The Fine Art of Being Prepared
Being prepared is a necessary task that most should apply to their daily routine.
While it seems simple, mundane, and perhaps sometimes unnecessary- this relatively easy task can make a world of difference.
Take for example regular day to day life. Having your coffee prepped and programmed to come on the following morning not only means that when you come into the kitchen, all you’ll have to do is pour a cup of fresh hot coffee, but now you’re also potentially waking up to the smell of one thing off your list being done.
If you have kids, getting their breakfast, juice, outfits, meals ready the night before. Sure it may seem like work at the time – getting prepared IS work. But when you hit that snooze button one too many times in the morning, having less to rush around and accomplish when you’re already late or in a rush makes life that much easier for you. Even if you’re not in a rush, enjoy the slowness of an easy morning can be that much more appreciated when you have less work to do.
Now take these same thoughts and apply it to your job.
Having worked a variety of jobs with a variety of people, one of the most common things I’ve seen a job ask for, is for their employees be at least 15 minutes early.
And one of the most common responses is, Why should I be early if a.) I’m not getting paid, or b.) I don’t have time or c.) so and so doesn’t actually appreciate it.
Here is the cold hard truth about that golden 15 minute rule.
This 15 minutes is for you to get acquainted with the days task. Maybe you do the same thing everyday so you feel like this doesn’t apply. However, what if there is a special, or an event, or an occasion? What if management has a message to pass on? What if there has been an incident?
There are a lot of what ifs.
Fifteen minutes will allow you to be briefed. It will allow you to catch up on anything you need to know to ensure your detail – whatever it is – will run as smoothly as possible. It will ensure that when it is your scheduled time to start, you are prepared and equipped and ready to go at just that time. One foot in front of the other on a mission for a job well done.
It also allows for you to mentally prepare yourself. Aside from any and all information that may get thrown at you during this prep time, it allows you to clear your head and immerse yourself into the job at hand. You’ll be prepared better mentally and physically once you’ve cleared some head space and blocked out anything personal that may be presently conflicting you.
Checking your personal matters at the door is important for any job. It allows you to focus and separate your private life, from your professional life. Forcing you to compartmentalize both. When you get to work, you take your personal box, and you put the lid on it. Pushing it to the back of your mind. And at the end of the day or your shift, the same applies to your professional life. The lid goes on, and that box is tucked away so that you can focus on yourself, your friends, and your family once again.
Being prepared is more then having mental boxes and arriving early however.
Its knowing what items are needed to complete your job and having them ready. Its making yourself aware of traffic conditions, weather conditions, and any nearby events.
Knowing parking and transit information. Also having back up phone numbers readily available should yourself or anyone have an emergency or require a service.
We all rely very heavily on our cell phones – and this is great. They are fantastic tools and hold most of the information if not all of it that we need.
But if your cell phone dies, or the network goes down – are you prepared? Having a charger, or having a handwritten list in your back pocket with contact numbers can go a long way in the event of an emergency.
So yes – while being prepared can take time, effort, and sometimes practice, it is definitely something that is necessary.
Sometimes the simple fact of knowing that you have something in the event you need it (but most likely won’t), will help set your mind at ease. Taking that slight bit of stress and anxiety off and starting your day off more relaxed all because you prepared.
The more you practice being prepared, the easier it gets.
Soon it becomes second nature. And all of a sudden you’re doing it without thinking and routine becomes that much simpler and stress free.
If the art of being prepared starts out with waking up to the smell of freshly roasted beans brewing, think of how else it can ignite your senses or thoughts.
Guest Blogger Rayna Davies
Rayna Davies is a graduate and practitioner of Business Management. She has developed an expertise in blogging, covering subjects like travel, world events and security. Having grown up with a father who has developed an expertise in Physical Security and Executive Protection in the RCMP and two major corporations, she has personally observed and 
experienced many security details. These experiences have included personally meeting HM Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many celebrities. She presently assists Sentinel Security in Executive Protection workshops and guest blogging and also assists Gloprosec Preventative Services in Intelligence gathering and Business Administration. Her passions include World travel, having visited every continent.
