Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Achieving The Best Outcome #53


Today consider the lesson that the best outcome or end state is not a singular activity or project. Each output (goal) consists of many smaller (and some larger) action –steps.

Outcome is another word for results. Whatever your choice of word, the endgame requires that you make measurable progress in reasonable time. Since all people have the same amount of time—60 minutes each hour—we need to invest time in activities that deliver the best return.

There are four stages to achieving the best outcome, and the first is knowing. Knowing says, “This is what I want to accomplish.” It also says what you don’t want to accomplish. Knowing is not only well-informed but also tuned-in. Successful people are forward-thinking people who know where they want to go and what they need to do. The first thing you notice about successful people is that they have an acute sense of direction that comes from having the pertinent facts and knowing how to employ this information to obtain their desired objective. 

The next stage is determining. You analyze and determine the action steps that need to be implemented to insure the successful results you desire. My counsel is that along with execution, determining the action steps to achieve your best outcome are the two most important implementation actions to accomplishing the best outcome.

The third stage is communicating in a detail plan the steps you will take and the deadline dates for accomplishing them. Communications is easy if you write (or type) down the plan. Here you describe the specific actions you will take to achieve your goal. Having written actions and completion dates guard against distractions that “call” for your time, energy and assets. The plan will keep you focused and on target.

The last stage is execution. Execution is doing. Execution is the key to achieving the best outcome. Successful execution leads to the three great words, “I did it!”

You may experience temporary failure as you move toward your goal. If you don’t fail, you are not expecting a big out come. American businesswoman Sara Blakely tells this story about her dad. “My dad encouraged us to fail. Growing up, he would ask us what we failed at that week. If we didn’t have something, he would be disappointed. It changed my mindset at an early age that failure is not the outcome, failure is not trying. Don’t be afraid to fail.”

Tennis legend Arthur Ashe had great insight when he said, “Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome.”

SUCCESS THOUGHT:  There are four stages to achieving the best outcome:

1.       Knowing. This is what I want to accomplish.
2.       Determining. The actions steps to be taken.
3.       Communicating. Produce a written plan.
4.       Execution. Do it.

                               Success Summary

SUCCESS QUOTE: “It is our attitude at the beginning of a difficult task which, more than anything else, will affect its successful outcome.” —William James

SUCCESS ACTION:  Define the outcome you want and begin the work to achieve it.
 
BOOK REMINDER— I recently published an e-book—"Mentor In The Mirror"—that is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble and iBooks. Go to my web site: www.waynenalls.com for additional information and a review.

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