Winning is what we all want in life. With 2019 beckoning we all want to set New Year resolutions and hope the next year will be better than the current year. However this year is not only end of this year but also of the decade. This is a great chance for all of us to dream even bigger. Having a 10 year time horizon for our lives can get our juices flowing. We can review the past decade and see where we have done well. We can then decide what changes we need to make for the coming decade to be the best of our lives.
I have come up with 7 ways we can win in the coming decade. I have expanded each letter of the word Winning.
Work Hard and Smart — It is so important to work hard no question about that. However it is not just about putting 12 hours into your work. It is about maximizing productivity with the available time. Focus on top priorities and understand what the key result areas of your job are. Focus only on that and eliminate non value adding activities. Work hard while being smart. Remember if you want to be thriving by the time 2030 comes we need to make sure we are in great shape mentally and physically to sustain our game for such a long time. We cannot run ourselves into the ground if we want to be around a long time.
Stay Inspired — Inspiration is the fuel you need to accomplish all your goals. Decide on things that keep your inspired. It may be reading a motivational book, for others it may be when you spend time with people who are inspiring, or it may be playing the sport you enjoy. Whatever it is make sure you stay inspired and it is something that has to be planned. As it has been mentioned so many times it is the rituals which will sustain you on the success journey. Make sure you have consistent rituals which keep you inspired most of the time.
Never stop innovating — Innovating means always looking to improve the current realities. It is about challenging the status quo. It doesn’t have to completely original. Apple didn’t invent the mp3 player but they made sure they focused on breakthrough design with deep empathy for the customer providing the most innovative design. One book that can help here is Originals by Adam Grant. It is a wonderful book on the subject of innovation. 11 Inspiring Lessons from Originals. With the new decade beckoning we can take the opportunity to plan for new innovations within our sphere of influence.
Never stop learning –Again with the abundance of information available we can all be on the cutting edge of the learning revolution. Identify experts in your field, read their blogs, listen to their podcasts, read their books, document what you have learned and share what you have learned. There is no end to education.
Have an Impact — We all want our lives to matter. With the advent of social media and other platforms we all have great avenues to showcase our talent. Create what you want and share it with others. You are a brand now and the way you manage that is up to you. You can have an impact where you are and we don’t need authorities to acknowledge us. Impact is intensely personal but you can decide how it looks for you.
Never say die — The one thing that is certain in our lives is roadblocks on the way to our goals. As the saying goes when the going gets tough the tough get going. Never give up and always keep the prize in mind. Keep your long term vision always in focus while you encounter short term setbacks. Never give up on your vision. As Angela Duckworth says grit is passion and perseverance towards long term goals.
Go for greatness — What I mean by this word is not that you are going to be number one in everything you do. What I am trying to say with this is to aim to maximise your own potential. When you give your best, you feel better. When you are making progress in your life you feel happier. Abraham Maslow said self-actualization is the key to a life fully lived. We can decide how we want our lives to look by the time 2030 shows up.
There you have it the seven keys to winning in the years to come to make this decade the absolute best of your life.
The views expressed here are my own and do not represent my organization.