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Success Advice

Mediocre or Master? The Levels of Preparation That Define Success

For leaders, preparation can make the difference between occasional success and sustained excellence

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Why Preparation Sets You Apart

There’s a well-known saying about casinos: “The house always wins.” While this isn’t strictly true for every bet, it’s undeniable that casinos set up their odds to ensure consistent profits over time. Preparation works in a similar way. When you position yourself to win consistently, you’ll triumph more often than not, and those victories compound over time.

For leaders, preparation can make the difference between occasional success and sustained excellence. Even if you lose individual battles, consistent preparation ensures long-term wins. Yet, many struggle with preparation due to misunderstandings about the mindset required or a lack of commitment to the process.

The Five Levels of Preparation

Through years of coaching college basketball and observing life in general, I’ve identified five levels of preparation. These categories describe the approaches people take and their outcomes. Take a moment to reflect on your current level as you read through them.

1. Casual: Winging It

Casual preparation is the epitome of “winging it.” It often manifests in areas you dread addressing—tasks at work, personal health, or relationships. Neglecting these aspects ultimately impacts your overall performance. Without intentional planning, key areas of your life suffer, leading to inconsistency and underachievement.

2. Cursory: Just Scraping By

Cursory preparation is slightly better but still superficial. Think back to school days when you scribbled answers on the bus just to avoid embarrassment. This approach avoids immediate trouble but risks exposing you to bigger problems. Shallow preparation makes you vulnerable to being called out for lack of depth and effort.

3. Compliant: Checking the Box

At this level, you meet expectations but do nothing more. It’s the “check the box” mentality driven by external pressure rather than internal motivation. While compliant preparation may suffice for average outcomes, it will never lead to exceptional success. Those stuck here often feel they “don’t have enough time” for thorough preparation, perpetuating mediocrity.

4. Committed: Proactive and Purposeful

Committed preparation involves taking full responsibility and approaching tasks with integrity and substance. Success isn’t guaranteed, but failures become learning opportunities rather than setbacks. Leaders at this level have an internal drive to excel and gain confidence in high-pressure situations. They experience what it means to operate in a world of excellence.

5. Constant: The Relentless Pursuit of Mastery

The highest level of preparation requires time and guidance. You can’t instantly will yourself into mastery. It’s a process of learning from others and consistently refining your approach. For me, working with Coach Mickie DeMoss at Kentucky was transformative. Her relentless pursuit of depth in preparation taught me to look beyond the surface and anticipate every possible scenario. This type of preparation is a skill honed over time.

Learning the Art of Preparation

Preparation is not an innate talent but a learned skill, with nuances that vary by profession. Whether in sales, marketing, coaching, or executive leadership, you must commit to identifying and addressing the specific areas where you need to go deeper.

If you recognize that you’re operating at a lower level, take action to advance. As you climb the preparation ladder, your confidence will grow, your mistakes will decrease, and your wins will start to accumulate. Over time, you’ll be on the path to sustained success.

Matthew Mitchell is a Wall Street Journal best-selling author, speaker, three-time SEC Coach of the Year, and the winningest head coach in the history of the University of Kentucky women's basketball program. The foundation for his teams’ achievements is the Winning Tools principles: honesty, hard work, and discipline. Through Mitchell’s focus on the fundamentals, he led the program to new heights ― seven winning seasons and UK’s first SEC Championship in 30 years. In his new book, Ready to Win: How Great Leaders Succeed Through Preparation (Winning Tools, November 19, 2024) Mitchell shares proven principles that lead to resilience, preparation, and growth. Learn more at www.coachmatthewmitchell.com.

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Success Advice

11 Mark Manson Lessons That’ll Redefine Success in the Digital Age

Success in the digital age isn’t about hacks, it’s about the raw, real lessons Mark Manson actually lives by.

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In 2016, Mark Manson released The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, a brutally honest, thought-provoking book that redefined self-help for a new generation. (more…)

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Change Your Mindset

The Secret Daily Routines Behind History’s Most Brilliant Thinkers

Uncover the daily rituals and hidden habits that powered history’s most brilliant minds to success.

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Why Daily Rituals Matter

Every great achiever has one thing in common: discipline. Behind the novels, inventions, discoveries, and masterpieces are small, consistent habits repeated daily. (more…)

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Did You Know

How to Turn a Simple Link-in-Bio Into a Powerful Brand Hub

Transform your forgotten bio link into a high-impact gateway that fuels engagement, clicks, and conversions across every social platform.

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Social media is one of the greatest marketing tools in 2025. According to a recent study, some 86% of marketers globally use platforms like Facebook and Instagram for advertisements, while 94% use it for content distribution.  (more…)

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Personal Development

These 11 Habits Will Make You More Productive, Successful, and Confident

Boost your focus, confidence, and results with 11 powerful habits successful people use every day.

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Successful people love to help beginners. They have an incredible work ethic and rarely complain. As a result, others naturally look up to them and want to follow in their footsteps.

But here’s the truth: there’s no success without sacrifice. You’ll need to give up comfort, excuses, and sometimes even social approval to accomplish your goals.

Value comes from solving problems, and these 11 powerful tips will help you become more productive, successful, and confident, starting today.

1. Take Short Breaks After Finishing a Task

Psychology shows it’s important to reward positive behaviour.

After completing a big task or finishing a book, take five minutes to walk, stretch, or simply breathe. This quick reset helps your brain recharge and strengthens focus.

Many great writers swear by morning walks, solitude, and reflection can unlock creativity.

But if you refuse to take breaks, don’t be surprised when burnout hits. Your brain needs recovery time just as much as your body does.

2. Schedule Your Most Important Tasks First

Multitasking kills productivity. If you want to get more done, try time blocking, a method where you dedicate set periods for specific tasks.

Productivity expert Caitlin Hughes explains, “Time blocking involves scheduling blocks of time for your tasks throughout the day.”

For example, if you’re a writer:

  • Research your topic at night.

  • Write your first draft in the morning (don’t worry if it’s rough).

  • Edit in the afternoon, great writing comes from rewriting.

You can’t buy more time. Use it intentionally and without regret.

3. Eliminate Distractions from Your Workspace

Focus is the foundation of success.

According to Inc. Magazine, it takes an average of 23 minutes to recover from a distraction. That’s nearly half an hour of lost productivity every time you check your phone.

Put your phone away. Close unnecessary tabs. And yes, limit your Netflix binges.

Meeting deadlines consistently is one of the fastest ways to stand out and earn respect.

4. Take Full Responsibility for Your Life

Entrepreneur Derek Sivers once said, “Everything is my fault.”

This mindset doesn’t mean self-blame; it means self-ownership. Stop pointing fingers, making excuses, or waiting for others to change.

If your habits (like smoking or drinking too much) hold you back, it’s time to make better choices. Your friends can’t live your dreams for you; only you can.

5. Invest an Hour a Day in Learning New Skills

Knowledge compounds over time.

Whether you read books, take online courses, or practise a craft, consistent learning gives you a competitive edge.

I used to struggle with academic writing, but I improved by studying the work of great authors and applying what I learned.

Your past doesn’t define you; your actions do. Every new skill adds another tool to your arsenal and makes you more unstoppable.

6. Develop a Growth Mindset

Psychologist Dr. Carol Dweck introduced the concept of fixed vs. growth mindset.

  • A fixed mindset believes success is based on natural talent.

  • A growth mindset believes success comes from effort and learning.

Choose the growth mindset. Embrace challenges. See failures as feedback. In today’s fast-moving digital world, adaptability is your biggest advantage.

7. Learn Marketing to Reach People Who Need You

I once believed marketing was manipulative, until I realised it’s about helping people solve problems.

If your work provides genuine value, marketing is how you let others know it exists. Even Apple spends billions on it.

Don’t be ashamed to promote your skills or business. Without visibility, your ideas will never reach the people who need them most.

Creative professionals who understand marketing and sales have an unfair advantage.

8. Ask Your Mentor the Right Questions

Good mentors can fast-track your growth.

While mentorship often costs money, it’s one of the best investments you can make. Great mentors don’t care about titles; they care about your progress.

If you don’t have access to a mentor yet, books are your silent mentors. Read the best in your field, take notes, and apply what resonates.

9. Build Confidence Through Action, Not Affirmations

Author Ryan Holiday once said, “I don’t believe in myself. I have evidence.”

Confidence doesn’t come from shouting affirmations into the mirror; it comes from proof. Doing hard things, keeping promises to yourself, and following through.

When you consistently take action, your brain gathers evidence that you can handle whatever comes next. That’s real confidence, grounded, earned, and unshakable.

10. Focus on Your Strengths

Your strengths reveal where your greatest impact lies.

If people compliment you on something often, it’s a clue. Lean into it.

A former professor once told me I was creative, and that simple comment gave me the confidence to go all in. I studied creativity, applied it daily, and turned it into my career advantage.

Double down on your strengths. That’s how you build momentum and mastery.

11. Identify and Challenge Your Limiting Beliefs

Your beliefs shape your reality.

For years, I believed I couldn’t be a great writer because of my chronic tinnitus and astigmatism, sensory challenges that made concentration difficult. But over time, I realised those struggles made me more disciplined, observant, and empathetic.

Your limitations can become your greatest motivators if you let them.

Avoid shortcuts. Growth takes time, but it’s always worth it.

Final Thoughts

Becoming productive, successful, and confident isn’t about working harder than everyone else. It’s about working smarter, consistently, and intentionally.

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight. Start small: take a break after your next task, schedule your priorities, or spend one hour learning something new.

Every habit you change compounds into long-term success. Remember, true change comes from practising new behaviours.

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