A great book I’ve recently read is by Dr. Doug Hirschhorn entitled 8 Ways to Great. Doug is a performance coach and executive trainer. He has many inspiring stories in this book and I found it to be an enjoyable read. Here is a brief summary of the eight principles he discusses in the book with my comments in italics following each principle.
“Principle #1: Find Your ‘Why?’
“Determine your core motivation. Once you know why you do what you do, why you want to do it better, or why you want to do something else, you’ll have put the key in the engine that’s going to drive you to figure out how to achieve your vision.”
Those who work with you will buy into your vision for your business when they buy into you as a leader and they see that you clearly understand why you are committed to your business. When you know what you stand for, it is easy to stay focused on what you need to do each and every day in your business.
“Principle #2: Gain a New Perspective
“Gaining a new perspective on your strengths and weaknesses allows you to concentrate on and leverage what you do best at the same time you minimize the chances of being held back by your weaknesses.”
Do you know your strengths? Do you make them stronger through focus? Do you know your weaknesses and outsource those to others? The best way to leverage your strengths is to know what they are and have a systematic process for improving them. If you can help those you work with to know and act on their strengths as well, you will be a powerhouse that can’t be stopped by your competitors.
“Principle #3: Learn to Love the Process
“In order to reach your ultimate goal or vision, you need to have a plan—a series of short-term goals whose achievement is within your control. Following these steps will become your process. The process is what keeps you focused on the here and now, on what you need to do in the moment to move on to the next level.”
You can’t achieve greatness through random, unconnected acts. Instead, you need to have a plan and you need to work on the short-term goals for your business to help you get to where you want to be. How many customers do you need entering your marketing funnel each week to sell ___ # of the products and services you offer? When you know the activities you must do to yield those results, you will learn to love the process and will work hard each day to do what needs to get done.
“Principle #4: Sharpen Your Edge
“There are two sides to your edge. The first is determining and using whatever it is that sets you apart from other people in your field to give you an advantage. The second is finding out as much as you can about the odds and the potential payoff before you make any decision, even if it means making decisions with imperfect information. If you do that, things may not always go according to plan, but you will not be guilty of taking thoughtless risks or making stupid mistakes.”
Where do you real strengths lie? When you choose to let your sharpest edge come through to the surface, you will cut through the clutter and stand out from your competitors. Are you taking time to strengthen and sharpen your greatest skills and talents? Marcus Buckingham invites us to “Discover Our Strengths and then GO and put them to work.” You will always be unique if you choose to be yourself and strengthen what you are already good at.
“Principle #5: Be All That You Can Be “Judge yourself only in terms of your own abilities. Always strive for your personal best. Don’t be limited by comparing yourself to others and aiming only to be as good as or better than the next guy.”
We all have a tendency to compare our weakest area with the greatest strength of someone we admire. Doing so limits what we can get done because we beat ourselves up and are never satisfied with our greatest efforts. You can be better tomorrow than you are today – and honestly, your own improvement is all that really matters.
“Principle #6: Keep Your Cool
“It’s okay (even human) to be scared, but it’s not okay to act out of panic. Do what’s needed in every situation even though your ego, emotions, or the need to be right may be telling you to do something different. Be aware that what you want may be different from what’s best for you and/or your business.”
All of us have had moments when we’ve wanted to lose our temper with a situation in our business or perhaps even a specific customer. It is so much better to bite your tongue, keep your cool, and work out a reasonable solution. When you lose your cool, the blood leaves your brain and goes to your extremities (the fight or flight response kicks in). The dumbest things we can say and do happen when our blood leaves our brains. It is better to stay cool so you can get all of the oxygen you need to your brain to make good decisions.
“Principle #7: Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
“The most successful people know that there is never a perfect moment to make a decision and that they will never have the perfect information they seek. They understand that he who hesitates runs the risk of missing out on an opportunity while someone else seizes the moment to profit from his indecision.”
Nothing of lasting, great value is ever accomplished by staying within your comfort zone. Be willing to do hard things each day and do them. When you make your lists each day of what to do, tackle the hardest thing first. Then, it will be done and you’ll be on your way to making great things happen in your business and in your life. Wimping out and remaining where you are will never help you grow to the next level.
“Principle #8: Make Yourself Accountable “Be accountable—to yourself, your goals, and to others. Unless there is some meaningful reward consequence for making a stupid mistake or breaking your own rules, you may not take the steps necessary to put your best-laid plans into action. If you feel you don’t have the discipline to hold yourself accountable, find someone you trust who will hold your feet to the fire.” –8 Ways to Great, pp. 109-11.
Just because accountability is in low supply all over today, doesn’t mean that it has to be that way with you or those you employ. Have an accountability partner who helps you stay on track to what you’ve said you would do. Don’t make excuses for why you can’t do what you’ve set out to do. Take responsibility for yourself and make it happen.
I highly recommend you read and study this book. You’ll get a lot of insight about yourself and learn some great lessons through the stories and lessons Doug shares. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
