Preparation, another individual controllable action, that determines how successful we are in life’s daily lessons. The second key to our Mantra while at the Carolina Panthers, Preparation is a key component to controlling our inner A.P.E. (Attitude, Preparation, Effort).
Your willingness to invest in daily and long-term preparation will lead to continued success. Establishing a daily plan and doing what is necessary to put that plan into action successfully is based on the level a preparedness you are willing to invest. I consider this form of preparation as, Purposeful Preparation (PP). Purposeful Preparation shows you have the resolve to invest deeply in putting together an action plan that is definitive in its objective.
Purposeful Preparation allows for quick justifications and efficiency in managing problems because you have already planned ahead and are ready for any “curve ball” that may be thrown your way. By planning and ahead through PP you are saving yourself valuable time and energy that can be utilized on other objectives of the day.
And remember, Failure to Plan = Planning to Fail!
Here is an outtake from an article on Preparation
The Importance of Preparation
BY CAROLE SPIERS ON NOVEMBER 25, 2017
Let’s look at some issues that could help with preparation:
Understand
Do you understand what you are preparing? Do you know why you are doing it? If your work is part of a larger project, do you know what the overall objectives are and what it is that you are trying to accomplish? If the answers to these questions don’t make sense or they do not accord with your aims, then your preparation might be a waste of time.
Pace Yourself
Preparation isn’t all about seeing how fast you can get a job done. It’s more important to focus on doing it efficiently. This might mean that you have to revisit one particular area many times in order to perfect it. This is exactly what preparation is all about: fully understanding the problem and applying the necessary solution.
Set Time Aside
Because preparation is time-consuming, there are some individuals who try to avoid it, wherever possible. But if you task yourself to set aside a period of time that is probably more than you think you are going to need, you will feel very satisfied when you complete the task earlier with some time in hand.
Key Points:
Preparation is essential, not optional
Being prepared saves time and money
Failing to anticipate puts you at a competitive disadvantage
