Front Runner or Last Second Hero?

Are you a front runner, or do you like to come from behind?

Knowing this about yourself is key to establishing systems and routines that are most effective to your productivity.

Here’s an example.

Tiger Woods, one of the greatest golfers of all time, has almost never come from behind to win a golf tournament. He is second in all-time in PGA victories; yet he has seldom won when he was not holding or at least tied for the lead going into the final round. Tiger has never won a Major Championship when not at least sharing the lead.

He is the epitome of a Front Runner in the most positive sense possible.

Everyone loves the drama and excitement of a great come-from-behind victory. A dominant front runner can be boring. Black Caviar, perhaps the greatest sprinter to ever grace Australian turf, was never behind, not once in 25 races. Backing her was a sure thing, but winning payouts were dismal.

If you think your personality leans more toward the front runner type, you will want to use this to your advantage by tackling your most challenging task early in the day. This will remove “deadline pressure” by getting a good jump whilst your energy levels are at their peak.

If, on the other hand, you work better under pressure, able to summon Herculean bursts of energy when the game is on the line, you might find that starting your day with boring and repetitive tasks gets you primed for attacking a major challenge with your total concentration.

Seldom will any one person, including you, be exclusively a front runner or a come-from-behind hero. Most people are capable of both approaches.

The object is to develop the level of understanding that permits you to recognise your dominant style, and then use that understanding to devise tactics that play to your strengths whilst minimising your weaknesses.