this approach to be highly effective. For me, it is better than the more common method of jotting down notes in the book.
#AdamGrant #BookReview #HiddenPotential #BookSummary #ReadingNotes
The one thing I could have done differently….
Ever thought what would be that one thing you would do differently if you had a chance to go back in time?
For me- it would be drop procrastination. Just do it. At the time you need to.
Despite that, if I have been able to do this, well, I just imagine the possibilities!
That said, it is never too late to start doing stuff today. Right now.
What about you?
Achieve your potential #496 – Be an Encourager
I had a co-worker in my earlier company who would find faults with everything. Everything. Living and non-living. Movable and immovable. Everything had something was worthy of error. And it stressed him out so much, that he would be depressed about just about everything. And worse, make everyone else around him depressed.
This barrage of negative messages happens in everyone’s work life -every day.
I have also seen employees in my career who are the exact opposites. They typically find something positive even in darkest situation. They reach out and talk to people who are struggling. Support them and encourage them. They bring positive energy whenever you meet them or see them. They make a big difference!
The world needs such people. Because there are so few of them around.
Let us work towards building a new habit. Most of us can live this positive life.
Become an Encourager!
Reach out to team members and encourage them. “I can see you are doing an excellent job”, can do wonders to a person’s day. Someone who is down and out, let them look at the stuff they have done well. Focus their energies on
Here are tips that could help you get started –
- Be specific – It is important to be precise and specific when you encourage people. People can relate to what specific comments and not find general comments relevant.
- Be genuine – Any encouragement needs to come from the heart. Don’t say things you don’t mean. Just because someone needs encouragement does not mean they can’t see someone who is lying. Make every comment you make genuine to the person.
- Be timely – Offering encouragement when people need it works better than doing it later.
- Appreciate them formally to their boss and write a note on their work.
- Tell people how they’ve encouraged you – Tell anyone who has touched you in some way. They will appreciate it and gives them a boost of confidence.
- Be random – This is nothing something you want to put in your calendar (10AM-11AM- Plan to encourage two people). Encouragement should be random and should be done anytime during the day (or night) and anywhere.
This is an opportunity to make a difference.
To people around you.
To yourself.