Stuck in Short-term Thinking

There is a saying that, “Where there is no vision the people perish.”

When you think about it, the demise becomes inevitable because everything in the world is working against you. We live in a world of complete entropy.

And vision is that energy and intentionality which breaks free from the destructive nature of the world. You have to have clarity about what you want, where you want to go and how you are going to get there. This gives you a chance for an outcome to change your world.

Short-term thinking on the other hand is both seductive. You think about the moment and wind up managing to pragmatics – your immediate gains and losses. It’s not a place you can build much from because circumstances will toss you around and dictate what your decision making looks like.

Tactical leaders tend to abide by short-term thinking. They have a hard time thinking strategically or long-term because it doesn’t fit within their wiring.

You can get stuck in short-term thinking and it shows when you are simply maintaining a position or not advancing. There’s no commitment to something that scales or has a broader impact.

Maybe that is ok because that’s what you want. But don’t insist on the greater rewards that strategic, long-term planners manage towards. They pay a different price by foregoing short-term immediacy or gains and keep fixated on a target.

You end up getting what you are shooting for many times. Hopefully you are aiming well long-term.