With huge leaps in tech changing the way we work, our relationship with technology will either facilitate unthinkable growth or keep us on the wrong side of average.
Here are eight success strategies that interestingly our tech advancements have taught us, utilised by the most successful humans out there;
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Don’t be afraid to make a bold, move. Success is often outside of the box.
Until recent history, certain chess strategies were unquestioned dogma among the world’s elite. However the validity of their strategies came into question when computers beat top players. While analyzing the computer’s strategy, players have been shocked and amused by the computer’s use of certain “bold” moves — which no trained chess player would ever do as they utterly clash with “conventional wisdom”.
In response to the insights provided by computers chess players have been forced to question their long held assumptions.
Magnus Carlsen, the World Chess Champion, explained in an interview with Business Insider:
“You cannot rely on what has been taught in books — that this is good, this is bad — there are always exceptions and every situation is different..It’s just forcing us to look a bit further, to look away from what the books used to teach us. It’s forcing us to break the rules.”
This logic reminds us that there are always exceptions to the rigid norms guiding our professions. The computers carefully constructed winning chess moves, whether standard or anomy based on solid calculations. Trust your own inside knowledge enough, to go with a decision, even if it’s bold.
2. Success means always believing the game is close.
This is a phycological trick. Evidence shows that athletes perform better when they believe they are close to a win. This is why magic happens at the end of games. But when the contest is decidedly in one opponent’s favor, neither side acts with the same effort. Give yourself the urgency to win – believe your game is so very close. We now have access to valuable data insights, there is now more opportunity then ever to keep us close to our opponents, use this to your advantage and don’t shrink behind in the shadows.
3. Less is more
We are a consumer culture. We have let ourselves believe that we need all sorts of fancy tech tools to perform better. We shouldn’t need the best software to start a business. Our success isn’t hinged upon material items and deep down we should know this.
“Many amateur golfers think they need expensive clubs. But it’s the swing that matters, not the club. Give Tiger Woods a set of cheap clubs and he’ll still destroy you.”
4. Increase your responsbility or never expect to reach success
The constraints of responsibility force you to think more creatively. As Dan Sullivan has said, “We are at our most alert when we are in danger of failing. The greatest growth comes from being alert, scared, and striving.” Similarly, chess players are at their toughest when it matters most, when everything is on the line. If you must perform you’ll get it done. Force yourself to operate in this arena and you will see results.
5. Every Billionaire’s Secret: Build a Team Around You Sooner than You Feel Comfortable
According to Alex Charfen, CEO of Charfen consulting services and founder of the Entrepreneurial Personality Type™ (EPT), the one thing billionaires have in common is that they are comfortable.
When Charfen was in his 20’s, he was at a friend’s (a billionaire) and was surprised to see a staff of 30 people, including a driver working in his home. Charfen couldn’t help but ask his friend:
“Is it ever embarrassing to have so much help and so much fuss as you go through the day and get around?”
His friend responded:
“It would be irresponsible for me to do anything that you observed any member of my team doing today. They are there for me and I am there for them. We have grown together and we built everything together.”
High performers build a team around them much sooner than they are comfortable with. They are willing to think big, take on greater responsibility, and focus in on their superpower. The sooner you can remove all of the personal pressure and noise the faster your will skyrocket.
6. How much are you willing to risk for your success?
This comes down to conviction about your vision. It’s a deep question but the reality is if you don’t really believe in what you are doing you’ll never make it. So the question is, how much are you willing to put down on the line to succeed?
7. Short term & low cost experiments.
To place some boundaries on (6), this habit is very interesting. This habit is inspired by Tim Ferriss – who famously doesn’t do what he thinks will make him happy, instead, he does what excites him.
Although his overarching vision remains the same, Ferriss doesn’t have long-term plans. Instead, he does 3–6 month “experiments,” and puts all of his energy into them. He does’t know what doors may open as a result of these experiments. He’d rather respond to the brilliant and best opportunities that arise on the way, taking him in new unforeseen directions.
This method is brilliant because when you take away the high-risk, life-on-the-line pressure, you are left with an experiment and you will be more daring and bold as a result.
8. Stay in the zone for as long as you can – your success is worth it, your phone notifications are not.
My personal favourite. Tech and life will constantly find a way to steal your attention. However we need to be stronger before we turn into goldfish. There is a concept in weightlifting known as “time under tension,” which basically means the longer your muscles are being pushed, the more fatigued, and ultimately, stronger they will get.
Yet, the concept of time under tension applies to everything.
What about focus, for example? When was the last time you pushed your mental/focus muscles to fatigue? If you’re like most people, you barely flex your focus muscles — the equivalent of doing one rep of an exercise then taking a break.
That’s just not good enough. Think about how many tabs you have open at once or how many times you check your phone, it’s so, so pointless and just makes you take longer executing straightforward tasks. Just sit with the discomfort, don’t cave to the pressure of your phone lighting up and focus, it is worth it.
For more information read this great article by Thrive Global, here.