Strategic Outcomes: A Recipe for Success

We often find ourselves stuck in a cycle of complaints: lamenting about where we are in life, the people around us, or the progress (or lack thereof) we’re making. These complaints tend to be followed by a lack of accountability, where we blame everything and everyone—whether it’s other people, bad luck, or even the universe. But what if I told you that the power to change your situation lies solely in your hands?

Accepting this truth may not be easy, but it is simple. And simplicity, while often underestimated, is powerful.

Winging It Doesn’t Work

Many of us go through life “winging it,” hoping that somehow, everything will fall into place. But this approach doesn’t yield success. We often convince ourselves that our circumstances are beyond our control. "Some people have it all," we think, "while we just suffer." However, what if you opened your mind to the possibility that you can have whatever you want—but only if you’re willing to pay the price?

Let’s simplify this into a concept I call strategic outcomes. It’s about taking responsibility for where you are in life and making a plan to get where you want to be. If you’re unhappy or dissatisfied, and you’re ready to do the work necessary to design a better experience, it’s time to explore your options.

What Is a Strategic Outcome?

A strategic outcome is the experience you consciously design and work towards. Without planning and purposeful action, you surrender control of your life to chance. But a strategic outcome involves deciding what you want, creating a blueprint for achieving it, and following through on that plan.

Let’s use baking a cake as a metaphor. Most of us enjoy cake, and some of us have even made one from scratch. When you bake a cake, you don’t just throw random ingredients together and hope for the best. You choose the cake you want to make, find the right recipe, and follow the instructions. That’s the essence of a strategic outcome.

If you want a cheesecake, for example, you’ll follow a specific recipe that may include techniques like baking the cake in a water bath to get the perfect texture. But you wouldn’t use that same method to make a chocolate cake—each desired outcome requires its own unique strategy.

Life works in much the same way. You must first decide what you want, then find the formula (the recipe) that will get you there. The process is simple, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Life is Like Baking a Cake

Life is not just a piece of cake—it’s the whole cake. To have what you want, you need to understand the ingredients and processes required for success. And if you want something that no one else has achieved before, be prepared for trial and error. You may fail repeatedly before you find the right strategy.

This is where many of us falter. We claim to want certain outcomes—a six-pack, a successful business, or a fulfilling relationship—but we’re not willing to commit to the process. We must be honest with ourselves. If we say we want a certain outcome but don’t follow the necessary steps to achieve it, then we don’t really want it. What we truly desire is comfort or ease, not the outcome itself.

Step 1: Get Clear on What You Really Want

The first step in achieving any strategic outcome is to get clear on what you truly want. Don’t say you want to be a millionaire if you’re not willing to put in the work to get there. Don’t say you want a successful relationship if you’re not willing to invest time and effort into nurturing it.

Using the cake metaphor again, you wouldn’t start baking without knowing exactly what kind of cake you want. Similarly, you shouldn’t pursue a goal without a clear understanding of the outcome you desire.

Step 2: Understand the Process

Once you know what you want, the next step is to understand the process required to achieve it. Just as different cakes require different recipes, different goals require different strategies. If you’re looking for a romantic relationship, you need to understand the dynamics involved. A relationship with a man will require a different approach than a relationship with a woman, and understanding those differences is key.

It’s also important to avoid making assumptions. Don’t expect the outcome to bend to your desires. Just as you can’t expect a cake to bake itself, you can’t expect success without effort. If you want something, you have to work for it.

Step 3: Measure Your Progress and Course-Correct

Throughout your journey, regularly check your progress. If you’re baking a cake and the recipe says the batter should look like “fluffy clouds” but your mixture looks more like a soupy mess, that’s a clear sign something went wrong. Similarly, in life, you need to assess whether your actions are leading you toward your desired outcome. If not, it’s time to course-correct.

Don’t wait until the very end to discover that you’ve gone off track. Regularly assess your progress and make adjustments as needed.

Step 4: Identify What’s Missing

If you’re doing everything right but still not seeing results, there may be something missing. Sometimes we’re not aware of all the necessary steps. In these cases, it’s our responsibility to figure out what we’ve overlooked and address it.

For example, when I tried to lose weight, I discovered I had a medical condition that made it nearly impossible to lose weight despite my efforts. Once I identified and treated the issue, I was able to achieve my goal. Sometimes, success requires us to look beyond the obvious and find hidden obstacles.

Accept the Reality of Your Choices

At the end of the day, your habits reflect your priorities. If you claim to want a certain outcome but consistently make choices that contradict that desire, it’s time to reevaluate what you truly value.

Hiring a coach or paying for external help won’t make a difference if you’re not willing to do the work yourself. You are responsible for your own success.

Life won’t bend to your will. It’s like gravity—it exists whether you like it or not. You can’t change it; you must learn to work with it.

The Bottom Line

The key to achieving a strategic outcome is to decide what you want, learn what it takes to get it, and commit to following the necessary steps. Then, course-correct as needed, and accept that the responsibility lies with you.

No one else can do this for you. The power is in your hands.

Good luck!