Are you making this classic mistake?
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What’s the difference between an amateur and a professional? An amateur messes around. He doesn’t take things seriously. He doesn’t have an objective in mind. He’s just playing. That’s fine when we’re building a model railroad or learning to bake our own bread or playing tennis with friends. The stakes are low. Who cares if the end result sucks? But your personal productivity is too important to take this approach. We’re talking about your career, here. We’re talking about your life! Don’t approach your life like an amateur. Be a professional. The professional clarifies her goals. She breaks them down into bite-sized steps. She makes a plan. In other words, the professional has a strategy. When she has to choose, she asks: which option best serves my strategy? Then she executes on that. If you don’t have a plan, you’re letting others dictate the game. That’s fine when you’re playing tennis with your friends, but it’s not fine when we’re talking about the only life you’ll ever have. |
Peter Akkies
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