They say luck is when preparation meets opportunity, emphasizing the idea that it is often the act of being ready that allows us to rise to the moment when an opportunity presents. Being prepared means being responsible with how you manage your time, the information you have consumed beforehand, dressing appropriately, and knowing as much as you can about the situation you are about to experience. Being prepared means knowing exactly what is being asked of you, and providing back specifically what is needed. Preparation is not simply showing up and hoping for the best outcome, but instead evidence of a proactive, deep commitment to be successful.
Don’t beat yourself!
Can’t find an outfit. Bad directions. Couldn’t study the night before. Didn’t learn the material. How many times has something like this happened to you? Ironically, much of the success we enjoy in life is a direct result of being responsible, especially with how we prepare for events and experiences in our lives. When we follow directions and prepare ahead of time, we surge past the competition by creating a picture of working hard and wanting that starting position, grade, or job. On the other hand, when we show up late and unprepared, we send the message of this not being very important — even without opening our mouth. If life is a game of inches, these are the “inches.”
How do you deliver on what is expected — or better yet, supersede expectations? Yes, the “little” things really do matter, and often simply being able to follow directions can advance your chances for success (or diminish them). For example, when I teach college classes, I give writing assignments with very specific directions about the assignment. One aspect, total page length for the assignment, is listed specifically on the syllabus, as well as discussed verbally in class. In fact, not only do I discuss the page length, I specifically outline the consequences for going over the page length since the assignment is about being concise and efficient. I have even said to the class directly that the first word you go over the page length, you will automatically lose points as a result — couldn’t be more clear, right? Amazingly, over the years my guesstimate is that a good 30-40% of students will, in fact, completely disregard all the directions and warnings and turn in a paper that’s over the length allowed. The result? These students lose points, even before I have read a single word of their paper! Think about that for a moment — the paper could have been the best written paper ever, but the student lost points simply by not following the rules.
While you will likely never know for sure, ask yourself how many times in your life did you lose an opportunity because you were late, unprepared, didn’t follow directions, or made a similar avoidable mistake? Have you ever been delinquent to an appointment? Failed to prepare for an interview? Worn the wrong attire to a meeting? The point here is not to say you are a failure if you aren’t perfect, but to instead illustrate how often we beat ourselves, versus others beating us. Conversely, how many times in life do we succeed because we were prepared, and ready for the moment?
Life is tough enough, why lose out on opportunities simply because you failed to prepare for the moment? Learning how to responsibly manage your time, communicate, and get things done efficiently and correctly is a big part of human success, and often the very exact qualities others look for when hiring, promoting, or evaluating others.
Final thoughts
When we minimize our unforced errors and follow through with exactly what we are tasked to do, we give ourselves the best chances for success — even when up against better competition. When others see that we want it more than the competition, and are willing to do the supposed “little things,” it shows our responsibility and willingness to do whatever is necessary for success. Pay attention to details, out study and outwork your opponents, and be ready to go when your name is called!
drstankovich.com
