OODA Looping Through COVID

I think we would all agree that we are living in a time unlike any other. Each and every week seems to bring a new set mental, physical, emotional and spiritual challenges.

The hardest part? It is all out of our control.

• New mandates.

• Social distancing.

• Seasons being cancelled.

• Off-season workouts cancelled

• Tournaments cancelled.

• Churches still closed.

• Online school to start the year

I’ll stop there, but I am sure you could add a few of your own.

While this is the toughest year for many of us, it is also the year of our greatest opportunity!

That’s Right! Our biggest opportunity to grow is Right NOW! You are designed for this! You are built for this! You are CrucibleBuilt!

We always long for MORE TIME.

• More time with family and friends.

• More time to study for a test.

• More time to get “life” done.

We now are in the midst of our longest off-season we’ve ever had. The question is, are you going to soak in every bit of the challenge that is being poured out FOR YOU?

Ready to grow from this challenge? Here is a great way to break down your decision making as you navigate this new and crazy world! Let’s get to growing!

OODA Loop

Information is rapidly changing and we must be able to make decisions quickly and reliably. This is where the OODA Loop can be used! This is concept that was developed by an Air Force Colonel for combat operations, but can be used in every day life.

As an example, I will use school and sports being cancelled as an example of how this can be used.

1. Observe: Pull emotion out of the equation and just observe what is happening. In a world where social media, news and people are at emotional highs, we must learn to view the situation objectively and for what it is.

School and sports are cancelled. Regardless of how we FEEL about everything, we must still find a way to excel despite. What are the facts that we can see?

“I am frustrated with everything! All team sports are cancelled. Team condition programs cancelled. School will start online. Health is still a priority. New mandates coming out frequently. People online are crazy. News is an emotional waste of time. I STILL have goals I am trying to achieve.”

2. Orient: Once you have the information, we must begin to filter out what the pertinent information is. We must begin to understand what and why decisions are being made before we choose our course of action.

What is important from the information you have gathered?

“Dang, everything is cancelled, but I still have goals I want to achieve! I have more time than I ever have to work towards my goals. The news and social media suck my energy, so I am going to stay off them for now. I need to keep laser focused on my goals while staying healthy!”

3. Decide: This is where we create the roadmap. We have all the information. We have filtered out what information we need to make a great decision. Now we apply all of that and begin to create the path!

“I am going to take action on making my health and my goals the focus. Since my team can’t practice, I am going to get EXTRA practice in and on my own. I will get more training in so I can come back next year, faster, stronger, more powerful than ever. I will commit to reading every day and choosing what goes in my head and heart instead of watching the news or scrolling through social media. I will surround myself with great people and community that will help propel me towards my dreams. I am ready to take MASSIVE ACTION! I WILL grow from this crucible.

4. Act: And now, we take action! We are actually getting into the gym rather than allowing the excuses to hold us back. We are avoiding social media and the news and filling our head and hearts with the GOOD STUFF!

These phases have been broken out to be able to explain them, but many times will occur in only a fraction of a second. I do challenge you to take some time to sit down and take some time with this!

OODA Loop your current situation. What is it going to take for you to grow through this crucible. To achieve your goals, it may take actions that you never thought you would ever take. But, we are also living in a time unlike anything you ever thought we would live in.

I know that WE CAN GROW from this situation. There WILL BE people who come out on the other side of this better than they were before. It will simply come down to the decisions that are made in the face of adversity and challenge.

Life is the decisions you make!
Cherish The Challenge