Focus On The Process

How many times has something gone awry and made us feel like victims of bad luck? Immediately, our self-talk convinces us that we couldn’t catch a break, that the deck was stacked against us, that it ultimately wasn’t our fault we fell short. We rationalize our failure by believing the timing just wasn’t right.

Victim talk can become detrimental to any leader or team. It prevents us from moving forward and using defeat as a growth experience. By finding a scapegoat for our setbacks, we may feel better in the short term. But we ultimately dig a deeper hole that’s worse than anyone's loss. Excuses multiply and accountability becomes an orphan. 

In her new book, “The Biggest Bluff: How I Learned to Pay Attention, Master Myself, and Win,” author Maria Konnikova explains how she learned the game of poker from one of the best, Erik Seidel. Seidel teaches her everything there is to know, while simultaneously instructing her on how to avoid being the victim. He advises Konnikova to “focus on the process, not the luck. Did I play correctly? Everything else is just B.S. in our heads.” When we’re the victim, our attention is always on the draw of the cards. When we’re the victors, the focus centers on the process, the preparation, and the details, never the outcome. 

This mentality allows teams to focus on something other than the scoreboard. In all competitions, there is going to be a point when a team is losing. How we handle adversity as a team then allows us to withstand the natural swings of the game. It also allows us to teach our team there are two aspects to every competitive situation: 1) Who is in control 2) Who is in the lead. 

There are times when those two questions don’t hold the same answer. It happens frequently in poker, so Seidel’s advice to Konnikova is appropriate for all of us. Don’t be a victim, be a victor. Focus more on the process, focus on improving your game day after day. The short-term results are not our concern. 

We cannot get intoxicated with our success or victimized by our defeat. Stay steady and buy Maria’s book, because the game of poker is much like the game of life. It requires more preparation and thought than chance. 

Please forward and share this email with your friends and family.