From ML Cavanaugh:
"Strategic possibility
Strategists can be dreamers. We sometimes day-dream about what might come to pass, what possibilities we might achieve. I think that’s great. If we don’t dream something new, then it’s likely nobody ever gets going anywhere good.
I’ve been thinking about how it is we can estimate the far-bounds of possibility. And my sense is there’s nothing wrong with wild-blue-yonder thinking as long as it’s tempered somewhat and grounded in cold-hard-reality.

So here’s what I’d suggest. The next time you want to think through how far you can push your organization or yourself towards the far end of strategic possibility, draw an hourglass shape with an open part in the middle.

At the very top, write out that wild-idea. What you think you might be able to accomplish, what dream you want to run down. How far do you think you can push yourself in competition, versus an adversary, against a marketplace competitor. Ask and answer: What might I accomplish?

Then, at the bottom, what’s the track record look like. Have you done something like this before? What’s the base rate comparison? Have you faced this adversary before? If so, how did it go?

Finally, in the middle of the hourglass: what are your current assets and liabilities that are pertinent to this competition.

If the gap between the top (stretch) aim and the bottom base rate is enormous—maybe you’ve got some asset ammo laying around that you think can help get you from the bottom to the top. Or maybe you see a time period where a lead-weight-liability won’t be a factor and you think you can gain some ground.

#LessonsInStrategy

Today, I want to talk about a hidden obstacle we face in our journeys. One that can trip up the best of us if we’re not careful.

To start, let’s look at these:

“I’ll resume working out after my vacation.”
“I’ll start back up with my diet after the baby is born.”
“I’ll go back to the gym after January 1st.”
These statements seem reasonable. After all, modern life can be hectic. All of us are juggling a lot.

At times, we can feel like we’re trapped in a scene from I Love Lucy:

"I think we're fighting a losing game!"
Why can’t we just pause things until they calm down?

Over the years, I’ve realized the problem with this mindset. It makes us wait for some “perfect” time so we can hit our “perfect” workout and “perfect” diet.

For example, here’s another way to think about those statements:

“If I can’t follow my workout and nutrition plan exactly - I fail.
​
I need to wait until the right time so I can try again and succeed.”
Yeah. When we put it like that, the problem starts to be more apparent: we’re destined to feel like a failure when things don’t go 100% correct or we can’t give it 100% of our effort.

But I understand why many of us get caught up in this mindset. We’re bombarded online with the promise of quick results…as long as we follow the right plan.

Spend even a little time on social media and you’ll come across:

“Toned in 90 days.”
“Reform your Body in 12 Weeks”
“How to Get That Beach Body by Summer”
The problem is these programs aren’t designed for the long term. How could they be? They’re too restrictive and brutal. They make us want to tap out.

Person laying on the floor hitting the groundd
A few weeks of adherence is about the best most of us can do.

Because no matter what, something in life WILL come up:

The babysitter has to cancel.
A new project pops up at work.
The car breaks down and leaves us stranded.
Then, we think:

“Okay, this is all too much. Something has to give. I’ll just hit 'pause' on my workouts and diet. Just for a little bit.”

And real talk alert: pausing can feel great at first. It allows us to catch our breath and relax. It’s refreshing to take things off our plate for a little while.

But this relief is short-lived. Our “pause” make us feel guilty. Like a failure.

We begin asking, “Why can’t I ever make progress? Why can’t I stick to anything?”

Do this pattern enough times, over enough years, and getting in shape starts to feel like a pipedream. Something that will never happen, because we’ve tried so many times before with no success.

This my friend is the danger of “All or Nothing” thinking. And yes, it is all too common in the fitness world.

So! The next time life gets busy and you think about hitting PAUSE, take a moment to ask yourself, “What can I do today, even if it seems really really small, that will help me move towards my goal?”

Maybe this small action is:

A lean source of protein for breakfast.
A quick walk around the block during lunch.
5 bodyweight squats and push-ups before dinner.
Remember, it all counts. Even if it seems tiny.

It might be better than hitting “pause” again.

#AttributionMatters