Matt Hogan’s Reviews > Dare to Prepare: How to Win Before You Begin > Status Update

"a man's reach should exceed his grasp.." ~ Robert Browning Poem

"If you are prepared, the likelihood of success is that much greater. And if you are well prepared and still unsuccessful, you can live better with yourself."

It is only human nature to raise your game to the level of the people you are interacting with.

Shirley realizes fully that methodical preparation lets her control the only variables that she can: herself and her office. Her objective is to be as prepared, and consequently as effective, as she can be. The rest will take care of itself.

Talent, charisma, and sheer energy all help. But people devoted to a process are usually people who achieve results.

"We prepare a product for the market by asking a fundamental question: how does it help the athlete?" said Steve Battista, the head of marketing at Under Armour. "We build our brand by researching what athletes need, what innovation might help them. Then we start marketing by selling directly to them before we even advertise. Word starts to spread that the product works even before it becomes a brand."

"I always try to compliment people and offer positive critiques instead of criticisms. I need to find what people like and need to find the hook into their life and mind. This is not something you tun on when the crisis hits. It's not like the movies where this natural negotiator walks in and saves the day. The preparation in real life is relentless."

I've learned over the years that when you're in a confrontational situation, you are usually far better off thinking to yourself: 'Hold your tongue. If you want tot tell him to go to hell, you can do it just as well tomorrow as today.'

I've made enough mistakes in my life to be able to learn from them and provide two books' worth of insights to readers so they can be effective when faced with similar issues and problems.