Predictability

Something I've noticed lately is that I tend to predict everything by a few seconds.

It all started with Chess in primary school, where I was taught to think a few steps ahead. I guess I subconsciously found this to be useful in everyday life, because I started predicting everything and anything I could, sort of mentally preparing myself for all the possible options. Like constantly going: "What if this happens? What should I do? How should I react?"

This became abundantly useful when I learnt to drive. Changing across 2 lanes in 1 go is nothing strange to me, because I know where the cars in the far lane are, not just the cars around me.

A relatively common accident on the N1 into town aggravated my mental awareness. I was in the fast lane and needed to turn off at the next offramp, so I looked around and gingerly started changing lanes. Suddenly I just heard a bike rev, I felt something hit my car and I saw him come wobbling past me, promptly followed by my bumper. He regained his balance and pulled onto the shoulder. I obviously pulled off aswell, seeing as I would drive over my own front-end in a few seconds.

Turns out the bike had come from behind and was in my blind spot just as I was changing lanes. Since then I've been even more aware of cars and bikes around me.

Also in conversation I tend to think a few lines of dialogue ahead. Often when you chat with someone you think of something to say, but by the time you have a chance to speak, what you had to say is no longer relevant. I then make a mental note of my reply and wait until the topic is renewed or has died away. This way, you very rarely get awkward silences or say something that has nothing to do with the conversation.

And as a bonus it also makes you seem intelligent.

I was reading an article on "Kaizen" the other day. It is a philosophy that sees improvement in productivity as a gradual and methodical process. Every day you find that little thing that's making you less productive and correct it, concentrating on it the whole day. The next day you find the next thing. This means you never have this feeling that you're inadequate, because you know you are constantly improving.

Maybe that's something we should all learn to do. Evaluate yourself on a daily basis. Ask yourself "What can I do to make myself just a little better?" and take it from there... You can also ask a trusted friend what he or she thinks you need to work on. Body language, annoying habits, using a catch phrase too often or using informal language when in business or formal situations... All these things create a first and lasting impression on people and can be the difference between being taken seriously or blatantly ignored.