***image1***Ever notice how when something really good happens to or for someone else, somebody says, “Wish I had their luck?” While I believe there’s a little to be said for luck or chance, I think people make most of their own luck and the luck of people around them.
Planning: In 1992, I met another captain who showed me his “written” plan for being a colonel by 2002. It detailed all his below-the-zone promotions, degrees and accolades.
I was doing OK stumbling along, but I realized with just a little thought, I could figure out what mattered for success in the Air Force and how hard it would be to attain. I didn’t even write it down, but it helped me think about shorter term goals, which actually led to continuous planning — planning, adjusting, accomplishing — which led to better situational awareness. Good stuff just started happening and has continued to happen ever since.
Putting yourself in the hunt: Over the years, I’ve seen disappointment on the faces of award nominees who didn’t win. As I’ve congratulated some of them, they’ve expressed this disappointment, “I never win, no matter how hard I try — I wasted my time.”
I love the philosophy, “It’s the journey, not the journey’s end.” They’re good words to live by. When the result is announced – it’s over! If you won, congratulate yourself for a day and move on. If you didn’t win, you have a right to be disappointed for about a day – then get over it and get yourself back into the next hunt.
The law of averages says if you put yourself in the hunt enough times, you’re bound to win. Then “luck” only determines the number of wins.
Planting seeds: You and the people around you will experience far more opportunities if you’re judiciously planting seeds. The kinds of opportunities I’m talking about are high visibility projects, assignments, STEP promotions, end of year fallout money, etc. Rarely are these selections based on dumb luck. Usually, they’re based on some seed planted by a kudo or comment by you or someone else, or a desire you expressed to the right person, or a person talking to the right person.
Don’t hesitate to compliment your subordinates to your bosses at every opportunity. Name recognition is critical when you’re trying to sell your people for a job, award or stratification. You also may need to do a little work to help plant these seeds in the form of write-ups. Put in the effort and do them right. For yourself, make sure your bosses know your desires. If you want to deploy or get the next “good deal” project, make sure your boss knows it.
You can carry a rabbit’s foot, four-leaf clover or penny for luck — or you can plan, put yourself in the hunt and plant seeds. I’ll stick with the latter; it seems to be working.
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***image1***Ever notice how when something really good happens to or for someone else, somebody says, “Wish I had their luck?” While I believe there’s a little to be said for luck or chance, I think people make most of their own luck and the luck of people around them.
Planning: In 1992, I met another captain who showed me his “written” plan for being a colonel by 2002. It detailed all his below-the-zone promotions, degrees and accolades.
I was doing OK stumbling along, but I realized with just a little thought, I could figure out what mattered for success in the Air Force and how hard it would be to attain. I didn’t even write it down, but it helped me think about shorter term goals, which actually led to continuous planning — planning, adjusting, accomplishing — which led to better situational awareness. Good stuff just started happening and has continued to happen ever since.
Putting yourself in the hunt: Over the years, I’ve seen disappointment on the faces of award nominees who didn’t win. As I’ve congratulated some of them, they’ve expressed this disappointment, “I never win, no matter how hard I try — I wasted my time.”
I love the philosophy, “It’s the journey, not the journey’s end.” They’re good words to live by. When the result is announced – it’s over! If you won, congratulate yourself for a day and move on. If you didn’t win, you have a right to be disappointed for about a day – then get over it and get yourself back into the next hunt.
The law of averages says if you put yourself in the hunt enough times, you’re bound to win. Then “luck” only determines the number of wins.
Planting seeds: You and the people around you will experience far more opportunities if you’re judiciously planting seeds. The kinds of opportunities I’m talking about are high visibility projects, assignments, STEP promotions, end of year fallout money, etc. Rarely are these selections based on dumb luck. Usually, they’re based on some seed planted by a kudo or comment by you or someone else, or a desire you expressed to the right person, or a person talking to the right person.
Don’t hesitate to compliment your subordinates to your bosses at every opportunity. Name recognition is critical when you’re trying to sell your people for a job, award or stratification. You also may need to do a little work to help plant these seeds in the form of write-ups. Put in the effort and do them right. For yourself, make sure your bosses know your desires. If you want to deploy or get the next “good deal” project, make sure your boss knows it.
You can carry a rabbit’s foot, four-leaf clover or penny for luck — or you can plan, put yourself in the hunt and plant seeds. I’ll stick with the latter; it seems to be working.