Getting it right
Proper preparation prevents poor performance.
That alliteration is a mouthful, but true. I have had this mantra stamped into the top of my sticky notes widget on my laptop for three years. I believe in it that much.
Believing in it is only one slice of the pie, however. Understanding how to know if you are properly prepared is another. Did I get it right? I ask myself this question in all domains of my life; sport, school, relationships, and the like. I want to know and I do not sit well with uncertainty. As always, some simple questions can guide reflection.
Training log or personal journal
Nailing a plan with 100% accuracy is a fantasy scenario and focusing on perfection can be damaging emotionally and physically. Your success rate needs to be good but not perfect.
How many days out of 365 were you present and available to move toward what you want?
Could you replicate a great day multiple times throughout a year, semester, season?
When did motivation dip/go up?
Motivation will never be at a constant zenith. You will have days where you want to push, days where you have to push, and days where it would take a shove to get work done.
When you are wanting to push on a day that requires it, that is a special feeling.
Consider reflecting on:
Circumstances that set up the high motivation days. Good diet? No distraction? Healthy relationships?
Circumstances that set up the low motivation days. Pushing too hard? External stress? Lost sight of the main aim?
Did you get bored or were you always chasing excitement?
Let yourself become bored. After all, doing the proverbial “work” is boring. There is no way around it and you may have to wait weeks or months to see any sign of improvement. I do not like this part of the process, but I am trying to accept it. Chasing what is in vogue is a great way to see the needle move each week but leaves you subject to no tangible and lasting improvement. As mentioned above, you do not have to hit the plan 100%. Keep the course, iron out the wrinkles as you go, and get the meat of the work done. You’ll be glad you did.
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You should have gathered that to know you are prepared, you must reflect. Going into an event, an encounter with an employer, or a big exam hoping for something good to happen is playing with fire. Hoping is guessing.
Uncertainty will always be present when it comes to being prepared. Some circumstances are out of your control, but with guided reflection, you can assemble pieces of success you have had in the lead up to a significant goal. Asking yourself questions objectifies the process, and I find great comfort in knowing there is hard data behind the effort I have put in. I don’t tolerate trusting my “gut feeling” in most cases.
Moreover, building a library of what you have done to get it right helps streamline the process for understanding preparedness for future enterprises.