Be Certain of One Thing. Be SMART, and Bet on Yourself...

The saying goes that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. Pretty morbid. How do we turn such a morbid metaphor into a winning strategy? It's a matter of perspective, so I say it's time we change the narrative, roll the dice, and unlock the secrets while sprinkling in a few laughs along the way.

Setting yourself up for success requires you to have a framework. Sometimes the struggle puts people into state of fight or flight. Fear can derail the fight in one's path to success, but it's actually not a secret. Unlike the first rule of Fight Club, which is not to talk about Fight Club, we actually want you to talk in an effort to take Flight. There's logical elements of what I'm writing because what i'm identifying below is not new. It's just clouded, as we often get so overwhelmed by our daily lives that we forget the simple things that drive us.

So let's dive into the world of organizational psychology and explore how its tenets, combined with quantitative data, and a pinch of humor, can help you win big in the game of life, specifically your life.

Set SMART Goals, but Don't Forget the Laughs:

A subject in one of my organizational psychology classes taught us to set SMART goals, which is defined as Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals. Support in the SMART system resulted in findings which found that 90% of the people who set SMART goals actually achieved them (Locke & Latham, 2002). For example, instead of aiming to become a millionaire, set a goal to save $10,000 within a year. A million dollars is the aim, but incremental and measurable goals towards that target is, well, smart.

Goals aren't just about numbers. As the great philosopher and part-time comedian George Carlin once said, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Seriously, he said that. You wouldn't expect it coming from the man who gave us the seven words you can't say on TV, but his comedy was rooted in logic and calling out some of the absurdities that stopped people from succeeded in life. Take a lesson from Carlin and be sure to add a dash of humor and fun in your goal-setting process. After all, laughter is the best medicine, and achieving goals is much easier when you're having a good time.

Embrace the Growth Mindset and Laugh at Your Mistakes:

According to organizational psychologist Carol Dweck's book, Mindset: The new Psychology of Success (2006), a growth mindset is based on the belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. In the book, Dweck goes on to argue that individuals with a growth mindset tend to achieve more than those with a fixed mindset.

So, how do you cultivate a growth mindset when we live in a time where being risk averse and seeking comfort in stability is a target of the masses? Simply put, embrace that you're don't have as much control as you think have you have and mistakes are going to happen. I'm a golfer, and my mindset changed years ago when I heard Tiger Woods say that golf is not about your good shots, but about minimizing your mistakes as the game is a a game of misses. That's not just a metaphor for golf, but for everything you do. Start by acknowledging your mistakes and embrace them as a source of inspiration. Learn to crawl before you can walk. Embrace your failures, and remember that they're just opportunities to learn and grow.

Harness the Power of Social Support and Shared Laughter:

Organizational psychology has demonstrated that social support from friends, family, and colleagues is crucial to achieving personal and professional goals. A study by Cohen & Wills (1985) found that social support is associated with improved physical and mental health.

So let's get right to the point for this entry. Don't hesitate to share your goals, setbacks, and achievements with your social circle. A good support system can lift your spirits and motivate you to keep going.

Keep Score with Quantitative Data:

Tracking your progress with quantitative data helps you stay focused and accountable. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, keep a log of your daily calorie intake, exercise, and weight changes. A study by Burke et al. (2011) found that individuals who self-monitor their diet and exercise habits lose more weight than those who don't. Granted, counting your macros and using an app to track your intake is tedious, but it's not meant to be something you sustain. If you think about it, keeping progress with an app is less about the tracking and more about behavioral change. Your simply trying to break a habit of and form a new one, and a tracker like is meant to be short term to help you create structure and form new habits.

So celebrate your small wins. Do as the great comedian (and occasional mathematician) Albert Einstein did when he advised "Do not worry about your difficulties in Mathematics. I can assure you mine are still greater." Man, Albert Enstein really knew how to drop a cloud pleasing zinger, didn't he?

Conclusion:

Let's lay to rest the only certainties in life are death and taxes. Belief in one's self should a certainty for every single individual because everyone can bring value if they are certain about who they are. That certain is self-confidence, and should be on the list of certainties that applicable to anyone. Betting on yourself is a surefire way to achieve success, and organizational psychology provides the perfect framework to make that bet a winning one. By setting SMART goals, embracing a growth mindset, harnessing the power of social support, and tracking your progress with quantitative data, you can maximize your potential.