How to Reach the World Series in Five Years

How to Reach the World Series in Five YearsHow to Reach the World Series in Five YearsFor longer than any of you currently reading this have been alive, this years World Series teams have been losers - sometimes lovable, legendarily cursed, often achingly close, but nonetheless, losers at the art of winning baseballs top honor.This year the Cubs, who last won the World Series in 1908, and the Indians, whose last victory was 1948, reached the peak of their sport. What can you learn from their successes to reach the peak of yours?This terrific recap from Jarrett Seidler at Baseball Prospectus walks through Theo Epsteins step-by-step transformation of the Cubsfrom consecutive last-place cellar dwellers to todays dominant franchise. In just five years, he and his new team reached the World Series.On the other side, the Cleveland Indians were largely pegged to be a mediocrity again this year - ESPN rated them 17th in their season preview.That these two teams are now the greatest in the game is part of the magic of sports. Its renewal, its redemption, its failing to remember the setbacks of last year as you pursue the glory of this one.Perhaps that inspires us fruchtwein about sports. Its the constant reminder, amidst a tumult of statistics and trivia and rumor and egos, that we can overcome and we can emerge victorious, despite the odds.And that reminds you that you, too, can overcome.Whether you are charting your rocketship to the stars, or contemplating setbacks of your own, this years baseball drama is a reminder that five years can change everything. And the best way to change five years from now is to change this year. And the best way to change this year is to change today.For sports team, picking the goal is easy - win the championship, raise your arms in victory, lift the trophy high.For you, picking the goal is part of the freedom, and part of the curse, of having choice in your career.What is your goal, your choice, your desire?Is it getting to the next promotion? Or the promotion after that?Is it getting into a more lucrative, more rewarding, or more fulfilling role in life?Is it changing industries, changing fields, or changing cities?Or is it just change, whatever form it may take? Change that takes you away from the drudgery of today and gets you to a new place in your career?Whatever your goals, whatever your dreams, the best way to become the champion you want to be is to follow the same simple steps that transformed the Cubs and Indians1. Set your goalWhats a thrilling place youd like to be in five years? While the randomness of life means you probably cant pick the title, the company, the place and the day - too much is out of your control - you can set simple goals. Be a VP, Marketing or Manage a large team of software engineers or Progress my sales career to where Im carrying a $10 mm book of geschftlicher umgang all make sense as simple, easy-to-understand goals to aspire to.2. Make the planKeeping it simple, what are the steps to getting there? The Cubs didnt do it all in one year and neither can you. Break down your goals into something you can actually achieve each year - getting the promotion, or improving your results, or out-performing your boss expectations.3. Go to practiceIts remarkably simple to be successful, but hard to do. As Silicon Valley star Keith Raboistweeted Saturday I have never met a single successful person who didnt get there by outworking other (exempting VCs).4. Play like a champion todayMixing sports inspiration, this Notre Dame football slogan captures the essence of being a winner. Every day, every meeting, every client call, every code review, every focus group, every industry conference, every slideshow, every day, you need to decide how much you want to be a champion.If the answer comes back very, very badly, then your results will predictably follow.So with the Cubs and the Indians in the World Series, Readers, its a sure thing that they cantboth lose.But we can also say that theyve both won already.And for you too, the choice is yours. Ill look forward to seeing you hold your championship trophy high.Im rooting for you