Celebrate When It’s Over: Complacency Kills and Paranoia Wins

I’m long term optimistic about Ukraine winning against Russia in the long run. But what worries me is the over optimism while the war continues. 

On Day 50 of the heinous Russian invasion, in an interview with The Atlantic Magazine, President Zelensky of Ukraine was reported to have said:

“The optimism that many Americans and Europeans—and even some Ukrainians—are currently expressing is unjustified. If the Russians are not expelled from Ukraine’s eastern provinces, Zelensky said, “they can return to the center of Ukraine and even to Kyiv. It is possible. Now is not yet the time of victory.” Ukraine can win—and by “win,” he means continue to exist as a sovereign, if permanently besieged, state—only if its allies in Washington and across Europe move with alacrity to sufficiently arm the country. “We have a very small window of opportunity,” he said.”

He is absolutely correct. Momentum shifts oh so very quickly in war, in games and in life. 

Business & Sports seem very trite when it is compared to a war situation of life and death & freedom versus oppression. But the lessons still hold. 

You celebrate the deal when the contract has been signed. You celebrate the fund raise not when the term sheet is signed but when the money hits your bank account. Keep following up and keep the pressure on. Do not let up. 

How many times have you seen some sports team far ahead in the lead. Then they get over confident, cocky and start to slack off. The opposing team comes from behind to win the game. 

A little paranoia goes a long way. I am all for optimism but I’ve seen that too many times optimism turns to complacency, or maybe worse, overconfidence, which then quickly turns into loss. You end up seizing defeat from the jaws of victory. Don’t do that! 

Keep pushing on your momentum. Treat it like the small window of opportunity that it is. Velocity is universal in all the best people and companies I’ve known. Keep grinding and don’t let up until it is done.

You’ve done the hard work of rolling the boulder up most of the hill already, might as well take it all the way to the top.