Maximal investment strategy VS minimal investment strategy.
How to cultivate an unstoppable success mentality.
When it comes to getting something done, there are primarily two schools of thought, with several variations between them.
Minimal-Investment-Strategy
Mosquitos and puffball mushrooms follow this kind of strategy when it comes to reproduction; they both invest in numbers to increase their success rate rather than relying on investing in one or several offspring. For instance, a large puffball is able to release up to 7 trillion spores at a time, how many need to germinate for the strategy to be successful? One.
Maximal-Investment-Strategy
Humans are the king of this strategy; humans take the longest out of any other living thing to become independent and fend for themselves. We invest everything in our offspring and do everything we can to ensure their success.
I should note that both strategies have their place. When creating a product line, marketing strategy, or writing blogs, quantity is great since all you need is one product, ad, blog, reel or tick-tock to go viral, and you’ll be doing pretty well, and chances are everything else that you have done prior will also get traction.
But quantity takes a lot of work. What if you're lazy or don’t have any skills? What if you don’t know how to make one product or generate an ad campaign?
A solution is to burn the boats.
In the year 1519, Hernán Cortés arrived in the “New World” with 600 men, and upon arrival, made history by “burning his ships.” This sent a clear message to his men. There is no turning back! Two years later, he succeeded in his complete conquest of the Aztec empire.
I don’t condone the conquering of a people group, but let’s acknowledge that Cortes’s strategy worked, and if his men ever objected, what were they going to do? Go home. nope.
This is an incredibly aggressive strategy, so let’s break it down practically so that you have hope and faith when things get tough. So here is a wisdom quote dump: Or read this.
“If no mistake you have made, losing you are. A different game you should play.” – Yoda
If you are not learning, you are not growing; you are essentially stuck.
“The greatest teacher, failure is. We are what they grow beyond. That is the true burden of all masters.” ― Yoda
“If you only do what you can do, you will never be more than who you are.” ―Master Shifu
“I never lose. I either win or learn.” ―Nelson Mandela
“No! Try not! Do or do not, there is no try.”― Yoda
“[Luke Skywalker:] I can’t believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail.”
So how does this look practically? I once wanted to learn more about cars, so instead of buying a book, I sold my reliable car and bought a car from an auction. Problems came up as expected, and I dealt with them and learned. I eventually ended up scrapping the car altogether (read the full story here) and have since decided I will leave car repairs to the professionals. Was that stupid? Maybe, did I learn? Yeah, I learned what I am capable of and what my skill set is. I also know that if I have to figure something out, I can.
But you lost money; that’s dumb. All education has a price, financial or otherwise.
If there is something that you want to know or figure out, then just go.
Roleplay with me for a second. Say you try and suck and fail epically at everything you try. Well, now that you have an incredible amount of stories, you could write a book, blog, or start a podcast. There will be a bunch of people who will want to learn from your dumb mistakes so that they don’t have to.
Think of Thomas Edison; it took him 1000 attempts before he was successful. and to this he said.
'I have not failed, but found 1000 ways to not make a light bulb' Thomas Edison.
In summary, realize that with the right mentality, there is no such thing as failure, only learning and growth. Growth always has a cost, so be ready to pay, but nothing in this world is for free anyway, and if you are not paying for your education, you will pay for your ignorance.
