Natural Strategic Mindset Edge

"Strategic thinking rarely occurs spontaneously" ~ Michael Porter

"However beautiful the strategy, you should occasionally look at the results." ~ Winston Churchill

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

"I've always been kind of a strategic thinking person - I love sports for instance, but my interest in sports is 'cause I love watching strategy in action or playing it. I'm not into the drama so much, of the physical action. I'm interested in the coach and how he's strategizing." ~ Robert Greene

Life is often a game of chess-strategic, long-term thinking, and adjustments to unpredictable moves by others. Sometimes, however, it is checkers-straightforward, fast decisions, and immediate progress the focus.

A chess mindset, being ahead of the game, thinking a few steps ahead, flexibility toward the unexpected-this is some of the strong ways to lead life. This would align with any aspiration - coaching, mentoring, investment in a business, or higher education.

Yet, it is the difficult positions which usually present themselves from most unexpected, unplanned moves; these are also the very moments when your adaptability and resiliency show through. Like playing against a surprise gambit of your opponent, you did not expect it, but you can adjust to it and still win.

Keep your long-term goals as a beacon to get to. Break down chaos into bits you feel you could deal with. These keep you firmly grounded but adaptable, sure-fire winners in this uncertainty. In that respect, your long-term goals provides clear guidance so one doesn't become lost in today's moments of uncertainty.

This has been one of the reasons individuals can deal with demanding environments, ranging from office politics to those that require big-picture vision, such as coaching, entrepreneurship or federal politics. That is your edge, the natural strategic mind. It is an innate compass within oneself that keeps them forward and going no matter how rough and unpredictable the terrain can get.

It's a question of finding balance between these long-term visions or goals of yourself, be anything you want by finishing that time intensive, strenuous bachelor's or postgraduate degree, climbing up that corporate ladder, or putting up your own business and tackling the next surprise gambit of life.