There are many great ideas on how to aggressively push ahead in your business and in your personal life; there are even more ways to mess up your business and personal life. Of the many methods to excel, three key ones find their way to the top of the success list.
First, it is critical in these crazy economic times to regularly (perhaps weekly) step back from your business and audit your activities and progress in light of your overall objectives and goals. I have found that without regular measurements, you will merely continue working hard, but perhaps not handle the biggest issues or seize the greatest opportunities. Why? Because you are too busy!
Work ethic and activity are absolutely necessary for success. Yet many times we equate busyness with success. It is not. Only if we achieve our goals do we win. Using your 2009 yearly and quarterly goals, are you on target? If not, why not? Inspect and correct.
The second requirement is sober evaluation. Sober? Yes. A drunk person is viewing the issues of life from a skewed vantage point. Evaluation is either way too optimistic or off the chart pessimistic. Sound judgment is being clouded by internal wants or needs, rather than unbiased thinking.
In this economy, is your thinking clouded? Are you soberly evaluating your business without the filters of past performance expectations, or the unwarranted hopes of your future situation unsubstantiated by the facts of the hour? Are you lying to yourself? Are you seeing your company’s status for where it truly is or is not? This sober evaluation is a must!
Third, do not be content to develop great goals and systems, and yet fail to follow through with your plans. Sometimes we erroneously put an equal sign between our wonderful plan and success. Effective, relentless, determined, correct execution will lead to success.
Anything short of consistently following through with a good plan will fall short. In these days, you cannot afford to miss the mark.
Step back, be sober and follow through!
About the Author
Patrick J. McGuffin spent the first part of his professional career publishing newspapers, ending that part of his life as president and publisher of 19 newspapers in Florida. Currently he owns two national printing companies (Reliance Media, http://www.RelianceMedia.com, and Apopka Printing, http://www.ApopkaPrinting.com) and a nationwide book publishing company (http://www.NewBookPublishing.com)