Tuesday Tuneup- #43
Playing the long game
Happy Tuesday everyone!
This weeks edition will be the final for 2024 as I’ll be spending time with Family for the next couple weeks. (Not to mention the next two Tuesdays are Christmas and New Years eve)
First and foremost, thank you all for a remarkable year and being a part of my journey.
2024 was absolutely insane for our family and some of my highlights this year where;
Traveled to over 30 states with my Family including both Alaska and Hawaii.
Left my Executive career of the last decade.
Successfully launched a company centered around helping others.
That’s not to say it went perfect. The year was also full of doubt, second guessing, uncertainly and saying goodbye to people I really enjoyed working with.
Change is hard…. Especially big change.
But….. If you take you’re mind off the immediate discomfort and instead focus on the long term direction and impact you’re making….. it becomes much easier to push through barriers that ultimately allow you to do what you want to do in life.
And, that brings us to this weeks topic.
I have found that in life and in business, maintaining a long term vision, and not giving it up to chase the short term wins, is ultimately what will get you on the path you want to be on.
The Problem with Chasing Immediate Returns
When you focus solely on short-term wins, you might feel productive in the moment, but you’re often setting yourself up for future struggles. In business, this can look like chasing every trend, prioritizing immediate sales over building relationships, or cutting corners to hit this month’s targets without considering the long-term impact.
The same principle applies to life. Think about relationships or health. Crash diets, quick fixes, or shallow connections might give the illusion of progress, but they often leave you worse off in the long run.
The Value of Long-Term Thinking
Playing the long game means thinking beyond the immediate results. It’s about investing your time, energy, and resources into strategies, relationships, and habits that may not pay off today but will yield exponential rewards in the future.
In business, this looks like:
Building strong relationships with clients: Instead of focusing on closing a deal, focus on understanding their needs and delivering value. Clients who trust you will not only return but will refer others.
Investing in your team: Training, mentoring, and creating a positive culture may take time, but it builds loyalty and high performance.
Establishing solid systems: It’s tempting to bypass processes in favor of quick wins, but systems create scalability and stability as you grow.
In life, this could mean:
Prioritizing consistent health habits over crash diets.
Nurturing relationships with time and care rather than relying on grand gestures.
Pursuing meaningful goals instead of chasing fleeting pleasures.
Examples of Long-Term Wins
Some of the most successful businesses and individuals exemplify this principle. Think of Amazon. In its early days, Amazon was unprofitable for years, reinvesting every penny into growth. Today, it’s one of the most dominant companies in the world. Jeff Bezos famously said, "We’re willing to be misunderstood for long periods of time," a mantra rooted in the long game.
Or consider Warren Buffett, one of the world’s greatest investors. His wealth didn’t come from risky, high-return gambles; it came from decades of consistent, patient investments. His philosophy? "Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."
Closer to home, think about the businesses you trust most. Maybe it’s the local contractor who’s been in business for decades, earning a reputation for reliability and quality. They didn’t build that trust overnight—they built it one satisfied customer at a time.
How to Start Playing the Long Game
Playing the long game requires a shift in mindset. Here are some actionable steps to get started:
1. Define Your Long-Term Vision
What do you want your business or life to look like in five, ten, or even twenty years? Clarity around your ultimate goals will help you prioritize actions that align with that vision.
2. Focus on Relationships Over Transactions
Whether it’s a customer, employee, or friend, invest in relationships. Listen, understand, and show up consistently. Relationships built on trust and value have a compounding effect.
3. Prioritize Consistency
Small, consistent actions lead to big results over time. For example, posting valuable content regularly builds a stronger brand than a single viral post.
4. Think in Systems
Instead of looking for one-off solutions, focus on creating repeatable systems. A solid hiring process, a structured sales funnel, or a predictable follow-up system can save you time and energy in the long run.
5. Be Patient
Results take time. Trust the process and avoid the temptation to pivot too quickly when you don’t see immediate returns. Remind yourself that even the tallest skyscrapers need a strong foundation.
Finally, whatever your vision is for 2025 and beyond…… it’s on you to make it happen and that starts with taking action.
~ Sign up for that class you always wanted to take.
~ Book the vacation you always are talking about (Or at least get it on the calendar.)
~Start the newsletter, write the book, make the video, volunteer more, ride the bike, take the walk, make the call……… Just do it.
Your life is going somewhere…. it’s on you to help guide it.