What if

The ball is set, the line is ready, and the football is placed behind the center. You lock your eyes on it, scanning the entire line for any hint of what’s coming. The quarterback shouts, “Blue 32, Blue 32, hut, hut!” Suddenly, time seems to slow as the center snaps the football into the quarterback’s hands. He steps back, and you charge forward. Just as you notice he’s about to pass to the running back, you adjust your course. The running back catches the football, and in an instant, you collide, bringing him down for a three-yard loss.

That’s a dream I sometimes have, and for some reason, it included last night. It reminds me of Wayne Gretzky’s famous advice: “Skate to where the puck is going, not where it has been.” This dream illustrates that point perfectly—if you can anticipate where the football is headed, you can position yourself to respond to any move your opponent makes.

A few years ago, on my birthday, I started reflecting on my successes and failures over the past year and throughout my life to see what lessons could be drawn from them. That dream, and others like it, have often been part of those reflections.

Here is the lesson I call “What If.”

What if he goes right, what if he goes left, what if he passes the football? “What If” is a powerful tool in sports, business, politics, and combat. It prepares you for possible actions your opponent may take. I first learned this lesson during my time in the army, while training on squad tactics. In those exercises, we constantly ran through “What If” scenarios—preparing for every possible action the enemy might take and how we could respond. The ability to predict and anticipate made all the difference in a successful mission. There are a few quotes that come to mind when thinking about it:

“No plan survives first contact.” — This saying, attributed to Helmuth von Moltke the Elder, a 19th-century Prussian military strategist, highlights that no matter how well you prepare, the reality of engaging with an opponent will always alter the original plan.

“Think three steps ahead.” — Although this is a common piece of advice in strategic circles, it’s most often associated with chess, where anticipating an opponent’s future moves is crucial for success.

“The enemy gets a vote too.” — As General James Mattis emphasized, the opposition will always influence the outcome, no matter how solid your strategy might seem on paper.

In The Art of War, Sun Tzu also emphasizes the importance of anticipating and preparing for the enemy’s moves. One relevant passage states:

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat.”

This stresses the importance of understanding your opponent’s intentions and being prepared for their actions. Another passage highlights the value of adaptability and readiness:

“Do not repeat the tactics which have gained you one victory, but let your methods be regulated by the infinite variety of circumstances.”

This means that you must adapt and predict changes in your opponent’s strategy, staying prepared for their next move rather than reacting to what has already happened. By running through the “What If” scenarios, you ensure that you are not just reacting but anticipating, maintaining control of the game and staying ahead in the competition.

More importantly, if you can predict potential moves your opponent may make, you might be able to bait them into making decisions that are advantageous for you. This approach allows you to shift from a reactive mindset to a proactive one, setting traps and creating scenarios that drive the outcome in your favor.

In chess, this concept is called “forcing moves,” where each move is designed to limit your opponent’s options, steering them down a path that ultimately benefits you. In business or combat, it’s about shaping the environment or the narrative so that your opponent believes they are making the best move—when in reality, it’s the move you wanted them to make all along.

Sun Tzu, in The Art of War, captures this perfectly:

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

By controlling how your opponent perceives the situation, you can influence their decisions and dictate the flow of the battle. The key is to anticipate not just their current actions but their motivations and tendencies, using that knowledge to turn every “What If” into a strategic opportunity.

How does this apply to your life on a daily basis? The ability to think ahead, anticipate outcomes, and strategically plan isn't confined to the sports field, battlefield, or boardroom. It’s a mindset that can shape your decisions and actions in everyday life. Whether you're dealing with work challenges, personal relationships, or long-term goals, the "What If" mindset allows you to be proactive rather than reactive.

In your career, for example, thinking three steps ahead might mean preparing for potential hurdles before they arise—anticipating the market’s shifts, a client’s changing needs, or the competition’s moves. By staying ahead of the game, you can adapt quickly and find opportunities where others see obstacles.

In personal relationships, applying "What If" can help you navigate conversations and situations more thoughtfully. If you can foresee how someone might react or understand their motivations, you can approach interactions with empathy and strategy, reducing conflicts and fostering stronger connections.

Even in day-to-day tasks, thinking strategically pays off. Small decisions, like managing your time effectively or budgeting wisely, can accumulate into big advantages if you’re constantly looking at the potential outcomes and adjusting your approach. By asking yourself "What If," you can evaluate your options and make choices that keep you on track for long-term success.

Ultimately, the goal is to be ready for whatever life throws your way. Like in the dream of the football game, you won’t always know exactly what’s coming, but by thinking through possible scenarios, you put yourself in a position to react swiftly and effectively. You're not just reacting to life as it happens—you’re influencing how it unfolds, steering your path toward success with each decision.

On second thought, maybe the reason for this dream last night was my subconscious trying to tell me I need to work on planning for the next year.