Outsmarting Uncertainty
Building strength and steadiness from the inside out.
The Backstory and Foundational Principles
Outsmarting Uncertainty is an educational program and framework for becoming the kind of person who doesn’t easily get shaken by uncertainty. The person who is prepared to navigate life’s challenges and changes with steadiness and confidence.
The foundational principles of Outsmarting Uncertainty work together to build your strength and confidence from the inside out. Practicing these principles keeps you prepared to achieve your goals, build great relationships, and confront life’s uncertainties with stability and grace.
Uncertainty is inevitable. Sometimes it’s good and motivates us. Sometimes it’s more challenging and causes anxiety. And sometimes it’s simply horrible and alters one’s life forever — like a terrible diagnosis, the sudden loss of a loved one, or getting devastating news about a child.
No matter the type or severity, we know uncertainty is coming. We just don’t know when.
The Outsmarting Uncertainty mindset keeps you prepared and aware no matter what’s in front of you. For me, it’s a way of life.
I started thinking this way many years ago. I was only fifteen when doctors told me I had a rare disease which would make me blind. Like many teenage boys, I wanted to be thinking about girls and cars, but instead I was grappling with the concept of darkness. I was scared and had so many questions. The uncertainty of my future was overwhelming.
I accepted I could not change the situation; I did indeed have this rare disease. But something clicked inside of me, and I realized I could control how I reacted and dealt with the news, which meant I could still be in control of my future.
After some time feeling sorry for myself, here’s what happened. I started to see myself differently. I found myself in a movie theatre paying no attention to the movie I was there to see. Instead, I was imagining myself up on that big screen in a movie about my life. There I was — a teenage boy who was recently told he’s going blind. How would that character on the screen react? What would the next scene of this movie be? How would this story unfold? How was I going to react? How would my life turn out?
Right then and there, it was born. The metaphorical tool I would use to guide me through life’s situations, decisions, challenges, and uncertainties large and small. I call it my Inner Movie and I get to write, direct, and star in every one of its next scenes. I looked far into my future and envisioned what kind of person I wanted to be. What kind of blind person I would become.
Without realizing it, this is when I started living my strategy of ‘begin with the end in mind’. What is your desired outcome? Whatever goal I’m pursuing or challenge I’m facing, I always start by visualizing the outcome I desire. Then I determine the roadmap of actionable steps I need to take to get me there.
As I made my way through young adulthood with my eyesight disappearing, life got more challenging. But the more I used my Inner Movie to think ahead, the more clarity I had on where I was going, the obstacles I would encounter, and all the steps I needed to take to get me where I wanted to be. The foundational principles of Outsmarting Uncertainty slowly came together, enabling me to build a happy and successful life by helping me meet large changes and challenges with calm steadiness and confidence.
I enjoyed a successful business career as a corporate executive and entrepreneur. But it wasn’t until I became an author and international speaker that I pinpointed the ingredients that formed the foundation for my fantastic life. These ingredients became the foundational principles of Outsmarting Uncertainty.
Generally, Outsmarting Uncertainty can be discussed as three interdependent parts: STABILIZE, ENGAGE, MOVE
STABILIZE
These principles build your inner foundation for long-term steadiness
Focus & Acceptance
No matter what goal you are pursuing or uncertainty you are facing, there will always be things you cannot control. Learn to focus your time and energy only on what you can influence and accept what you cannot. Acceptance is far more freeing and empowering than resistance.
Confidence
Build your authentic confidence from the inside out. Make small commitments to yourself and KEEP THEM. This builds self-trust, which creates confidence from the inside out.
Emotional Regulation
This is not the absence of emotion. It is learning how to remain calm and steady as emotions pass through you. Remember, emotions are temporary and will pass through like weather!
ENGAGE
These principles help you take action
Courage
Courage is action, not fearlessness. It is moving forward before you know exactly how things will turn out. Courage doesn't require a giant leap. It often begins with a single step.
Vulnerability
Vulnerability is far more than periodically sharing emotions or personal struggles. Vulnerability is the willingness to expose yourself to uncertainty, risk, or possible judgment. Growth and vulnerability are inseparable. Every meaningful goal requires exposing yourself to the possibility of failure, criticism, disappointment, or embarrassment. This is where your courage and confidence team up to push you through.
Trust
When you consistently demonstrate the foundational principles of Outsmarting Uncertainty, people start seeing you as someone who is steady, authentic, and dependable. These are the qualities that build trust. Very few things in life are more valuable than trust. Every meaningful relationship is built on trust. Whether you're leading a team, raising a family, strengthening a friendship, or serving your community, trust is the foundation that makes everything else possible.
MOVE
These principles help you remain strong and steady while creating forward momentum
Awareness
Be acutely aware of everyone around you. Be aware of the role they play, their talents, and their mood. Awareness and thinking ahead helps you anticipate. And when you get really good at anticipating how people are going to act or react, then you are better positioned for success.
Curiosity
Be open-minded. Ask questions, learn, and adapt.
Resilience
The three pillars of strength that fuel resilience are GRATITUDE, OPTIMISM, and ACCOUNTABILITY. Genuinely practice these three values each day, and you will remain strong, steady, and resilient in the face of life’s challenges and uncertainties.
Start with the End in Mind
Whatever it is you are doing, use your Inner Movie to envision the outcome you desire. Maybe you’re training for a marathon, preparing for an important meeting, or tackling a project; always start by picturing the outcome you desire.
Create Your Roadmap
Then, with your destination in mind, create the roadmap of actionable steps that will get you there. Maybe you need to engage other people, acquire tools or knowledge, or figure out how to overcome obstacles in your path.
Outsmarting Uncertainty relies heavily on people. We all need people. To succeed in life and in business, we ALL NEED PEOPLE. Our 5 core values of success are gratitude, optimism, accountability, respect, and kindness. Weave these 5 core values into every interaction you have along life’s path, and you will build strong relationships. It is these people who will pick you up when you are down. It is these people who will celebrate your success! The support of the people in your life will minimize uncertainty and help you achieve your goals. We all need people!
I’m Mark Valenziano. Come join us and let’s outsmart uncertainty together! The portal to the podcast and all social media is: https://beacons.ai/oumv.
To be notified when the Outsmarting Uncertainty Guide Book is released, please click here.
Thank you!