Written by: Whitnie Wiley, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
As I was out running today, I reflected on a conversation I'd had recently about staying 10k ready. If you think that has something to do with always having an extra 10,000 dollars lying around at all times, that's not the reference. That's a great goal to add to my list, but I digress. I was referring to being able to whip out a 10k or 6.2 mile run at any given moment.
Before you start wondering who, why and what the what? I am using it literally for running, but it translates to a brilliant strategy for life. The desire began when I regularly ran with a group and was actively involved in races ranging from 5ks to half marathons and 200-mile relays. For several reasons, I'm not running that much anymore, but I still see the value of something we frequently quoted. "stay ready, so you don't have to get ready."
Right now, I'm in the process of getting ready. Again. Ready for a 5k, a 10k, and now that it's on my mind keeping a spare $10,000 around for easy access. Why? Because you never know. You never know when an opportunity will present itself, and wouldn't you rather be ready for it than to have to let the moment pass you by because you couldn't take advantage?
In reality, it's not as much about physical readiness as it is the mental one. Are you always in a place with your mindset where you can leverage the resources at your disposal or say yes to opportunities when they come, both those you want and others you didn't know you wanted until they appeared? Or are you used to saying no to things you want because your head isn't in the right place? It's time to stop that and be ready to get what you want.
By having your mind right, you will be able to move forward in ways others can't. Have you ever offered something to someone, then listen to them spend the next 20 minutes explaining why they couldn't accept the offer? They wanted to buy but couldn't pull the trigger. They wore you out with the excuses, so you walked away. The weird thing is they liked what you offered but couldn't get out of their way.
Here are five keys to help you stay ready.
Know what you want to be ready for. Of course, you cannot be prepared for everything nor address every permutation of options that will present themselves, but you can have a general idea of what you want and, therefore, what you want to be able to make a move on when you see it in front of you.
Decide what price you are willing to pay to be ready. When it comes to physical activities, this is easy. I'm eager to put in a few days a week of running time and a couple of days in the gym to have the stamina and ability to run the distances I'm referencing. As it relates to other opportunities, they come at a price, and only you can decide whether the cost of being ready for the potential is worth the risk that it might not happen.
Take steps every day to help you develop the mindset you want, as you need not let the obstacles of doubt and fear stand in your way. Those are the biggest roadblocks to capitalizing on opportunities. There are daily activities you can do that keep you in fighting shape. In this way, you will minimize your doubt and fear. But should they appear, you empower yourself to take action anyway. Pay attention to what you let in your mind through TV, social media, reading material, conversations with family and friends. Garbage in, garbage out.
Recognize and accept that getting ready takes time, energy, and resources, and if you can get prepared once and stay ready, you'll be better for it than having to start from scratch each and every time. Here's something I'm sure you know to be true in your life, when you are on a roll, whether it's taking care of your health, being in a relationship, etc., it's much easier to stay rolling than to start moving from a standstill.
Be creative and open to the how. You don't have to know how you are going to make something happen. You have to be willing to say yes and trust that you will find the way. Being ready doesn't mean having all the answers. It's about tapping into your resourcefulness—your mindset—and doing what it takes to get where you are going.
In addition to the keys above, you can take the time to fortify your mind daily with affirmations or mantras so that when the roadblocks that would thwart your progress attempt to get in your way, you are armed and ready with the antidote to keep them at bay.
Having the right mindset will make the difference in you reaching your goals and dreams or not. Obstacles will pop up. Doubts and fears will appear out of nowhere. You can stay ready by being consistent, persistent, creative, and innovative, or you can give up. The choice is yours.
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Whitnie Wiley, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Whitnie Wiley is a leader in organizational, leadership, and employee development. After spending years in companies with crummy cultures and lousy leadership, Whitnie has dedicated herself to helping organizations and individuals adopt and implement strategies that create workplaces people love to work in. As an in-demand coach, speaker, and trainer, Whitnie shares wisdom from her own life experiences, as well as those of her clients, with grace, humility, and humor to drive change in today's business world. Her clients include aspiring, emerging and new executives aiming to be the kinds of leaders even they'd want to work for and organizations seeking to hire, develop and promote the best talent. Whitnie is a seven-time bestselling author and is anticipating the publication of four books in 2021, including her first solo effort, "The SIMPLE Leader(TM)." As the host of "Love Your Work," she interviews guests about the work they love to do, their journey, and lessons learned along the way. She also co-hosts the "Life, Lemons & LemonDrops" and the "Beyond Your Best Plan" podcasts.
