Making A Lot Out Of A Little - Use It Or Lose It

Home
>
Motivation
>
Making A Lot Out Of A Little - Use It Or Lose It

Making A Lot Out Of A Little - Use It Or Lose It

"Making a lot out of a little"

Ever noticed how some individuals can make a little problem go a long way? Similarly, some folk can make a huge challenge seem somewhat insignificant. This is a life principle that actually determines whether we are a "little" or a "lot" person.

Of course we need to be able to apply the little to the lot and the lot to the little from time to time, if you know what I mean. For example, when life throws challenges at us, we can make a lot out of it or a little. Using the converse, we can minimise the weight of a situation and make light of it.

Some people have the ability to take "a lot" in a material sense, and turn it into a little. Investors would prefer not to entrust to this kind of individual. However, if you were able to make a healthy return on a little investment, you would indeed be sought after company.

Applying the right perspective to the situation is a great life skill. Sadly, many people never actually grasp this skill, and resort to putting the wrong spin on the lemon or gold nugget heading our way.

Several aspects that all great sports people have in common are their ability to anticipate, participate and initiate. What puts a sportsperson in a class above their competitors is their ability to position themselves.

Life is also like this. Many people always seem to turn up late for the game or worst still, were never aware the game was on! The true professional in life is seeking opportunities to improve their game, rather than waiting for one to arrive. From this perspective, making the most of a little is a positive move.

What category would you fall into, a "little or a lot"?

Anticipation is the ability to read the variable factors of the game and preparing oneself for the many possible outcomes. A good driver is not judged by their application to the technical requirements of driving a vehicle alone, but by their awareness of all the variables during the journey. One of the keys to being "aware" is having the capacity to anticipate all those around you whilst maintaining effective control of your vehicle.

Great players in a game are the ones that always seem to have time to spare. They have the same time as any of the other players but their capacity to anticipate the next phase of play is what gives them the time. They began their move before the ball was kicked, or were in the right position to receive the ball coming their way. These are the game breakers and game winners. Their services are always in demand and fellow players stand in awe of them.

The ability to anticipate will give more room to manoeuvre. There is a saying that goes "being in the right place at the right time." There is much truth in this saying, but that is often more about chance than determination. Those that have learned to be "in the right place at the right time" consistently, are often those which have been "in the wrong place at the wrong time", but never gave up. They began anticipating the right place and time, and did something about it.

"There is nothing so easy to learn as experience and nothing so hard to apply." Josh Billings

We all know of the individual that seems to go from one crisis to another. Each year seems to weary them more until life is more of an existence than pleasure. Perhaps we may recall the prizefighter that is punch drunk from one too many hits. When at this point in life, relationship or business, we need to take the compulsory count, and begin to train with anticipation, living to fight another day.

Here are some keys for developing anticipation in life.

1. DEFINE your preferable future
2. Find a fixed point and FOCUS on it
3. Never maximise the MINIMUM
4. Never minimise the MAXIMUM
5. Take time out to DREAM or creatively CONSIDER
6. Find someone to HOLD you on course and enjoy their support
7. Keep yourself HONEST to your preferred future
8. RECORD the results but PERSUE the preferable
9. READ and WATCH and LISTEN to anticipators
10. Never EVER give up, anticipate life on the next level

Tony Mckeown is a personal life coach and director of coaching 4 life New Zealand. He has a passion for empowering people to find their life mission and purpose. He has authored training manuals, motivational articles, numerous e-books and regularly hosts international tele-classes and conferences on vision. He produces a monthly newsletter "get a life", and provides free downloads from his coaching site: http://www.coaching4life.net.nz

In The News:

MSU News
Need workout motivation? Try a virtual partner
msnbc.com
Don't sweat it — new research shows that even a virtual exercise partner might boost your motivation to exercise. Researchers found that women who biked alone experienced a decline in motivation over time, whereas those partnered with a virtual friend ...
With virtual pal, women double workoutsFuturity: Research News
Cyber partners help you go the distanceScienceBlog.com (blog)
Cyber exercise partners help you go the distanceMSU News

all 5 news articles »

Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
Eagles' Jarrett 'motivated by pride' in year two
Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia
He knows the doubts remain, but he is using it as motivation. “I'm motivated by pride,” Jarrett said. “I've got a chip on my shoulder every day to be the best.” Jarrett never had it easy. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of New York with a ...

and more »

Soccer365 (press release)
City taunts motivate Cleverley
Soccer365 (press release)
Cleverley told the Daily Star: "The motivation is there, massively. It's our neighbours, our rivals. Nothing needs to be said to motivate ourselves. "Football seems to be the only talking point in Manchester at the minute. "When your neighbours are ...

and more »

How to Motivate Someone
Huffington Post
To motivate another person, you have to appeal to their values. This may seem straightforward, but it isn't. Too often we try to motivate others by indoctrinating them in our values rather than by appealing to theirs. A classic example of this is the ...

Gary Allen's marathon motivation marked by decades of endurance
Bangor Daily News
Gary Allen trains along Sargent Drive in Northeast Harbor as part of his preparation for the Boston Marathon in 2010. Allen's recent finish of 2 hours, 59 minutes and 48 seconds in the Tacoma City Marathon marked the 65th time he has completed a ...

My View: Can tests motivate students? It depends on the test - and the student
CNN (blog)
They co-authored the report, “Student Motivation—An Overlooked Piece of School Reform." (CNN) – We're taking many steps as a nation to boost student achievement. We're raising academic standards, revising curricula, revamping low-performing schools ...

Sydney Morning Herald
Ian Thomsen: Boston Celtics look for motivation to lock in Game 6 win over 76ers
SI.com
By encouraging Sixers fans to attack him and his team, he was admitting that he needs the motivation. It will surely be offered as soon as he is introduced before Game 6. It will be up to Garnett and Rajon Rondo to drive their tired, injured team ...
Collins' words more motivation than barbThe News Journal
Collins goes to the archives for Game 6 motivationThe Mercury
Paul Pierce on Game 7: 'I like our chances'WEEI.com
FOXSports.com -SportingNews.com -Bleacher Report
all 2,816 news articles »

Channel 7 Daily News
Motivation For Youths
Channel 7 Daily News
They were there to hear a high-powered panel of professional motivational speakers from Mexico, United States, Cuba and Columbia. The idea was to educate the youths of Belize about the benefits of living a positive lifestyle and inspire them to do the ...

and more »

McKinney High Uses Difficult 2011 Football Season As Motivation Entering New ...
TownSquareBuzz.com
While it could be perceived as rock bottom for a very proud Texas high school football program, last season serves as a constant source of motivation for the 2012 Lions, who wrapped up the spring football season with the Blue vs.

and more »

Shape Magazine (blog)
Stay Motivated to Workout this Weekend
Shape Magazine (blog)
But if you don't want chasing said ice cream man to be the most exercise you get all weekend let your man (or your new summer fling) be your motivation! To keep things light and fun for the holiday here are a few quirky facts we gathered from our ...

Google News