Skip to main content

Compete! Instead of trying to game the system, force the system to play in your game

I think that'll be the title of my book when I finally write one. The basis of the concept was brought to my attention as we were looking at a flowing grass landscape, beautiful, the occasional scrub oak with a horizon of snow-capped mountains. An artist friend pointed out the beautiful striations of color; being taller, I saw more of a giraffe coloring. The comment was, "imagine that was a 2 d picture". My response, "you can't compete with Nature" discussion then morphed into winning and losing, and therefore, you can compete with Nature, you just will always lose. However, to compete is to compete, and during competition, there is no winner or loser; there is just competition. Staying in context, did Michalango win when he took the stone and turned it into a masterpiece we now know as David? Or did Nature, because Nature supplied Michalango the image of David to make out of stone? Either way, I sure am glad that Michalango engaged in that competition. 

That brings me to the overarching concept and that is always compete, it is a natural right to compete even beyond that; a natural requirement. The sum of good competition is exelecence, or in quotient form 1+1=3. It is in our nature to compete, and as we evolve, we compete in different categories, but the essence remains the same. Personally I've competed for my time, that competition of time was presented to me at a fairly early age when I was told I had only a limited amount of it. Therefore being the most fininate resource in my existence I turned every decision into a competition for the time I had. Choices were made based on the resource, how much time it would take, and how much enjoyment/money/etc. I would have/earn/etc. Living in a form of an algorithm, caused me to compete for an understanding of how to make decisions  more efficiently, how to get results more efficient, and therefore turning everything into a competition of my time. Everything had to compete for my time, including but certainly not limited to my work or at the time my job. Now it has morphed into my work. I am way more likely to allow my work to compete for my time than my job, with a job, it was always a competition for my time, every day, what about my job is competing for my time, that would be my daily ritual, though in algorithmic form. So many "self help" books / pod casts / channels try to achieve this very simple task, by creating efficiencies in your every day. However if at the root of your completion you are competing for efficiencies, and not time, you will be wasting time trying to become more efficient in spite of your time spent on efficient efforts. If on the other hand you realize that the end goal of efficiencies is to compete for your time, then efficiencies become second nature. You no longer question the outcome if the completion plays in your favor. So instead of trying to "game the system" you create a game of the system, you make the system compete for your time. 

Developing ...

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Psychology of Money: A Personal Insight

Recently, I had an experience that reshaped my understanding of the psychology of money. I took over a property management job where part of my payment came in physical cash, money previously directed to someone else for this task.  Most tenants paid digitally or by check, but one unit always paid in cash. Having that "management" fee/ maintenance fee tangible, in my hand, ignited a unique perspective. It wasn’t about the amount, but the form in which it arrived.  Sure, I could take a full-time job earning in excess of $10K a month. However, that wouldn’t necessarily change my life as it would only take more of my time, the one resource I can't regenerate.  Surprisingly, the extra $1K in cash monthly had a more significant impact, not because it was a windfall, but because it made me more mindful of my earnings. The physicality of cash and the process of earning it manually introduced a sense of value and respect for my work that was somewhat abstract before.  This p...
Post a Comment
Read more

Elk Hunt - Shakespearean style

In Meeker's vale, where mountains touch the skies, An alfalfa field before us calmly lies. Two hundred fifty elk, a sight to glean, To move unseen a task, nigh unforeseen. Our guide named Hugh, and Father by my side, We hunker down, in quiet we abide. At last I spot him—five by five, the bull, Amidst his kin, the scene is nearly full. A hundred thirty-eight yards separates, My steady aim on destiny debates. For three long minutes, in my sight he stays, But cow elk guard him, blocking aim and gaze. I dare adjust—alert, they bark and flee, My chance arrives, as if by fate's decree. The cows disperse, the bull steps forth alone, My rifle speaks; its aim and end are known. Down falls the bull, as twilight fades from view, Amidst the field and mountains' varied hue. A tale to pass, from elder unto youth, Of patience, skill, and undying truth.
Post a Comment
Read more

Off-Ball Coaching: The Unsung Hero of Teamwork in Sports and Business

Introduction We all admire the quarterback who throws the winning touchdown or the CEO who nails the game-changing deal. But what about the unsung heroes—the players or associates who operate "off-ball," setting the stage for that crucial moment of glory? In both sports and corporate settings, off-ball coaching is an essential but often overlooked aspect of success. It's not just about the person with the ball (or in charge); it's about the invisible machinery of teamwork, communication, and leadership that makes the winning play possible. The Crucial Role of Off-Ball Communication in Sports Soccer: Anticipating and Planning In soccer, it's not just about the player who has the ball; it's also about the other ten players who are continuously positioning themselves, making runs, or calling out marks. They're planning two, three, or four steps ahead to ensure smooth execution. - **Takeaway**: Just as in business, anticipation and planning can streamline acti...
Post a Comment
Read more