There are two big reasons why you should always fight to get ahead of the curve.
The first gets talked about a fair bit (though nowhere near as much as it should). But the second I think is new — I’ve not heard it expressed like this before, anyway…
The first point is that it unlocks the potential for better results.
When you’ve reviewed the situation first and you get ahead of the game, then that makes all the downstream actions easier.
You’ve already thought through what you’re going to have to do ahead of time. And you’ve positioned yourself well in order to be in the right place to act when the time comes.
All the important things get done naturally — without any rush or the need to force anything. And they get done correctly.
So things are less likely to go wrong.
And you have strength in reserve to go after any “nice to have” optional extras when the opportunity materializes.
And that’s all great…
But there’s something else here too. Something that I’m finding more and more important to me the more time goes by.
When you’ve taken the time to do the upstream work then you get to experience more joy on the journey.
You don’t have to dedicate all your energy and focus over to fighting every step of the way. And you no longer need to be in a state of constant alertness — anticipating the need for a panicked response to a sudden catastrophe.
You’ve spied out the course well in advance. And you’re in a great position.
This not only gives you the opportunity to switch off from time to time. The chance to indulge in recovery which sets you up to perform better in the future.
It also means you can choose to relax and savour the ride.
And that’s perhaps the greatest gift of all.
Because the current moment is always where it’s at.
Yes, it’s nice to look back afterwards on a job well done. But you’ve missed out on half of it if you had no time to experience that in the moment.
When you’re achieving AND you’re fully present and appreciative of the big picture while doing it. That’s satisfaction.