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