Be Prepared for Success

A farmer knows that they have to plant the right seeds at the right season. They also know that they have to till the land before planting. The kind of preparation done by a small scale farmer is different from that done by a large scale commercial farmer. The type and level of preparation determines your destiny.

You want to succeed in life… right? Then be prepared for it. It took Jesus 30 years of preparation for his 3 year ministry. It takes NASA months of planning and preparation before they set out to the heavens. It takes hours upon hours of preparations for a music band to have a stellar performance. How long have you been preparing for your success?

Mental Preparation

Success or failure is all in the mind. You become what you think about. Continuously feed your mind with junk and you will succeed in reverse. Success first happens in the mental realm before it materializes in the physical world.

The first step of mental preparation is deciding on what you want to be. Let us say you wanted to become a blogger. Your first step would be to think through what area or angle you want to pursue. Finding clarity on your area of focus will help save time and amplify your efforts. Visualize the exact steps you will take and create a checklist of things that need to be done.

Test Driven Preparation

As a computer programmer, I get to write “unit tests” to verify that a program code behaves as it should. Many programmers “test” their program only after they have written the whole program. Others write small tests as they go along to make sure that each aspect is working, before they proceed. What has all this computer programming talk got to do with your success?

Instead of waiting to see if all your plans worked out alright, or waiting to have all the information on your desk before making your move, have a bias for action.

When driving for a 50 miles at night, you do not have to see more than a few yards before you can start your journey. In the same way, take small tests (actions) towards your goal, instead of waiting to get to your destination and then wonder if that is the right destination. Prepare for the next set of actions instead of preparing for the biggies of life. That way, you avoid analysis paralysis and gain the confidence to succeed.

Enjoy Learning

I went to a music store with a friend a few weeks ago and was mesmerized by how much there is to learn in the world of music. Music is continuously evolving but certain fundamentals remain the same for generations. If you want to succeed as a musician, you not only need to refine your skill but also learn all there is about your particular genre and beyond. That way, you will be better placed to succeed than those that focus on only skill development.

To learn effectively, you have to become inquisitive. There are answers all around. Very few things under the sun are new. What is has been and will always be. Find out from those who are more experienced than you. Read books, watch DVDs, read magazines, attend seminars or learn from experts. Do not rediscover the wheel; rather, find creative new ways of using the wheel by learning from others. Learning is the best way of preparing for success. It helps save time, energy and makes the success journey easier.

Worst Case Scenario Preparation

When people embark on a journey, there is a strong temptation to concentrate on the upside and forget the dangers. It is thrilling to think of the potential fruits of your labor. It is fun to think of how much fun you are going to have if all goes according to plan. Unfortunately, life is not a straight line. To really succeed, you have to think of the worst case scenario as well and plan what to do if the worst happens.

Create a checklist of what could go wrong. Say for example you wanted to gallivant around Europe… don’t just think of all the fun you are going to have. Ask yourself some hard questions. What would you do if you got sick on your trip? What would you do if you lost your luggage? Think through different scenarios and have an action plan. Thinking of the worst case scenario is not “negative thinking”, it is smart thinking as long as you do it right and don’t dwell on it too much.

Best Case Scenario Preparation

The world is awash with stories of people who succeeded before they were prepared for success. What would happen if everything you touched turned to gold? Would you get a big head? If you are not mentally prepared for bigger than life success, you will sabotage yourself and end up in familiar territory, your comfort zone.

If you set out to succeed, think about what you would do with your success. Many lottery winners usually go back to the poorhouse within months of winning because of lack of preparation. Continuous learning from people who are doing better than you can help you keep a level head even when you succeed beyond your wildest dreams.

The Power of Discipline

Discipline is doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reasons to achieve the desired goals. Discipline means having clarity on what, when and why things need to be done. It also means following up on your commitments whether you feel like it or not. Be disciplined in taking action, managing your time and relationships.

Without discipline, people become like animals. They do not prepare or follow through with commitments. Make a plan and stick with it. That is the only way to realize your dreams. It all starts in the mind followed by small baby steps (Kaizen) that prepare you for greatness.

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