Game changer

We are often puzzled by success, as in most of the cases we do average work and expect outcomes to be average at best.

And so, when something extraordinary happens, we invest time in trying to figure out what is the reason, what have we done this time we have not done before, what is the difference. We do this because we’d like to replicate such unexpected success, make it the norm, the future average.

The truth is, most of this type of success is due to a weird combination of factors that we often call luck.

So if you really want to craft your success, at least do it before it happens. Build a practice, be consistent and relentless, use common sense and reiterate. All these things tend to get lost when we look back at success, as we desperately want to focus on that tiny little detail that changed it all (it did not, of course).

Against the wall

Figuring out where you want to go is just as important as understanding what you have to leverage to get there.

If you set goals for yourself (or your team) that are not supported by the resources you have available, you are just making it easier to hit the head against the wall.

Real challenges

The fourth blog post.

The second month in an important project.

The tenth episode of your podcast.

The sixth year in your wedding.

The eleventh year of being a parent.

The fifth exam at the university.

The twentieth cover letter you customise.

The third year in your job.

That’s where the real challenge lies.

Getting started takes mindset and effort, but the adrenaline of “new” might make up for a lack in both. It’s when you have to keep going with no cheers at every turn that things get tough.

Jigsaw puzzles

The pain that we feel, the fear that stops us, the worry that keeps us up.

They rarely go away for good. They are hardwired into our brains and they tend to come back as the circumstances around us shift towards something we have already experienced in the past. Somebody who hurt us, a sudden scare for our wellbeing, an highly anticipated event.

We must be happy when we manage to put them in their place.

Like the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. We cannot lose any of them, and yet as we progress, their relevance diminishes in front of the full picture.

Oneself

Being in touch with oneself helps stay sane in these insane days.

Knowing what’s going on inside, being able to name feelings, flagging thoughts as mere thoughts (vs reality), catching signals from one’s body, sharing concerns and fears with loved ones. All this is more important than being informed on the latest numbers and the progresses towards the development of a vaccine.

We have the power to act on us, and that’s pretty much all we have control on. Whether there’s a pandemic ongoing or not.