Prepare

As we start the first full week of 2025, we continue our preparations for the year ahead.

Preparation can seem tedious. Sometimes we don’t immediately understand the value that it provides, so we question its importance. Why prepare when we can simply show up? Isn’t the important part the actual race (or game or meeting)?

Whether its training for a race or getting ready for something else in life, preparing increases our confidence, reduces our stress, enhances our creativity and overall allows us to perform better.

As NFL quarterback Russell Wilson has said, “The separation is in the preparation.”

The public sees the moments when the lights shine bright and the winners win and the losers lose. But the winners separate themselves from the losers long before game time, during the lonely solo runs, rigorous study sessions and grueling workouts that nobody sees.

Regardless of what preparation means to you, lets prioritize it in 2025. When we prepare, we perform our best.

Here are 3 things to consider when preparing.

1. Is my preparation aligned with my goal? When we set goals, we need plans to achieve them. Big goals need big preparations. We must also ensure that how we are preparing aligns with what we’d like to achieve. A proper plan followed with discipline increases are chances of success.

2. Am I ready for challenges? When preparing, it’s easy to see the future through rose-colored glasses. That future would be ideal. In reality, things rarely go according to plan. Instead of getting ready for things to go smoothly, prepare for things to go sideways and still be OK. That way, we are ready when challenges inevitably arise.

3. What is my mindset? Preparation is often more mental than it is physical. By considering our mindset, we detect items that we do not feel prepared for. If we are not confident in our abilities, that is a good indication that we should work harder. More preparation builds our confidence, which improves our performance.

Thanks for reading. Lets have a great week!