THE TREASURE MAP (2nd PART): THE WILL

“If you only do what you know you can do,
you will not do much.”

TOM KRAUSE

Einstein said that “luck is a function of which the parameters are unknown”, so that more often than we can imagine, what we call luck is not so much the result of fate or something inexplicable, but it is actually a complex interrelated set of elements that can be explained in detail. For example, if any of us throws a coin and, before it falls, are asked which side it may toss, everyone, even being a fortune-teller or just very intuitive if the coin is not rigged, will match 50 percent of the times, always. The coin has two sides and it’s that simple. But if we know the speed of the coin toss, its weight, diameter and thickness, and the strength of materials into the air, the inclination and the power at the output of the coin when we launch it, we may be able to predict with much greater precision whether it will show heads or tails. The more parameters we know, the greater our ability to predict, but if we do not know, we will not make it.

Knowing these parameters, or those laws, is a way to realize which steps are required to be followed. That is why, and to increase the knowledge about the ideas of the post “Will, Knowledge, Action, Legacy”, we might now delve into this and other upcoming posts about what it means each of these actions, by taking the analogy from “The Treasure Map”.

1. Will means to have the attitude that leads us to move with courage, determination and enthusiasm to create our wish and to face adversity.

2. Knowledge means to be prepared for training and getting to know in detail what we create, which is our project, with great competition.

3. Being able is to bring our intentions to become real actions through facts that empower our illusion day by day, step by step.

4. Imagine. That is, having a vision of what our wish is, our project as a guide that encourages us to work to make it come true.

5. Manage involves caring for our resources as we can, so we will not waste our time on unnecessary issues when the opportunity comes, and that will allow us to address a crisis or a major investment or occasion better. Knowing how to invest means developing good criteria so that what we have worked on so hard is not lost, but on the contrary, is to be increased. And to make grow what we already have got, it is often necessary to reinvent ourselves also, to keep on improving as professionals and as human beings.

Now let’s analize those details of each of the elements that make up the Treasure Map.

WILL: THE ATTITUDE (THE INNER COMPASS)

The saying goes like “he who wishes goes further than he who intends”, and we fully agree with this statement. Our attitudes, our inner compass, are the first essential factor, the impetus to find and believe in our treasure. But what does willing mean? Which is the result of our attitudes whenever these are right?

a) Positive mental attitude: a good way to start, we must realize that rather than be influenced by our environment and circumstances, we can choose how we define ourselves intellectually, emotionally and actively in our immediate reality. Our attitude towards life largely determines not only how we see it but also how it ends up evolving. We will not stop repeating that what we tend to think is what we finally create.

b) The second variable for willing is what we call Active Hope. My faith in creating a utopia is not founded on nothing, but it lies in action, here and now, and I am doing, because I do it now, I do not put off the decision or action. I am optimistic, but I am not naive or stupid. That means I work, I act, and I do now. It is important to start this way, because if you do not have that immediate active optimism, your actions will not crystallize, will not be realized because you put them off, because you postpone and change never comes.

c) Another common variable is what we might call the future-present, i.e. the future is actually present, to the extent that we are able to mold it with every little decision and action we take in every moment. The future we imagine and desire is real because I am creating and making it up at the moment. The future will not be realized if we do nothing to build it. The future is what we are building now. It is obvious but also very much avoided.

d) The willingness to be helpful and serve with excellence. This is a key factor. All said has to be wrapped by this principle. I will bring on prosperity as far as that provides utility and value to others, that everything I do is useful, provides well-being, comfort, a delight, a solution. The vocation and the will to serve from the heart, to give our best to those who trust in our business or social project, the desire of wanting to do it well, to take care of every detail, however small or shallow it may seem, is an essential element for achieving our purpose.

e) Magnetic Generosity, which could be summarized in a simple principle: “What I give, I give it to myself, what I do not, I take it off from myself.” The true generosity attracts and summons, if we are able to give our customer more than they expect to receive for that price, it is clear that the word shall see it.

f) “We All Win”, that is, not only do I make the best as an entrepreneur, but also my team, my clients, my partners, society, suppliers, the environment win. Because I help them to produce in a better way, to be more efficient, to increase their awareness through a pedagogy we all need to win. It is always important to think globally, systemically, that everyone, absolutely everyone can enjoy a collective gain.

g) Forbearance and magnanimity. Both words speak of the greatness of the soul, of our ability to be noble, generous, of perseverance, of knowing how to deal with adversity, to act with kindness, mercy and generosity. If the soul of a human being is great, great may be their actions and the results obtained… In short, it is about creating value with values, ethics and the common well-being are the guide of our actions.

h) To thank and being humble. Finally, and to end this part about willing, it is necessary to thank all who surround us and support us in the process of creating our purpose: customers, project partners, prescriptors, and all who are part of the group that encourages, promotes or helps us to advance. But gratitude and humility will not accept any infatuation, its manifestation demands  authenticity, truth. These are the antidote to arrogance and stupidity, which are the main cause of failure in human relations, and of course, to any professional initiative.

[This article, the previous on this section and subsequent are a summary of the book “The Treasure Map”, written by Álex Rovira and Francesc Miralles, and published in Spanish by Editorial Connecta.]

Álex Rovira