What’s your prediction, plan, and purpose? Goal achievement begins with how you think. Expectations drive the process, but they don't determine the route.
No one can control what happens between the start and finish.
You can test this theory by examining electoral politics and sports performances. Biden, Trump, and other presidential hopefuls invest in relationships and rally for expensive campaigns to win the election. The Lakers organize practices and play games with aspirations to dominate other NBA teams.
Sometimes, optimistic predictions produce optimal results. We must wait until November to see how expectations impact the election. This week, the Nuggets ended the Lakers' playoff run.
In my circle, the children and their teammates taught me a thing or two about predictions. The middle one anticipated his football soccer team's win. The oldest and youngest believed swimming 1.75 miles in the sea would take at least forty-five minutes.
Let me explain.
Last weekend, I asked my son’s football team about their predictions for the game. They stated various assists, defenses, and goals. While their team won, 5-0, neither halves went as they planned.
They beat the other team, but the assists, defenses, and goals they predicted didn't happen.
Predictions, plans, and purposes possess power. Why or how?
Here is another example of swimming.
No one knows whether sharks live in the water between the Jumby Bay island and Antigua. The provocative event name, Shark Bait Swim, beckons the courageous to test their swimming endurance and face fears. For the last nineteen years, swimmers of all ages accepted the challenge.
Two of my children signed up for the 1.75-mile open water race in April. I followed them and about 100 other strong swimmers in a kayak as part of the safety team. Before the start, I asked several competitors about their potential finish times.
I received responses ranging from one minute to ten hours! Not one person made the trek in under a minute and most completed it in less than two hours. None were eaten by sharks. The winner covered the distance in forty-two minutes.
The predictions of each swimmer were off, but none doubted their ability to reach the shore.
Most made it from Jumby Bay to the Antiguan dock without assistance. Some were transported to the shore by boat after 500 meters. All returned alive!
I have a half-marathon and a 10K race on my calendar during May. April's 200+ miles of training runs will help me perform well. I predict better times than previous races and plan to accomplish this goal by continuing to train hard.
Running helps clear the mind to better express ideas.
The government may run smoother with another Democrat in the office, but there will be challenges. As the adage goes, expect the best and prepare for the worst. No one knows November's results, but you should prepare.
Predictions, plans, and purposes are essential but don't guarantee straight paths to success. They will often send you on detours before you reach the destination. Life is teaching me this lesson, and it feels right to share it with you.
Subscribe here to ensure you receive the notice of next week's blog post in your inbox. Watch the video below to see footage from the football game, Shark Bait Swim, and training runs mentioned in this post.