“The best is the enemy of the good. By this I mean that a good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan next week. War is a very simple thing, and the determining characteristics are self-confidence, speed, and audacity. None of these things can ever be perfect, but they can be good.”
George Patton
The same forces, our nature and the devil, that are accusing us are also confusing us and causing the fog of war. This is where the real battle is. It is often said that the first step is always the hardest, and it goes without saying that it is hard enough without the nay-sayers.
The biggest problem with “starting” is not knowing where the next steps will actually take you, and that is primarily due to lack of vision; often mistaken for a dream. The reason General Patton’s subordinates were rightfully not allowed to procrastinate plans is because the vision was firmly in place, the basics had been mastered, and therefore all that was needed was the process to bring that part of the vision to fruition.
The vision is the duty.
Fear of the unknown leads to the fear of failure. That is perhaps why so many live without vision because there are no nay-sayers, no falling short, no embarrassment, and no failure to fear when there is no vision to achieve or not achieve. No vision, or an unobtainable one, also allows for the denial of reality of where you actually are. It’s an offramp to doing what you know you should do, and becoming who you should become.
We are often convinced that we need to get our lives together but oftentimes in utterly superficial ways. This leads us to lead our lives in a way that we only figure out how to achieve our “goals” which leads most to a “goal” oriented mentality instead of the “growth” oriented mentality. A growth mentality is necessary for a fulfilling life because it is the one that forces you to take on the unknown and overcome fear.
To understand what is meant by the “fulfilling life” think of a time when you were forced to do something that scared you and how you felt afterwards. Then, think about anything you’ve done that requires consistency and preparation. The lead up to the frightful challenge, that you actually worked to prepare for, is the definition of you getting control of you. It incited process, forced correction, and spurred growth. All thanks to understanding the reality of where you are in comparison to where you are going. Vision gives you direction.
Starting with the end in mind not only gives you direction, but also makes it blindingly clear what battle you are in at that time. Knowing the battle you are actually in is as important as knowing where you are in relation to the vision. Knowing the correct battle is where you get grounded. The battle reality keeps you from focusing on what you want, or gratification. This is where loftiness gets snuffed out and the needed focus is possible, because now the correct target is in the crosshairs.
Once the direction and starting point are correctly established, the realization that you are right where you are supposed to begin to become a part of your weaponry. This part can serve you in two ways; motivation to not stay there and understanding the self destructiveness that got you there.
To conclude, it’s important to note that above all, to move forward, we must all look inward. Looking inward is the only way to stop being a victim or having a victim mentality.
By D.C. Link