Prepared to Win

Most of us have heard the proverbial story of David versus Goliath. Whether you fully believe in the story or not, there’s a valuable lesson that can be learned from it. If you’re not familiar with the story, here’s a little snippet. David was a 12-year-old boy who was unafraid to go out to fight a skilled warrior by the name of Goliath. He was famed for his giant stature.

 

David was no fool when it came to offense or defense. When he was offered heavy armor and a sword to face the mighty Goliath, he refused it, choosing to only go into battle with a slingshot.  While the decision may seem simple on the surface, it was actually quite brilliant.

 

David learned to master the skill of the sling during his time as a shepherd. He used it to defend the sheep against predators. The sling also gave him distance from the giant, which somewhat evened the playing field. David wouldn’t have much of a chance if he’d tried to face Goliath in hand-to-hand combat or with a sword for that matter.

 

David emerged victorious because he understood himself as well as his opponent. According to Jewish history, David went on to win many battles during his time. He won because he was prepared to do so. The question we have to ask ourselves is, “Are we prepared win?” What do we know about ourselves? What do we know about the opposition? Are we playing to our strengths? Are we spending adequate time improving our weaknesses?

 

The business world can be daunting, especially in the start-up stage of development. There are many challenges. We are often required to learn things that we never intended to learn such as accounting, finance, marketing and strategic planning as well as adapt to the ever changing world of social media.

 

One of the best things we can do to remain prepared is to never stop learning. Once we’ve learned all we need to know, the next step is to find out what we don’t know we need to know. Basically, there is no end to learning. “In a world of change, learners shall inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a word that no longer exist.” – Eric Hoffer

 

We must take time to work on ourselves. This includes proper rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.  We can’t expect to win what could be a long battle when we are exhausted from fighting. You may feel guilty for taking a break, but you’ll be far more productive and efficient when you do.

 

There are often critical resources needed to win a battle. These resources can include good team members, operating capital, proper counsel, a place of refuge, etc. Yes! There are ways to work around them. However, if you don’t know what you need, you won’t know where to start. It’s imperative to understand the needs of your business.

 

The road less travelled can be challenging. We must be prepared mentally, physically, spiritually and financially. Remember! Everyone wants to win; the ultimate question is, “Are we prepared to do so?”