Preparedness and Priorities

“To what do you attribute the most to your success?”

Ten years ago or so, I heard an interview with a highly successful businessman who had used some of his wealth to finance his candidacy for president of the United States.  I cannot find a transcript of that interview, but nevertheless, I do recall enough of it to share the simple but powerful point he made when he was ask, “To what do you attribute the most to your success?”

He answered that by recalling the Scout Motto, “Be Prepared” and paired it with priorities.

He said, and this is to the best of my recollection, “If a person would simply prepare themselves to fill the most important needs that they anticipate, they will become more effective – and their level of success will rise.

If a person would just ask themselves, ‘what’s the most important thing for me to do tomorrow?’ and then prepare for it today, they will be more effective.  If a person would ask themselves, ‘what’s the most important thing for me to do next week?’ and then prepare for it this week; and ‘what’s the most important thing to do next month?’ and prepare for it this month; and what’s the most important thing for me to accomplish next year?’ and prepare for it this year, then the outcome will be a series of success, both short term and long term. It’s a principal that when followed pays huge dividends.” _Paraphrased

I had forgotten about this interview until yesterday morning while having a discussion with my oldest son who had things to say about preparedness.  It is not something that I have purposely practiced myself.  The reason I am writing about it here is to bring it to my attention so that I can make a decision on it.  Is this a principle that I want to practice on a daily, weekly, monthly, and annual basis?  Am I going to do it?  Am I going to focus more on preparedness?  When I am not busy with a high priority task at hand, will I busy myself with preparing for the next priority "to do"?

In order to do so, I have to put my priorities together.   I have familial priorities, community priorities, career priorities, and spiritual priorities.  These are the fore aspects of my relationships with humanity and with my God. 

Yeshua the Anointed (Jesus Christ), our Guide on this journey, after addressing our worries over fulfilling the basic needs in our lives, instructs us with these words: "Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' ³²"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you….  _{Matthew 6:31-33}