The Story
While spending some time with my three kids and not wanting to let them spend another twenty minutes on the computer, I suggested we play a game.
"We could play "Hand Race," I said, making it up. My oldest daughter asked, "How do you play?"
I replied, "Uhh..."
She said, "I don't want to play if you don't tell me how to win."
This struck me. She wasn't willing to play, not because she didn't know the rules, but because she didn't see any avenue to win the game.
That is an amazing mindset!! Give me some of that. I want to explore some skills that we can learn to get a "win the game" attitude.
The Problem
Where is your head? Are you stuck in a place where you think you are forced to participate in a Groundhog's Day scenario. Every day is the same, every weekend is the same. Every year is the same. We go to work, punch the clock, busting tail trying to survive. That sucks. Let's explore some options to get to a place that is better for us, our families, our communities.
What Are You Trying To Win?
This is different for everybody. This could be a night out with your spouse. Win!!
This could be free lunch at the office. Win!!
Maybe getting an insurance reimbursement check. Win!!
I am trying to win more knowledge and experience.
What is Winning?
Let's define winning as succeeding at the little things everyday that get us one step closer to something awesome!
I am keeping this vague. My idea of awesome is different than yours.
Let's talk about the What
What is worth winning to you? We tapped it briefly with a bit of sarcasm above. What is important enough in your life that you want it to be better?
I can't answer for you. However, take a minute to really think about what is something that you want to win, a small victory.
Let's talk about the How
A priority for all people is education. I am not talking about a college degree or even a high school degree. Those are formalities in our society. I am talking about a desire in you to learn something, anything. This is a foundational principle. If you are unwilling to change the path that you are on, nothing will change.
I have seen it pretty starkly in my life and I have concluded that there are two paths in life. The one we want and the one you are on. If you want to change paths, blaze a trail to the other one.
Let's talk about the why
I have a day job working in Construction Management. We are trained in different safety protocols. OSHA regulation, regulations that are meant to keep workers safe.
These are good things. They give us guidelines for everyday work practice. One thing that helps workers stay safe is to write down by task what they are going to do to be safe. It is a method of pre-task planning and is known as Anticipating the Danger.
Let's peel back a layer
When you stop and analyze what you are going to be doing you are internalizing what you are going to do before you do it. You are stepping though the process in your mind...maybe even moving your body in slight movements that you would do if you were actually performing the work.
Introduce next topic...A Winning Sequence
A Winning Sequence in 5 Steps
Step 1 - Write it Down
Pull out a notepad, either on paper, your computer, or a journal book. Without it written down, it is forgotten.
Without it written down, it is forgotten.
Step 2
What is the result you want to achieve?
If you don't know the ultimate destination, you will never get there.
Step 3
Write down and answer this question.
What do I have to do to reach this result?
This may be online research, a conversation with someone you haven't talked to in years, or simply reading a new book on a new topic that is unfamiliar to you. There are numerous other ways to reach this result. You have to determine the path that leads to it but use your resources.
Question 4
Act on it! Start moving forward.
Question 5
Document the progress.
Revisit your journal after taking a step. Is it getting you closer? Repeat Step 3 and 4 as much as needed to get their. Something that Miles Beckler said in one of his authoritative videos on Blog creation is to do "just in time research." The idea is that once you have a general direction, start than investigate additional resources as you hit a stumbling block.
I want to hammer the winning part of this in my closing statements. Start. 100% of people that never try, never fail. 100% of people who fail have tried. I heard Ed Mylett say something similar to that.
Start.