How to Be "High Agency" at Work

Being high agency is the single biggest way to be successful in life. Torsten does a great job summarising ways that you can take control of your destiny:

1. Focus on what you can control rather than making excuses
2. Assume you can do anything until proven otherwise
3. Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do or give you permission

These work well in both your personal and work life. Torsten gives examples for work, so I'll give a couple of personal examples:

Focus on what you can control rather than making excuses

I've been weight training this year, but there have been obstacles.

1. I pulled something in my back -> Changed routines to avoid back bracing rather than stopping working out
2. Travelled a lot for work -> Learned some dumbbell exercises as hotel gyms tend not to have barbells

Assume you can do anything until proven otherwise

1. Can I run 5k in 30 minutes? -> Yes! Except I couldn't, but I could run 3k continuously after years of no cardio training
2. Can I fly transatlantically, do a couple of days work then fly back to the kids (Mon->Fri, including travel) -> Yes! It's rough, but fly on Monday, work Tues/Weds, fly home on Thursday and land on Friday

Don't wait for someone to tell you what to do or give you permission

If there's something that needs solving, propose a solution:

1. Not sure what you're having for dinner? Decide and tell everyone! They'll tell you if they don't want to join
2. Need to fix something around the house? Watch a YouTube video and fix it, or find a tradesperson and check if the cost is acceptable to everyone
3. Reach out to someone you miss, no matter how long it's been. They'll be excited to hear from you