VIEWPOINT

Are You Preparing for Excellence?

SVETLANA PILYUGINA, MD
Chief Editor

YOU RARELY “WING” YOUR WAY INTO SPECTACULAR ACHIEVEMENT. Behind every great success is preparation, learning, trying, failing, trying again, gaining perspective, and persevering. The famous “ten thousand hours rule” presented by Malcom Gladwell in his popular book Outliers comes to mind. Gladwell reveals psychological studies, which conclude that the true mastery of any subject or a complex cognitive skill results from approximately 10,000 hours of practice and preparation. He argues that there are no “naturals” — simply a lot of hard work.

Any surgeon in the early stages of his career would find these numbers interesting.

Preparation is the key to the highest level of achievement. Not only does it create an environment of readiness for any situation, but over time, it can change the way you look, feel and approach your life — both in the professional and personal realms. Do you ever find yourself waking up a bit anxious about the day ahead? Inevitably, this feeling is in direct correlation with some lack of preparation.

Preparation has many levels, but it begins with approaching your goal with a positive mindset. Something so simple as waking up, looking in the mirror and speaking aloud “You are going to have a great day today,” can have the most profound impact on improving your life. It may seem small and insignificant, but is it? I challenge you to give it a try, to spend time investing in positive thinking every day.

Preparation requires focus and the will to continue. Ask any Olympic medalist. The difference between being “great” and being “good” is in not stopping at being “good enough.” In the words of Will Smith, “greatness is not this wonderful, esoteric, elusive, god-like feature that only the special among us will ever taste. It’s something that truly exists in all of us.” To be great, not just good, requires over-preparedness day-in and day-out in every aspect of your life; it calls for focus and determination to keep yourself accountable to continue developing yourself into a better you one day at a time.

So what are you preparing for right now?