How to be a Strategic Thinker

[Chumbimba]

I have seen Leos video on Strategic Thinking about three times and I was wondering if anybody knows more exercises or things I can do to be more strategic in my life/ I know the Pre-mortem but what are some other things I can do ? 

[Roy]

I literally have physical folders (& digital) of multiple categories in my life. I started doing all this some years ago when I got sick of feeling sorry for myself and took radical responsibility for every-fucking-thing. I work on all of them simotaneously, but some more than others depending on current importance, or if I'm starting to lack in one area. I am always looking for new strategies, sources, information, and ways to optimize them. Like Leo says you want to gamify the process so it feels fun!

It's useful to have a life purpose, because then it'll be much easier to come up with the content of your strategy. It has something to "line-up" with. Still, even if you don't have that larger vision yet it's important you start to take them seriously if you want to position yourself strongly for when you DO get that vision. It'll save you a bunch of time and make it seem more attainable if your starting point is much closer.

Examples

Health: 

- What kind of body do I want? What does it look like? How do I want to feel day to day?

- What exercises and activities support that vision? Can I make any of them fun instead of a chore? 

- Does my diet support the body I see? Is my diet consistent with my values?

Relationship: (I have a long term partner now and I still look for ways to keep things fresh and engaging, before I would ask)

- What kind of person do I want in my life? Is there lifestyle compatible with mine?

- Do we want to live or be in the same kind of place in the future?

- Why can't I attract that person now? Am I looking in the right kind of places for that person?

Finances:

- What is my exact current situation for wealth? (Count all expenses, income, assets, liabilities, etc)

- What resources do I need to get where I want to be in the future?

- Do I need to reorganize my current finances? Are they in line with my lifestyle?

 

Those are just to get you started. These are all really tough questions to ask but they are important. Think of your life as a war, to accomplish the things you want to accomplish and thereby "win" you need to constantly be assessing the situation and asking questions. From there you can strategize and know what content to look for and the things you have to be doing.

I would recommend spend at least 1-2 hours once a week doing this so things feel much more in control, and you aren't aimless.

[Chumbimba]

When it comes to my goals at times I feel overwhemed when I try to work on too many things at once, my mind can barely handle it. 

[Roy]

10 hours ago, Chumbimba said:

When it comes to my goals at times I feel overwhemed when I try to work on too many things at once, my mind can barely handle it. 

@Chumbimba That's natural. The key is to realize you have your entire life to do these things! What's the rush? Rome wasn't built in a day. Besides if you aren't working on these things in some capacity, what are you even doing?

You mention the word "work", but really it doesn't have to be. Of course some aspects can be hard and will take emotional/physical labour. But like I said a lot of it can be turned into a game to make it fun. It doesn't all have to feel like grinding work. That's mostly a perspective and projection which can be altered or changed.

If you actually list out your goals and put them in the real world (like writing them down on a piece of paper or whiteboard) you'll find it actually tricks your brain into making them more concrete and attainable for you.

If you leave them all up in your head they just seem like vague and massive dreams which don't feel like they could be a reality.

Edited April 12, 2020 by Roy

[Chumbimba]

37 minutes ago, Roy said:

 

You mention the word "work", but really it doesn't have to be. Of course some aspects can be hard and will take emotional/physical labour. But like I said a lot of it can be turned into a game to make it fun. It doesn't all have to feel like grinding work. That's mostly a perspective and projection which can be altered or changed.

This hit home for me right here. Because it feels like my goals are life or death. I beat myself up a lot when I dont accomplish what I said I am going to. Me getting motivated is litterally like kicking a deadmule or hourse to move. Its terrible. 

[StarStruck]

Strategy in a nutshell matching your goals to your resources. 

[Roy]

12 minutes ago, Chumbimba said:

This hit home for me right here. Because it feels like my goals are life or death. I beat myself up a lot when I dont accomplish what I said I am going to. Me getting motivated is litterally like kicking a deadmule or hourse to move. Its terrible. 

I know what you mean. They can feel like life or death, but that's exactly what it is - a feeling. If you relax and allow yourself to take a step back and look at the big picture is it really life or death? If you don't accomplish something is it really that crippling?

I know it can seem like a waste of time but reflect on the things you take for granted;

- Are you going to be homeless because of "failure"?

- Did you lose your arm or leg? More broadly, do you still have your health in tact?

- Did you lose all your money and safety net?

If you compare yourself to a lot of the intense challenges and struggles many other people go through around the world you'll humble yourself and realize, "hey my life actually is going OK! I may have had a setback here or there but I'm still a position to try again."

It will quickly free you of that emotional burden/self-hatred and allow you to move on quicker. Successful people from all walks of life fuck up massively before breaking through. It's a numbers game.

Of course this is all relative and people will say "no shit" things look fine if you compare yourself to a poor starving African kid in Kenya, but that doesn't make it any less true nor humbling.

I also feel you in the motivation regard. Accept that it's ok if you need to use negative motivation to get started on something, just don't let it be the fuel that carries you the whole way, then you have a problem.

Edited April 12, 2020 by Roy