The Importance of Preparation in Business and Life

Preparation: “the actions you take when no one is looking to enhance the actions you take when someone is looking”.

In the realms of football, business, and life, preparation stands as a cornerstone for success. The chapter “Preparation” from “First and Ten on the Twenty…Is it Football, Business or Life?” draws enlightening parallels between these fields, emphasizing that the foundation for triumph in any endeavor is laid long before the public sees the results. This blog post will delve into the three essential forms of preparation: personal, organizational, and action preparation, and illustrate how each form is crucial for professionals aiming to excel. The most important stage of preparation is personal preparation because we all own it.

Personal Preparation: Building Individual Strengths

Personal preparation is the enhancement of an individual’s capabilities and knowledge. In football, this means a player continuously training to run faster, be stronger and react quicker, thus increasing their value to the team. Similarly, in business and life, personal preparation involves enhancing one’s skills and knowledge to become more valuable to employers, clients, and oneself.

Continuous Learning and Self-Improvement

One key aspect of personal preparation is continuous learning. As professionals, it is vital to keep enhancing our expertise and capabilities. This not only keeps us ahead in our fields but also prepares us to overcome and resolve future challenges and be responsive when opportunities arise. This is the same as athletes who constantly train to remain at peak performance, even after they have reached the pinnacle their sport.  For those who may enjoy music more than sports, musicians (and I know many of them) practice and enhance their skills every day to ensure they are completely prepared to provide a stellar performance when they walk onto a stage

Education, which I sometimes call “knowledge acquisition,” should go beyond learning about your profession; it should also include items such as how to communicate effectively with people and continually study your competition. For those who are business-to-business, you should have a thorough understanding of how your product or service will enhance your client’s product or service. This is only a partial list of the topics a business professional needs to focus on.

Knowledge acquisition should be a lifelong pursuit, extending far beyond formal education. Taking personal responsibility for your growth and success is crucial. This means not waiting for opportunities to come to you, but actively seeking them out and preparing for them. It involves setting personal goals and working diligently to achieve them. This emphasis on proactive learning and growth inspires you to be more intentional and strategic in your career development.

Increasing one’s knowledge is a habit that should be a daily activity because it will dramatically enhance one’s business and career. A football player does not stop weightlifting or speed exercise once he has made the team. He keeps these activities as part of his regimen. Why? If he removes these activities once he has made a team, he will gradually become irrelevant.

Organizational Preparation: Strategizing for Success

Organizational preparation takes place behind the scenes and involves strategic planning and coordination. In football, this begins shortly after the previous season ends, with teams focusing on improving for the next season. Similarly, in business, organizational preparation includes board meetings, strategy sessions, and planning initiatives that set the stage for future success. This is also the stage or preparation where leadership begins.

Setting the Right Parameters

Organizational preparation involves setting clear goals and parameters for success. This might include:

• Strategic Planning: Defining long-term goals and the steps needed to achieve them.
• Resource Allocation: Ensuring that resources such as finances, personnel, and technology are optimally utilized.
• Risk Management: Identifying potential risks and devising strategies to mitigate them.

In business, this could mean planning a new marketing campaign, preparing to launch a new product, or expanding into new markets. In life, it might involve setting personal goals, such as buying a house or advancing one’s career. The key is to have a clear vision and a well-thought-out plan to achieve it.

Action Preparation: The effective joining of both Personal and Organizations Preparation

Action preparation is the final phase, where personal and organizational preparations come together to achieve success. In football, this is the execution of plays during a game and the coordination of those who support the action on the field.  In music it is the coming together of all the instruments and their parts in an orchestra. The best example of action preparation is a New York City Broadway musical’s practice and rehearsals. These rehearsals are where the musicians, actors, stage crew, lighting, and many more come together to ensure the show is perfect before an audience purchases tickets to see the show. In business, it could be the last meeting before a new strategy is implemented or the final preparation to launch of a new product. In life, it could be taking the necessary steps to achieve a personal goal.

Putting Plans into Action

Effective action preparation involves:

• Implementation: Carrying out the plans with precision and attention to detail.
• Monitoring Progress: Keeping track of progress and making necessary adjustments.
• Feedback and Improvement: Learning from the outcomes and continuously improving the process.

For all of the preparation stages to be effective, there must be a commitment to continually obtaining new skills and the acquisition of useful information. This education or knowledge will continually evolve because businesses, the marketplace, and professions are continually evolving.  

The Role of Education in Professional Growth – Why is this important?

Education fosters creativity, problem-solving skills, and the ability to navigate unforeseen challenges. For professionals, this means going beyond merely completing tasks to understanding the broader context and implications of their work.

“Education provides knowledge, allowing a person to be creative in charting a course that has the best possible chances of success in both life and business. It creates a mindset of being able to circumvent the competition when all does not go according to plan.”

In football, players must understand the game beyond just their specific roles. They need to know the strategies and be able to adapt during a game. Similarly, in business, professionals must understand their industry, market trends, and the competitive landscape to make informed decisions.

The Habit of Continuous Learning

Continuous learning should be a habit for every professional. It involves regularly updating one’s knowledge and skills to remain relevant and competitive. This can be achieved through:

• Reading: Staying informed about the latest trends and developments in your field.
• Networking: Engaging with peers and industry experts to exchange ideas and insights.
• Personal Development: Pursuing courses, certifications, or other forms of education to enhance one’s skill set.

“Do not leave personal advancement to chance. One only knows what he or she knows, and continuing to learn long after one’s formal education has ended is moving the chains on your knowledge.”

Conclusion: Preparation is Key

Preparation, whether personal, organizational, or action-oriented, is essential for success in football, business, and life. It involves continuous learning, strategic planning, and effective execution. By understanding and implementing these forms of preparation, professionals can enhance their capabilities, achieve their goals, and navigate the challenges they encounter.

This blog post draws on the insights from the fourth chapter of my book “First and Ten on the Twenty…is it Football, Business or Life?”, where twenty-four aspects of the business and game of football are explored in depth on how they can be applied to business and life.  For more on strategic planning and achieving business excellence, delve into the full text and discover how to apply these principles. https://toddsmithconsulting.com/author/