Episode 4: Preparation, Preparation, Preparation!
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The poster child for preparation is Gunther Schabowski, whose lack of preparation to speak to the world press led directly to the opening of the Berlin Wall. If you want to avoid Gunter’s fate, you must prepare, prepare, and prepare.
Everyone agrees that preparation is helpful, but few do it to the extent that the situation demands. That’s why I spend a lot of time in this podcast describing the benefits of preparation:
- Just as meticulous preparation allows special operations teams to defeat much larger forces, preparation levels the playing field for you
- Preparation is the hallmark of professionalism. It allows you to do your best work in service of clients, and shows respect
- Preparation saves time overall
- Preparation aids in outside-in thinking
- Preparation frees you to be yourself
- Preparation avoids drams by helping you win before you show up
How to prepare:
- Do your research
- Have a clear purpose
- Pressure-test your ideas
- Start early
“When the pressure is on, you will not rise to the occasion. You will fall to your level of preparation.”
Links and resources:
Persuasion without Drama: Process, Positioning and Preparation
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