Monday motivation quote: If you can’t outplay them, outwork them

Have you noticed that some people in your workplace outplay you? They tend to appear smarter, hardworking, successful, productive and always getting the best mark. Why? This can be because they know their onions. They know what to do, when to do it and how to get it done right. They are competent and utilise their skills effectively.

On the other hand, there are some people who also seek to outplay you on purpose. This set of people may choose to do this just to make you feel ineffective and inefficient. They want to let you know they are smarter than you in one way or the other. They utilise every opportunity to make you seem incompetent leaving you feeling inadequate, unproductive and miserable. Well, my advise to you is: don’t be scared. Don’t quit. They are doing what they have to do to be on top of their game. You too can play that game, only differently. What you have to do is to hit pause, evaluate and strategise on how to up your game less you become relegated to the background. You need to find out what they are doing that you are not doing. You need to find out what to do to be at your best. And that is why the quote for today is one you can’t afford to play with.

Our today’s quote is the thought-provoking words of an American professional golfer who is considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of the game, and who is also notable for his profound theory on golf swing theory and his legendary ball-striking ability.

“If you can’t outplay them, outwork them”- William Ben Hogan

While Hogan might have had sportspeople in mind when he made this statement, the tenets can equally apply in other life endeavours. It’s true that some people will deliberately go out of their way to outplay you sometimes for reasons, which are not always honourable. But you have to beat them at their game and that could mean making some sacrifices of some sort, what Hogan phrased as, “outwork them.” That’s what you’ve got to do.

In other words, you would have to subscribe to more work. Go an extra mile than they do. It is important to understand that what I mean by more work here is to work smart. In an office environment, for instance, ask for feedback from your superiors and peers to help you figure out what makes you less effective and less efficient. Find out why you are not performing as well as your colleagues, for example. Then, seek ways to fix the issue. It can be reading articles on work efficiency, sourcing for more materials on any work you are doing, seeking help from a senior colleague who is doing well in your field. When you are not getting it right, ask questions. Attend seminars, improve your skills, acquire more skills, make researches and apply what you learnt.

Asking for feedback is also a great way to identify deficiencies and to improve performance. You might learn there is a need to adjust your work ethics. For instance, you may have to stay back after office hours to deliver on a deadline or you may need to get to the office as earlier just to start off pretty well. Go ahead and make the adjustments. One thing you have control over is your work ethics. So, you are sure to outwork them by giving it more than they will or are able to. It requires extra effort and work on your side to pull off a victory.

Also, you need to learn how to be proactive. Before anyone remembers to do it, you have already done it. Be the one that sets the record, the one that creates and controls the situation before anyone begins to respond to it. The one that takes the action rather than reacts to it. The one that makes things happens instead of waiting for things to happen. Be the proactive person. It also sets you aside from the rest.

Go ahead and start out playing.