position: /pəˈzɪʃ(ə)n/
put or arrange (someone or something) in a particular place or way.
We all have things we want to achieve ... dreams we are chasing, legacies we are building. And most of us have plans in place we hope will get us there. But I have been thinking about something else, and I am not convinced many of us consider it.
I believe it has a major impact on the success one can achieve, especially if one starts thinking in generational terms. Once you start wanting to achieve success that outlives you, this becomes important. Firstly as a set up for you to achieve the success you seek, and secondly as a set up for those who will come after you to continue building from where you left off.
What you build cannot stop with you ... Someone has to take over and carry over. This is how you ensure long-term success, this is how you build a legacy. While you build, you need to also prepare the next builder. Anyone whose success has stood the test of time handed over what they were building to the next person. Granted, the same applies to those whose success didn't withstand the test of time. The bottom line is we all hand over what we've built to those coming after us. The question is whether they will succeed or not.
I digress. Let's go back to what I said I have been thinking about. It's the other factor of success. I believe it is as important (if not more) as the other factors, but I'm calling it the other factor because I don't think many of us consider it or are, at the very least, aware of it. But once you see it, you cannot unsee it. Once the thought crosses your mind, you cannot stop thinking about it.
Positioning ...
That's it. That's the thought. That's the other factor.
Positioning ... in other words, the set up! Are we positioning ourselves for success? And more importantly, are we positioning our successors for success? Or will they have to start from scratch "just like us" because we have decided to glorify the struggle?
Life is a race, and each one of us must run our race. But I would like to put it to you that the race is relay marathon. At some point, you will have to hand over to the next runner ... so are you running with that person in mind? Are you making it easy for them to win?
And you? Are you positioning yourself in areas where you are most likely to succeed? Are you positioning yourself for success?
Every race starts with the famous phrase
On your mark ...
Choose your mark wisely!
Position yourself for success and position your successors for success. It's a simple thought, but I'd still like to point it out in any case ... and ask you to think about it!
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