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 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment