Beyond Luck: How Positioning Shapes Our Lives and Careers

Growing up in Pakistan, cricket was my thing. It was the thread that connected me to my dad. A former army man who claimed he could have played first-class cricket had he not joined the army during the 1971 war, my dad was still an impressive player even in his late 40s. His love for the game was infectious, and I found myself captivated by every aspect of cricket.

When my high school announced they were forming a team to compete against other schools, I was ecstatic. This was my chance to play real, hard-ball cricket. There was just one problem: I wasn't very good at it, and I was fat. With the odds stacked against me, I knew I couldn't make the team as a batsman or bowler.

Then I had an idea. Everyone wanted to bat or bowl, but no one was going for wicket-keeper. Despite knowing next to nothing about the role, I decided to position myself as the team's wicket-keeper. When I told my father about my "selection," I could see the disbelief on his face. Nevertheless, he supported my decision, bought me the necessary equipment, and began training me rigorously.

By the time our first match arrived, I was still fat, but all that practice had paid off. To everyone's surprise, including my own, I performed admirably behind the stumps, easily catching balls and even taking a crucial catch during the game. Though my lack of fitness eventually caught up with me by the end of the match, I had succeeded in finding my niche.

This childhood experience taught me a valuable lesson about positioning. By identifying an overlooked opportunity and dedicating myself to filling that gap, I had positioned myself for success. It's a principle that extends far beyond the cricket field: through strategic positioning, we can often win the battle before the fight even begins.

What Does Positioning Really Mean?

Positioning is a term we often hear in business and personal development circles. But what does it really mean? And is our common understanding of it too narrow?

When you hear that word, what comes to mind? If you're thinking about the corporate world, you might picture that colleague who's always schmoozing with the boss, or the person who takes credit for everyone else's work. Yeah, those people are trying to "position" themselves, but is that all there is to it?

I used to think positioning was just about getting ahead, maybe even at the expense of others. But the more I've thought about it and observed successful people, the more I've realized there might be more to it.

What if positioning isn't just about being in the right place at the right time? What if it's about creating the right place and the right time? What if it's about setting yourself up for success in a way that could benefit others too?

When you look at it this way, positioning becomes something much more interesting. It's not just about climbing the corporate ladder. It could be about creating situations where everyone wins, and our victories are more sustainable and satisfying.

You don’t need to be smarter than others to outperform them if you can out-position them. Anyone looks like a genius when they’re in a good position, and even the smartest person looks like an idiot when they’re in a bad one.

Clear Thinking: Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results by Shane Parrish teaches us that people who seem to consistently put themselves in good positions often outperform those who might be smarter or more talented but repeatedly find themselves in tough spots.

So maybe we need to rethink what we mean by positioning. Maybe it's not about brown-nosing the boss or taking credit for other people's work. Maybe it's about something bigger, something more interesting, and potentially more effective.

Types of Positioning: Preparing for the Known and Unknown

We've talked about what positioning might really mean. But how do we actually do it? Shane Parrish teaches us that, positioning seems to come in two flavors: preparation and optionality. Let’s break it down.

First, there's preparation. This is the kind of positioning we do when we know what's coming. It's like when I was a kid, practicing wicket-keeping every day because I knew a match was coming up. We all do this kind of positioning all the time, often without even thinking about it.

A large part of achieving success is having the self-control to do whatever needs to be done, regardless of whether you feel like doing it at the moment. Emotional intensity is far less important in the long run than disciplined consistency.

Imagine you've got a big job interview coming up. What do you do? You research the company, practice your answers to common interview questions, maybe even pick out your outfit in advance. That's positioning through preparation.

Or think about an athlete getting ready for a big competition. They're not just showing up on the day and hoping for the best. They're training, adjusting their diet, maybe even visualizing their performance. All of that? It's positioning.

But here's where it gets interesting. Not everything in life is as predictable as an upcoming exam or a scheduled match. That's where the second type of positioning comes in: optionality.

Optionality is about positioning yourself for an uncertain future. It's about creating options for yourself, so you're ready for whatever life throws at you.

You want to give yourself as many options in the future so that if something changes, you have the space to maneuver and reposition yourself along the path of greatest opportunity.

Here's an example: I have a friend who's always learning new skills, even ones that don't directly relate to his job. He's taken coding classes, learned about personal finance, even tried his hand at public speaking. Why? Because he knows the job market is always changing, and he wants to be ready for whatever opportunities come his way.

Or think about people who maintain a wide network of professional contacts. They're not just doing it because they love socializing. They're positioning themselves so that when an opportunity arises - or when they need help - they have people they can turn to.

Even something as simple as keeping some extra cash in your savings account is a form of optionality. You're positioning yourself to handle unexpected expenses or take advantage of surprise opportunities.

The beauty of optionality is that it helps you navigate uncertainty. You're not trying to predict the future; you're setting yourself up to handle a range of possible futures.

So, whether we're talking about preparing for a known challenge or creating options for an uncertain future, positioning is about taking action today to set yourself up for success tomorrow. It's about being proactive rather than reactive.

Playing on Easy Mode: Positioning Through Daily Habits

You know how in video games you can often choose between "easy mode" and "hard mode"? Well, I've been thinking lately that life is kind of like that too. But here's the thing: unlike in video games, playing life on hard mode doesn't earn you any extra points or secret achievements. It just makes everything... well, harder.

In video games, hard mode might be more challenging and fun, offering a sense of accomplishment. But in real life? Playing on hard mode just means you're making things unnecessarily difficult for yourself.

So how does this connect to positioning? Well, positioning isn't just about big career moves or strategic decisions. It's also about the small, daily choices that put us in a better place to handle whatever comes our way. In other words, it's about choosing to play on easy mode.

One way to think about this kind of positioning is to ask, "What can I do today to make tomorrow easier?" It's about those seemingly mundane but crucial habits like:

• Getting enough sleep
• Spending time with family
• Eating a balanced diet
• Exercising regularly
• Continuous learning

Now, I know what you're thinking. "Come on, that's nothing new. Everyone knows that stuff is important." And you're right. But knowing isn't the same as doing.

Let me give you a personal example. I've noticed that whenever I skip lunch, I tend to overindulge in protein bars and dark chocolate later in the day. Sounds harmless, right? But it actually wreaks havoc with my gut health. By trying to save time or cut calories at lunch, I end up feeling bloated and uncomfortable for the rest of the da. That's playing on hard mode.

On the other hand, when I take the time to eat a proper, balanced lunch, I feel energized and focused all afternoon. I'm not battling discomfort or fighting the urge to snack. That's easy mode.

These habits might not seem exciting or important in the moment. But they're like compound interest for your life. They build up over time, positioning you to handle challenges better and take advantage of opportunities when they come.

Think about it. Going to bed at a reasonable time doesn't guarantee you won't face problems tomorrow, but it does mean you'll be better equipped to handle them. You're positioning yourself to face challenges with a clear, well-rested mind.

It's not about being perfect. It's about consistently putting yourself in a good position. Because when you do what's in your control, when you set yourself up for success, you're playing on easy mode. And in life, unlike in video games, easy mode is where you want to be.

The power of these habits isn't just in each individual action. It's in the compounding effect over time. It's about creating a lifestyle that consistently positions you for success.

So, next time you're tempted to stay up late binge-watching your favorite show, or to skip your workout, or to put off that book you've been meaning to read, ask yourself: Am I positioning myself to play on easy mode or hard mode tomorrow?

What daily habits could you start or improve to better position yourself? What small changes could you make today that might have a big impact on your tomorrows?

Positioning in Relationships: The Power of Win-Win

You know, when we talk about positioning at work, it often gets a bad rap. We might think of that colleague who's always taking credit for other people's work, or the one who's constantly managing upwards, making themselves look good to the boss at the expense of their team.

And yeah, I get it. We've all seen those people. They think they're positioning themselves for success, but in reality, they're playing a short game. They might win in the moment, but in the long run? They're burning bridges and creating a reputation that'll catch up with them eventually.

But here's the thing: real positioning in relationships isn't about creating win-lose situations. It's about finding ways for everyone to win. And that's not just some feel-good idea - it's actually a powerful strategy for long-term success.

Think about it this way: In any relationship - whether it's with a colleague, a client, or even a family member - there are four possible outcomes: win-win, win-lose, lose-win, and lose-lose. Only one of those is sustainable over time. Can you guess which one?

That's right, it's win-win. Because when both parties feel like they're benefiting from a relationship, they want to keep it going. They want to work with you again, to collaborate, to share opportunities.

So how do we create these win-win situations? Here are a few ideas:

• In business dealings, look for solutions that benefit both parties, not just you. You might not get the absolute best deal every time, but you're building relationships that will pay off in the long run.
• Genuinely support others' success. When the people around you succeed, it often opens up opportunities for you too.
• Invest real time and effort into maintaining relationships. Not just when you need something, but consistently.

It's like what they say about karma - what goes around, comes around. By positioning yourself as someone who creates value for others, you end up creating more value for yourself too.

So now, whenever I'm interacting with someone - whether it's a business partner, a colleague, or even a family member - I always ask myself: "Am I positioning this as a win-win? Am I creating value for both of us?"

Because here's the truth: In the long run, the only sustainable relationships are the ones where everyone wins. That's true positioning. That's how you set yourself up for lasting success.

What about you? How do you position yourself in your relationships? Are you creating win-wins, or are there areas where you might be unintentionally creating win-lose situations?

The Hidden Force: Positioning Through Reputation

You know, all this talk about positioning got me thinking about something that's often overlooked but incredibly powerful: our reputation. It's like this invisible force that whispers in everyone's ear about us before we even walk into a room.

There's an old parable that I think illustrates this perfectly. It goes something like this:

A young man moved to a new village and approached a wise elder. He asked, "What are the people like in this village?"

You see, in this parable, each man's reputation - and his expectations - preceded him. The first man, with his negative outlook, was positioning himself for negative interactions. The second, with his positive reputation, was setting himself up for positive experiences.

It's like having a team of cheerleaders that goes ahead of you, telling everyone how great you are before you even show up. Or, in the case of a bad reputation, it's like having a group of naysayers poisoning the well before you get a chance to drink.

Think about it. When you hear great things about someone before you meet them, don't you already have a positive impression? You're more likely to give them the benefit of the doubt, to listen to their ideas, to want to work with them.

On the flip side, a bad reputation can close doors before you even reach for the handle. It's like trying to swim upstream - you might make progress, but you're working twice as hard for half the results.

So how do we build a good reputation? Well, it's not about grand gestures or one-time heroics. It's about consistency. It's about doing what you say you'll do, time and time again. It's about treating people well, even when there's nothing in it for you. It's about delivering quality work, even when no one's watching.

Building a good reputation takes time. It's not something that happens overnight. But the payoff? It's huge. Because when your reputation precedes you in a positive way, you're already positioned for success before you even enter the room.

So here's something to think about: What's your reputation in your field? What do people say about you when you're not in the room? And more importantly, what can you do today to start building the reputation you want to have?

The Inner Game: Positioning Your Mind for Success

You know, we've talked a lot about how we position ourselves in the world - our habits, our relationships, our reputation. But there's one more piece of the puzzle that I think ties it all together: how we position our minds.

I was reminded of this recently when I caught up with an old friend. We hadn't seen each other in years, and I was struck by how differently our lives had turned out. We'd started in similar places, but now? It was like we were living in different worlds.

As we talked, I started to notice something. It wasn't just about the choices we'd made or the opportunities we'd had. It was about how we thought about those choices and opportunities. It was about the information we consumed, the people we surrounded ourselves with, and how we approached challenges.

In other words, it was about our mental positioning.

Think about it like this: our minds are like gardens. We can let them grow wild, full of whatever happens to take root. Or we can cultivate them, carefully choosing what we plant and nurture.

So, what does this mental positioning look like in practice? Well, it's about being intentional with three key things:

• The quality of information we consume. In this age of information overload, it's easy to get caught up in a flood of low-quality content. But what if we were more selective? What if we chose to feed our minds with ideas that challenge us, inspire us, and help us grow?
• The people we associate with. You've probably heard the saying, "You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with." There's a lot of truth to that. The people around us shape our thoughts, our attitudes, our ambitions. So why not surround ourselves with people who lift us up, who challenge us to be better?
• Our mindset and attitude towards challenges. This one's huge. Do we see problems as roadblocks or as opportunities to learn and grow? Do we approach challenges with a fixed mindset ("I can't do this") or a growth mindset ("How can I learn to do this")?

By consciously choosing high-quality inputs for our minds, we're positioning ourselves for better decision-making and personal growth. We're setting ourselves up to spot opportunities that others might miss , to handle challenges with resilience, and to keep growing and learning throughout our lives.

It's like what they say about compound interest - small, consistent investments can lead to big returns over time. The same is true for our mental positioning. Those daily choices about what we read, who we talk to, and how we think about challenges? They compound over time, shaping the trajectory of our lives.

So, here's a question to ponder: How are you positioning your mind? What kind of mental garden are you cultivating? And what small changes could you make today to position your mind for even greater success tomorrow?

Remember, at the end of the day, the most important positioning we do isn't out there in the world - it's right here, in our own minds.