Lessons from Space

My editor told me that this article was too long so;

There are two ways to read this article:

1. Read the entire piece for maximum learning. (Recommended)

2. Read the bold parts.

 One of my most prized passions is my Atari Asteroid game.  It was the game I spent way to much time playing while over socializing at the pub my two first years of college. I bought the game a few years back as it somehow represented a certain right of passage into my success.  Weird, Huh?  Recently while playing I began to think about all the correlations between the game and life.  Here is what I came up with.

• Create time to allow your mind to wonder – great ideas tend to come when you are involved in something else.  Make sure you have paper or a digital voice recorder to capture your thoughts. 

• Know where you are at all times and be aware of what is around – This is called "Situational Awareness". 

• See the whole game. Don't get caught up or bogged down in the minutia.

• When your time comes will you be ready? With everything there is a learning curve.  You may not realize you are improving and then one day – BAM!   Train, Train, Train! Remember the five Ps – Proper Planning Produces Peak Performance

• Living on the edge is dangerous and exciting – If you choose to do so you will appeal to a specific segment of the population but not all.  Decide what your market is and go for that.  My clientele has always been those extremely serious about creating change.  Decide what you do best and do it better than anybody else. You Cannot Be All Things To All People. 

• Sometimes the harder you work, the less you get accomplished – This is called The Law of Diminished Return – At these times, you just have to step away from a project for a while.  Especially when you feel you can't – you must.

• At times finesse is called for and other times a sledgehammer. There is a time to assertively act and a time to step back and observe.   The Art of Leadership  (http://pscompetitiveedge.com/seminars.html) dictates knowing when to apply the tools in your toolbox.

• Keep your mind in the game – If you are in the present moment while engaging in your tasks you will diminish costly mistakes and accidents.   Sometimes you will have to shift priorities immediately and walk away from what you are involved with, even though you are massively engaged. When this happens, shift gears and become involved in your new situation 100%.

• You have to know how any game is played and what the rules of the game are in order to win.  If you do not, do not play until you do. Do not get set up to fail or set anyone else up to fail.

• In stressful times it is imperative you slow down and remember to breathe.

• Be aware of your body positioning.  Is your current physiology supporting the state of mind you wish to have?  If not, shift your body positioning until you feel different.  This stuff works when you work it! My buddy Brian says Motion creates Emotion. www.briancain.com

• Practice creates mastery. There is no perfection.

• Be gentle with yourself – If you make a mistake, learn from it and move forward.  You may want to compartmentalize and see situations as one scene in an ongoing movie. You have the power to write the last chapter!

• Identify your peek productive periods during the day and whenever possible schedule accordingly.

• Never force anything – (note to self Pete) Allow things to unfold.

• Avoid danger when you can. Face it head on when you must.

• Success leaves clues. If you did something before, you can do it again.  Break things down. Get back to basics.  Others may have gone before you.  Their success also may be helpful as a blue print to your own.

• If you get lucky be grateful but realize you got lucky. Do not kid yourself into believing that you are really that good. Your luck will run out!

• It's not over until it's over!  If one strategy is not working, find another way.  If you need help, ask for it.

There are lessons in everything if you are open to them.  Look, Listen, get your ego out of the way and Learn.  When you have your lesson, frame it in the most positive way and ask - How am I going to apply this lesson in order to move things forward in a positive direction?

Playing Asteroids may perhaps be a guy thing but I believe you would agree with me that the many lessons learned and shared are valuable. If you are a tad cynical you may be thinking that I may have a bit to much free time on my hands! Either way hire me and I will deliver big time for you! Lesson – You don't ask you don't get.

If You Would like more information about the many services I provide through Peter Scott's Competitive Edge please visit my web site at www.PsCompetitiveEdge.com.

Until next time, continue to strive for excellence!

Peter Scott