Obstacles and Lessons Learned

Setbacks are an inevitable part of the journey, often providing invaluable insights. Even heroes stumble on their paths but rise stronger each time.

Denzel Washington, a renowned two-time Oscar recipient, once said:

“At some point, you will encounter failure; accept it! You will face losses, embarrassments, and challenges, without a doubt. However, if you never experience failure, you haven't truly attempted anything!”

Acknowledging that the journey may be fraught with hurdles or criticism is essential. It’s entirely possible that you may not achieve your goals on the first try.

The Roadmap

Often, we can become immobilized by the desire for immediate results! The fear of failing can hinder our progress. When we map out our journey and conduct research, it’s easy to overanalyze.

Avoid overthinking!

Excessive deliberation can drastically reduce your chances of moving forward. Once you decide to act, it’s crucial to take the first step within 48 hours; otherwise, your likelihood of taking action diminishes significantly.

Planning and structuring a roadmap towards your objectives is vital. Break down your goals into manageable stages and milestones.

Get More From Your Time: 7 Tactics For Achieving Personal Goals

You’ve set out on a new project. The thrill, enthusiasm, and joy you feel at this moment are entirely normal.

If you find it challenging to identify milestones, take a sheet of A4 paper and draw three large squares:

1. In the first square, label: The First Stage
2. In the second square, label: The Second Stage
3. In the final square, label: The Third Stage

This might seem trivial, but the goal is to take action swiftly without getting bogged down in unnecessary details.

When launching a new business, much time can be wasted on trivialities like logo design or business cards, often before the product is even defined or potential clients are met.

Your immediate focus should be on delineating these stages. Their collective sum leads to the “big goal.” Concentrate on what you can do in the first stage, leaving the others for later consideration.

How to Tackle Big Tasks? Bite-Size Portions!

Just like eating an elephant, big projects must be approached one bite at a time.

Initially, focus on the first stage and then progress to the next as you make headway.

Three military strategies inspire this approach:

• Rommel, who caused chaos on the African front, believed it was pointless to have superior numbers if they could be attacked and destroyed one by one.
• Napoleon prioritized dividing a superior army into smaller groups for targeted attacks.
• Subodai, a famed Mongol general, successfully divided his enemies by retreating just enough to maintain contact, allowing him to attack them individually.

Mastering Focus: The Secret to Productivity

There are times when we lose the joy in our work and start questioning our motives.

Taking Action

In the initial phases, taking action is often more critical than understanding every detail. General George S. Patton famously remarked:

“A good plan executed immediately is better than a perfect plan executed later.”

If you’re like me, the term “violently” may sound harsh, but the essence is to get moving now!

Strategic Planning

Being pragmatic and strategic involves knowing what to avoid. You can be recognized for both attributes simultaneously.

When discussing strategy, people often equate it with the ability to formulate an action plan. Here are some reflective questions to consider:

• What task can you start with ease?
• What can you begin quickly?

I draw three squares, label them, and decide where to initiate my efforts.

For me, strategy signifies knowing what not to pursue. Every choice entails relinquishing other options.

Starting from the simple and progressing to the complex, I place easier tasks in the first square and more challenging ones in the second and third squares. If the second square appears too complex, I treat it as a standalone project and re-evaluate.

Learn from your setbacks and keep moving forward. Remember, there is no failure; only feedback.