What’s the upside of getting a big lead in sports?
The obvious answer is that you’re much closer to winning. But I like to think of the advantage as having a larger margin of error. When the score is close, the outcome could be determined by something random or unpredictable — an unfavorable bounce of the ball, untimely injury to a key player, or a referee’s questionable call. With a big lead, you’re less vulnerable to an unfortunate incident that costs you the game.
You can get a big lead in real life as well. Certain actions, when taken, build a buffer against the misfortunes that come your way.
My favorites:
- Start early
- Plan ahead
- Do your homework
- Have backup solutions
- Understand what matters
These tactics are simple, effective, and available to everyone.