Tag: Strategy
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The power of inversion
A couple of years ago, I learned a strategy: inversion. It has helped me discover simpler solutions to tricky issues and avoid unnecessary work. To invert is to turn a question upside down. Instead of attacking a problem with brute force, we work backward: what if we do the opposite? What if we avoid the obstacle altogether? Some…
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Space that unlocks
Space unlocks creativity. Once set up, it yields unlimited benefits. Space can be physical, digital, or spiritual. For example: Invest in one early.
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Choose A and B
As Lunar New Year approaches this weekend, it dawns on me: I have lived almost half of my life in America. In the early days, I lived as if I had never left home: spoke Cantonese all day, read Chinese books, and hung out with Chinese friends. When I started working, I hid my Chinese-ness…
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Identity + Action
One interesting contrast between English and Cantonese speakers is the way they describe what they do. English speakers tend to assert an identity: I’m a teacher. He’s a photographer. She is a great basketball player. Cantonese speakers prefer to state the verb: I teach (我教書). He likes to take photos (佢鍾意影相). She plays basketball really well (佢打籃球好勁). The…
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Every one is unique
One time Confucius (孔子) was with his students. A student named Zi Lu (子路) asked if it was a good idea to immediately put a teaching into practice. Confucius urged him to wait and be patient. Later Zan You (冉有), another student, went to Confucius with the same question. Confucius said, “You should practice it…
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Break things down
If a project feels difficult, break it down into smaller components. Start with the easiest one. Gain momentum. Focus on one thing at a time. For example: As Henry Ford said, “nothing is particularly hard if you break it down into small jobs.” *My wife, who wrote a lot in her younger days as an…
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Start with one
Key to building a new habit: start small. How small exactly? Try one. Make it absurdly easy. Then do it every day at around the same time*. Resist the temptation to ramp up quickly. Keep it nice and steady instead. If you miss a day, no worries. Pick it back up where you left off.…
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Less, not more
We often think about what to add. What new things are necessary? What is missing in the plan? What other goals should be on the list? But equally, if not more, important is what to subtract. What goals must I remove? What stuff has cluttered the space? What bad habits must I shed? What unhelpful assumptions must…
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Plan vs. planning
Most of the plans I made last year did not pan out as expected. Does that mean that planning is a waste of time? Not at all. Had I not planned, I would have been far more distracted. I like how President Dwight Eisenhower put it, “Plans are useless but planning is indispensable.” Throwing the plan out…
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Triple threat
In basketball, there’s a position called triple threat. A player receives a pass, plants his feet firm and wide, and holds the basketball with both hands at waist level. This position gives the player flexibility to dribble, pass, or shoot the ball depending what the situation calls for. If you are ever unsure of what to…
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Crossword puzzle strategy
Will Shortz has been creating crossword puzzles at the New York Times for over 50 years. His advice on the game is sound wisdom for life: • Begin with the answers you’re surest of and build from there. • Don’t be afraid to guess. • Don’t be afraid to erase an answer that isn’t working out. • If you are stuck, put…
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The Power of Saying No: Southwest Airlines’ Simple Strategy
One curious thing about Southwest Airlines is what it doesn’t do. It doesn’t offer business class. It doesn’t offer food (unless you count the peanuts). It doesn’t go to Asia or Europe. It doesn’t use wide-body jets like 777s. It doesn’t do freight. It doesn’t join any airline partnerships. It doesn’t assign seats. It doesn’t…
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4. From Devastation to Triumph: A Basketball Story of Perseverance
Steve Nash is one of the best point guards in NBA history. Throughout his 18-season career as a player, he made more than 9 out of every ten free throws across 1,300-plus games. His three-point percentage was 42.8%*. Most impressively, he contributed more than 10,000 assists^. He attributed his success to preparation. “If every basketball player…