If you stay ready, you don’t have to get ready. Will Smith
We all must have trained or prepared for something in life once – a big event, a defining moment. It could be to lose weight to fit into smaller clothes for a special event, train for a half marathon, study for an exam, or research and rehearse for an interview. After the event, the natural instinct is to return to our old routine and habits, irrespective of whether we enjoyed the process or not, whether we achieved the desired result or not. Mission accomplished. There is nothing to prepare for any more, no immediate target or specific goal to prepare for. Our bodies generally rebel against anything outside our comfort zones. It may tolerate it for a short term, but not for the long term. Being able to sustain it long term without falling back to our old routines or habits, which have likely not helped that much in the past, is what this blog is about.
It may take long or longer that you anticipate, but opportunity will always present itself to a prepared person
Having something to look forward to – a goal, a task, a deadline, an exam gives us the focus, the incentive to prepare and be ready. It takes courage, confidence and dedication to invest in all sorts of training and preparation for an opportunity you don’t know will ever happen. From my experience and observation, I have discovered the opportunity we seek comes from unlikely sources and when least expected. Opportunities are scarce commodities that last for but a few moments. It would have been great if opportunities could announce when they intend to travel along our paths. Every lost opportunity is someone else’s gain. No opportunity is really lost; a ready soul will always seize the moment. We describe those as lucky, but are they really lucky? Luck is a combination of preparation and opportunity. That may just be the difference between you and the one you admire, especially when you consider yourself more skillful. It may take long or longer that you anticipate, but opportunity will always present itself to a prepared person. That, I believe is a great incentive to be prepared.
Every lost opportunity is someone else’s gain. No opportunity is really lost; a ready soul will always seize the moment.
Life, as we all know, is full of surprises. Who knew few months ago that the UK would be headhunting for a new prime minister in Summer 2016 and or possibly a new leader for the opposition party? The only way you can predict life is to be ready for all possible variables in the pursuit of your desired life. Being ready is positioning yourself for a decent chance to seize the opportunity when it presents itself. After Iceland beat England at the lockout stage of Euro 2016, their coach/part-time dentist, Heimir Hallgrimsson was asked about the team, he said,
But no obstacle is too big for these guys now. If you want the best out of life you have to be ready when the opportunity comes. That is a fact and these boys were ready and this opportunity that was put in our hand was huge – it can change their lives”
What an experience for them. They ranked below England in everything except they believed in themselves and in their preparation. Some of us have lost incredible opportunities because we felt we were not ready or we were unprepared to maximize the chance. Despite the fact that our job, to be ready, is cut out for us, we still find it incredibly difficult to be ready should another opportunity resurface.
Being ready requires living a disciplined life. This includes doing what your body, soul and mind does not want to do but requires to stay ready. That’s the secret to staying ready. Day in, day out. Even when you decide to take a break, in rest mode, you are ready – why? Because you have made what’s required a way of life rather than a task. Transforming some, if not all that’s required of you into daily routine can be the best effort in the right direction.
Benefits of Being Ready
1. Being ready will help you identify opportunities before they become obvious to others. Often, opportunities come in disguise; dress up as hard work, problems, change of circumstances, etc.
2. Being ready will help you know how to analyze each circumstance, how to respond to or seize the opportunity.
3. Being ready will boost your confidence and energy. I realize I do better playing squash when I train or exercise prior to my league game.
4. Many times, preparation is a breeding ground for creativity and innovation. While you are getting ready for one thing, another can be birthed. Being ready gives you the confidence to explore new grounds and make bold decisions.
5. Being ready creates opportunities to consider most scenarios and how to respond. One of Iceland football team’s strengths is their long ball throw-in. The English team knew about this, but seemed not to have had a plan to neutralize this weapon. We all know how it ended for England in Euro 2016.
Why Many Cannot Sustain the “Be-Ready” Game
Starting something new often requires energy. The adrenaline tends to wane when we have reached our goal, sometimes even before. This is where discipline comes in. Preparation, or being ready, is hard work, and therefore requires discipline. You have to be ready to ride the waves, stay with it even when the enthusiasm has waned and the energy is low.
Realize that preparation is an investment into your future, and it keeps you one step ahead.
How to Stay Ready
1. Be Disciplined
Create a structure of activities and time, and be intentional about following through on them. Remember, you will not always feel like following through, it will not be the easy thing to do all the time, but consistency brings good results.
2. Make what’s required a way of life, part of your daily routine rather than a task
You are more likely to accommodate or acclimatize to something if you incorporate it in your everyday life; many times, we lose interest in fostering new habits after a set task is accomplished. For example, if you set a goal to lose some weight to fit into a wedding dress or to have a beach body, you may accomplish the goal, but after the wedding, or when summer is over, you may find yourself slipping into old habits and re-gaining the weight you lost. The best way to stay fit is to make it a way of life, not a seasonal thing. Incorporate it into your lifestyle.
3. Be Accountable
Have someone you can do the action with (a partner) and or find someone else that can hold you accountable. Sometimes, knowing that someone will take you to task is enough motivation to do what you need to do. Make sure your accountability partner is not ceremonial; that they care enough about you to actually check on you and your goals at reasonable intervals. And also, ensure that they are someone you respect and will listen to.
4. Create a Compelling Reason
Finally, you may need to create a compelling reason/goal for yourself to stay ready.
