Deliberate Development

The Navy SEALs coined an ideal that we do not rise to the situation; rather, we fall to the level of our training. Basically, we do not get magic super powers when we are faced with a challenge. Instead, we rely on our preparation. Whenever I have planned out a certain event, it never went as planned. I always had to enact at least one of the contingencies we built into the plan. However, there have been situation where there was no contingency for that specific issue and it was not pretty. I didn’t magically make it happen. Prepare for what you expect to happen tomorrow now and you will be ready.

Why do vegetables taste worse than candy? I have wondered my whole life why the hardest thing to do is often the best…like eating vegetables in lieu of candy. I am not sure of the reason for this, but we all know it is better to do the hard things over the easy things most of the time. Don’t let fear or laziness hold you back; just go out there and make it happen.

There is a saying in politics that goes something like, “never waste a good crisis.” When something big happens, these leaders are looking for ways to make things better. For example, WWII led to the creation of the UN. If it hadn’t been for that, the UN may have never been. When things are falling apart, look for the one thing you can do to make something better. Does anyone have an example of a time they did this or saw it in action?

“I am way to busy to get to that today.” This is something we all say a lot. We can’t perceive taking 15 minutes from our crazy schedules for something else. However, if our car broke down on the way into work, we would find a way to get that towed and fixed. This process may take hours and yet we find the time. Why? Because it became a priority. We ALWAYS find time to take of the things we make a priority. Those little fires that pop up where we drop everything to go and handle are our organization’s way of setting new priorities for us. It is not that you don’t have enough time, it is simply not a priority for you.

Why are the things that make us better so hard to do? Getting a gym routine in motion, changing our diet, stop chugging sodas, read more, etc. take major amounts of will power even though we know they are the right things to do. Making decisions as a leader often are very difficult too. Even though they are the best choices for the unit or the person, we struggle because we fear the backlash or loss in social capital. However, in the long run tough decisions always feel better. I feel better after a workout or when I am eating healthy and my team feels better when I have the courage to do what is right. Are you facing a tough decision?

When I saw this quote, I had a flashback to my childhood and heard my dad saying this to me. He didn’t use this direct quote, but he did teach me that if you are not going to put in the effort to do it the right way, don’t do it. Sometimes we get to the end of the day or are just burned out and this is when we tend to rush through a task or take on the “good enough for government work” mantra. Instead, walk away from the task and take a break. Come back to it with a fresh perspective and you will be more likely to give it the appropriate attention it deserves.

We look at failure as such a negative thing. We are so afraid of its negative stigma, we never even try sometimes. Many suffer from a failure to launch because of this fear. Although, if we keep doing the same thing and failing at it over and over again, that makes us insane not a failure. When we fail at something we can’t take it personal. Instead, we need to determine what we can learn from the situation and tweak the process for the next time we try. Never be afraid to fail; rather, your fear should be of never trying.

I wish I could say the same thing. Many times instead of slowing down to catch my breath, I allow myself to slide backwards. We don’t have to be perfect and can’t possible give it all everyday. When we hit our wall, slow down and focus only on one important thing…not ten. Catch your breath and get back at it, but don’t quit.

I always used to approach school as a checklist. Finish this history report and move on. Algebra II, Check. These were stepping stones on my path to freedom as a graduate. In many ways college was similar. It wasn’t until after I finished that I discovered a different view on education. Each time we learn something new it is fuel for us. We can continue to learn and shine bright or learn only what we must to get by. What sounds more appealing to you?