Diminished competitive advantages

Having goals and systems in place can make a task feel deceptively easy. The downward slide:

• If you work hard at becoming great at something, your hard work can pay off where you become good at that thing.
• Now that you're great you might relax and not put in that much effort.
• Doing your thing now feels easy because your hard work led to a competitive advantage.
• Now that you're taking it easy, your edge wears off, which competitors can take advantage of while you are dwelling in egotistical ignorance.
• Life feels and looks easy, but that's because you're blind to the reality around you.