Think As Inc

Play Offense

September 16, 2009 on 8:26 pm | In life coaching | No Comments

Because my background is financial services and media, the last few months have been steeped in bad news.  Many of my former colleagues who have been laid off are hunkering down for a protracted search in a bad market.  My other colleagues who haven’t yet been laid off are hunkering down and counting their days.  It’s always good to stockpile cash reserves and to take a step back and get refreshed, but that’s good defense.  To win their next job, they need to put themselves out there.  Success requires that you play offense and focus on winning, not on not losing. 

In baseball, you see a lack of offense when a pitcher doesn’t use his best pitch because the hitter might hit it (thus causing a loss), instead of using his best pitch to get the hitter out (thus sealing a win). 

In job searches, you see a lack of offense when people focus foremost on what’s available – what industries are hiring, what jobs are suitable to their skills.  Playing offense requires that you focus foremost on what you want and then focus on getting it.  It’s a risk if your desired industry is not hiring or if you need to augment current skills.  But the win is getting what you want and not just settling. 

In careers, you see a lack of offense when people decline challenges – e.g., turn down a high visibility project, postpone a job switch.  Playing offense requires that you take shots at your goals.

In life, you see a lack of offense when people do not follow their dreams.  You may want a different life – a different career, more family time, new friends, a new location.  Playing offense requires that you move in the direction of your dreams.  If everything remains status quo, you may protect yourself against failure, but you also preclude yourself from success.