There are many ways to live life. Some people have the attitude that in certain situations they have everything to gain and little to lose. They therefore aim to do their best in the situation.
People who take this approach are often positive realists rather than starry-eyed optimists. They have a positive attitude but are good at reading reality.
They may be a football team who are playing a much stronger club. They may be a supplier who is offering possible solutions to a potential customer.
They may be somebody who is getting older and realises that they have limited time on Earth. They may be a person who follows the philosophy that:
When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose.
People who follow the everything to gain approach often do lots of research regarding the specific situation and aim to do their best. They then sometimes take the following steps:
They clarify the specific things that it may be possible to gain in the situation;
They clarify the specific strategies they can follow to give themselves the greatest chance of success;
They clarify the specific things that it may be possible to lose and how they can manage the consequences.
People who take this approach then make certain decisions. Bearing in mind what they can gain and lose, they decide whether or not they want to go into the situation.
Imagine that a person has decided to go ahead. They may then take the following steps:
They rehearse following the strategies most likely to achieve success;
They rehearse managing any potential challenges on the way to achieving success;
They again rehearse following the strategies most likely to achieve success.
Let’s return to your own life and work. Looking back, can you think of a situation when you followed the everything to gain and little to lose approach? This could have been in your personal or professional life.
What was the actual situation? What did you do then to do your best in the specific situation? What happened as a result of you taking these steps?
The Everything To Gain And
Little To Lose Approach In Action
Different people follow this approach in different situations. The following pages describe one extreme example of how a person aimed to translate this approach into action.
Robert Muller was a former Assistant General Secretary of the United Nations. He often reframed challenging situations as the chance to find creative solutions.
Robert learned this approach from his parents – something for which he was forever grateful. Here is an excerpt from his autobiography that provides some background. We will then focus on a specific situation where the followed the everything to gain approach.
Robert focused on the opportunities in many challenging situations. Let’s look at one situation where adopted this approach as a student when he was hunted by the Nazis during the Second World War.
One day he found himself trapped in an attic on the top floor of an hotel that also served as an office building. Several Nazis entered the reception area and asked people where they could find Robert. How could he escape the hunters?
Drawing on his positive attitude to life, Robert began thinking of creative solutions. He explained his approach in the following way.
“I was a great fan of Hollywood films, so I decided to see the situation as taking part in a film. I was being hunted, so how could I find a way to escape?”
David Gillies takes up the story in his biography about Robert called The Hatmaker’s Son. Here are excerpts from David’s book.
Robert took several deep breaths.
“I must overcome my fear and think rationally,” he decided. This was the moment of moments to be creative.
“What an opportunity, what a tremendous adventure – a 20-year- old student trapped by Nazis in a fancy hotel. Won’t it be great if I slip through their fingers?”
Robert took a few minutes to consider his options. The Nazis had some idea what he looked like but they probably had an old photo. How could he take on a different persona?
The hunters were also expecting to find a cowering student trying to hide in the milling crowds on each floor of the building. How could he be ingenious and do what the Nazis least expected?
Robert settled on his plan and began translating it into action. This involved making his way down four floors from the attic and walking out onto the street.
Putting a thick file under his arm, he exuded an air of authority as he made his way from floor to floor. Nonchalantly smoking a cigarette, he passed various groups of people.
Reaching the ground floor he approached a group of Nazis who were quizzing the receptionist. She chose not to recognise him, even though she was being threatened.
Robert went up to the Nazis and asked what was happening. They replied they were looking for Louis Parizot (the name by which Robert was known in the building).
He responded by saying he had seen Parizot on the top floor. Just like in a film, the Nazis rushed up the stairs. Robert then made his way out onto the street and rode away on a bike.
Robert faced many challenges in life, but he tried to see things in perspective. During a time spent in prison he focused on how he could appreciate life and give to others.
Strongly influenced by his parents and grandparents, he aimed to help others and build a better world. He continued to apply this approach throughout his life.
Thankful for the love he had been given, Robert kept returning to this positive philosophy. Even in the darkest hours, he had a sense of gratitude. He then applied his skills to help people to build on what they had in common and find positive solutions.
There are many ways to live life. Some people have the attitude that in certain situations they have everything to gain and little to lose. They therefore aim to do their best in the situation.
Let’s return to your own life. Looking ahead, can you think of situation where may want to follow elements of this approach? Bearing in mind the situation, it may be worth exploring the following themes:
The specific things that it may be possible to gain in the situation;
The specific strategies you can follow to give yourself the greatest chance of success;
The specific things that it may be possible to lose and how you can manage the consequences.
Imagine that you have explored these themes and decided you want to go into the situation. How can you then aim to do your best? What may happen as a result of taking these steps?
If you wish, try tackling the exercise on this theme. This invites you to complete the following sentences.
Leave a Reply