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

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.
Success Advice
How “I Have a Dream” Became the Most Powerful Speech in History
It’s a blueprint for how to speak truth with clarity, conviction, and compassion

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and delivered what would become one of the most powerful speeches in history, “I Have a Dream.” (more…)
Change Your Mindset
How Top CEOs Solve Problems Differently To The Rest
To steer their organizations toward sustainable success, strategists and senior leaders must first become exceptional problem solvers

In today’s volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) world, challenges are not just inevitable, they are essential. For global organizations, challenges push leaders to unlock creativity, develop resilience, and pursue excellence. (more…)
Success Advice
The Real Reason Your Personal Brand Isn’t Working
When your brand is rooted in intention, it becomes compelling.

Your brand isn’t a logo. It’s the lived expression of who you are, what you value, and the legacy you’re building. (more…)
Success Advice
25 Leadership Lessons That Will Make You a Smarter, Stronger Leader
It blends emotional intelligence with strategic thinking, people skills with performance metrics, and empathy with execution.

Leadership is not just a role; it’s a continuous journey of growth, reflection, and service. While personal experience shapes much of that journey, the wisest leaders learn from the triumphs and missteps of those who walked before them. (more…)
-
Life3 weeks ago
How to Stop the War in Your Head and Find Peace
-
Success Advice4 weeks ago
The Modern Blueprint for Success: Mastery, Purpose, and High-Income Skills
-
Entrepreneurs4 weeks ago
Why Passion, Not Profit, Builds the Most Successful Businesses
-
Life3 weeks ago
What the Army Taught Me About Letting Go of Who I Thought I Was
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
25 Leadership Lessons That Will Make You a Smarter, Stronger Leader
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
The Real Reason Your Personal Brand Isn’t Working
-
Tech Start Ups1 week ago
Your Startup’s Greatest Risk May Be A Click, Not A Competitor
-
Change Your Mindset6 days ago
How Top CEOs Solve Problems Differently To The Rest