Creating Inevitable Outcomes
The word “Inevitable” seems to most often be used to describe some slow backward slide toward a negative outcome.
“It was inevitable they would get divorced at some point.”
“With his work ethic, it was inevitable that he would be one of the first to be laid off.”
“The project was ill-conceived from the start, it was inevitable that it would fall flat.”
When thinking about the inevitability our actions have the potential to create, the idea that we might create a system for living that inevitability leads to success seems almost laughable.
But I don’t think it is.
As surely as consistently making certain decisions will lead to failure, I’m convinced that consistently making other decisions are certain to lead us to success if we’re willing to stick with them long enough.
No doubt there will be variations in the specifics of those actions and decisions depending on what it is you’re pursuing, but I think the following list is a good starting point.
Regular Practices to Create the Inevitability of Success
- Meet new people, especially those with diverse backgrounds doing diverse, interesting things.
- Experiment.
- Make note of your behaviour, thought patterns and the reasoning behind them.
- Ask for help.
- Find a mentor.
- Join a mastermind group.
- Do a brain dump.
- Write down the problem you’re stuck on, on one side of a cue card, on the other side write, “Solution:” Now solve.
- Go for a walk.
- Reflect on your goals and where you’re currently at regarding them.
- Ask “Why?”
- Focus on habits.
- Do it poorly until it improves.
- Be more generous than you want to be.
- Have vulnerable conversations.
- Unplug.
- Be honest with yourself.
- Reach out to people you want to connect/reconnect with. Potential clients, customers, collaborators, mentors, friends, etc.
- Commit time to thinking.
- Commit time to doing.
- Create consistently.
- Identify the edges of your comfort zone. Then push.
- Say “I don’t know.”
- Follow your curiosity.
- Quit what isn’t working for or serving you.
- Take the long view.
- Acknowledge your privilege. Use it to empower others.
- Act with intention.
- Eat the frog.
- Be kind. To others and yourself.
This is only the start of what I’m sure will be a growing list.
What habits, actions or decisions do you make to lead to inevitable success over time?
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