Most people think momentum is something you find by joining a winning team. But the real skill is generating momentum yourself.

Bloomberg said it perfectly: take lots of chances and make lots of individual spur-of-the-moment decisions. String together small incremental advances rather than waiting for one big jackpot.

Think of it like the movie No Escape. Caught in a war zone with his family, the main character is not thinking about getting back home. He is thinking:

• How do I get behind that pole right now?
• Once there, how do I get to those bushes?

That is momentum. Move by move. Step by step.

The practical formula:

• Improve your skills constantly
• Make tactical plans for the next few steps only
• Based on what actually happens, look one move ahead
• Adjust and keep going

You do not need to see the whole path. Just the next step.