JUST ASK AARON

"They also serve who only stand and wait."

John Milton (1608-1674) English poet.

Aaron Rodgers stood and waited behind Brett Farve three years for his chance to play.

Waiting for his moment.

You may be ready but your moment may not be.

Patience

BEWARE PRE JUDGEMENT

"Always have your hook baited in the pool you least think there will be a fish."

Ovid (BC 43-AD 18) Roman poet.

This reminds me how often the business I thought my company would win didn't happen, while we frequently got that I was fairly certain we wouldn't.

I guess the moral is, if you're going to fish be ready to catch.

LUCKY PREPARATION

"In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared minds."

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895) French scientist

Luck has something to do with it but those most prepared are luckier than those not.

PREPARING TO WIN

"Diligence is the mother of good luck."

Benjamin Franklin

18th century American statesman, scientist and philosopher

You can win by being at the right place at the right time, but you won't often get there by chance.

Prepare To Succeed

"Fortune favors the prepared mind."

Louis Pasteur

19th century French scientist

You'd expect a scientist to say this but what about in business?

It is true for anything that matters.

Success comes with preparedness.

Taking Care Of Business

"A small leak can sink a great ship."

Benjamin Franklin

18th century American statesman, philosopher, inventor

"Leaks" come in many forms and in business they are often the small things that don't get the attention they deserve.

Are You Ready?

"Always have your hook baited in the pool you least think there will be a fish."

Ovid

1st century Roman poet

I've noticed that sometimes the deals I thought I would get did not happen while the ones I assumed would not, did.

And none of those would have had my "hook" not been "baited".

I wonder how many I missed because I never went after them?

The Win To Those Who Prepare

"The task we must set for ourselves is not to feel secure, but to be able to tolerate insecurity."

Erich Fromm

20th century psychoanalyst/social philosopher

Excellent advice for anyone starting his or her career.

The days of lifetime employment, if they ever existed, are now gone.  Whatever security you have you will make.

But don't fear that.  Understanding that is what is, is half the battle with the other half being, you must prepare accordingly.

Vigilance: Staying Successful

"He is most free from danger, who, even when safe, is on his guard."

Publilius Syrus
1st century BC Roman writer/poet

Ironically, it is success that often sets one up for failure.

Companies doing well often lose the edge that made them successful.

Be watchful!

Preparation: The Value of Being Ready

"Confidence is preparation. Everything else is beyond your control."

Richard Kline
Actor

Possibly, but in preparation we gain control of some things that will otherwise be out of our control.

Yes?

Execution: Making it Look Easy

"The greatest efforts in sports came when the mind is as still as a glass lake."

Timothy Gallwey
Tennis Coach, Author

I know that "glass lake" calmness feeling.

It comes when you just know you are prepared, usually after a lot of hard work getting ready.

Do you think this only applies to sports?

I don't.

Preparedness: Ready to Be Lucky?

"In the field of observation, chance favors only the prepared mind."

Louis Pasteur

I should think in any field actually.

When someone says she or he makes their luck, I believe it is more a case of being prepared to act (a "prepared mind") on whatever circumstance ("chance") presents itself.

Are you prepared? For what?

Preparation: The Elixir of Success

"If I had eight hours to chop down a tree, I'd spend six sharpening my axe."

Abraham Lincoln

What a great quote to summarize the importance of preparedness.

And Senaca tells us that it isn't luck but rather preparation that helps us achieve our goals ("Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.")

I could occasionally benefit from more preparation both in my business and personal lives.

And it's not a matter of time that I don't better prepare. I obviously have the time to go back and do what I should have done in the first place.

What about you?