After many years of driving one rather obvious thing I have observed is that it pays to be extra careful and really concentrate at all crossroads and junctions – and indeed if you want to avoid expensive minor scrapes driving around car parks.
The reason is also fairly clear – there are more vehicles doing different things in these locations and a much greater chance of a collision than on the open road.
It does however occur to me that there is an interesting analogy with working life. If you can identify the times when there is more potential risk (and reward) and recognise and pay more attention to them you will tend to ride these crises and opportunities more effectively and indeed achieve a successful outcome.
Crossroads in professional life can be anything from changing jobs to a critical day of negotiation when the structure of the whole deal will be determined. It is then that focus and concentration really pays off.
The best tennis players seem to be able to realise what the vital points in a set are and then raise their game on key points, they hit aces or great service returns. Pete Sampras said
“The difference of great players is at a certain point in a match they raise their level of play and maintain it. Lesser players play great for a set, but then less.“
The same is I suggest true in business. You have to be good all the time, but there are times when you have to be even better and raise your game. Recognising when this is necessary, when you have reached a crossroads on a deal, and then really focusing on the task in hand can really pay dividends.
The reason is also fairly clear – there are more vehicles doing different things in these locations and a much greater chance of a collision than on the open road.
It does however occur to me that there is an interesting analogy with working life. If you can identify the times when there is more potential risk (and reward) and recognise and pay more attention to them you will tend to ride these crises and opportunities more effectively and indeed achieve a successful outcome.
Crossroads in professional life can be anything from changing jobs to a critical day of negotiation when the structure of the whole deal will be determined. It is then that focus and concentration really pays off.
The best tennis players seem to be able to realise what the vital points in a set are and then raise their game on key points, they hit aces or great service returns. Pete Sampras said
“The difference of great players is at a certain point in a match they raise their level of play and maintain it. Lesser players play great for a set, but then less.“
The same is I suggest true in business. You have to be good all the time, but there are times when you have to be even better and raise your game. Recognising when this is necessary, when you have reached a crossroads on a deal, and then really focusing on the task in hand can really pay dividends.
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