The Encore Effect – Part 6

The Encore Effect – Part 6

by | Accountability, Celebration, Goals, Growth, Habits, Leadership, Mindset, Miniseries, Opportunity, Planning, Resources, Tools

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 56 seconds.

EntreGurus-Book-The Encore Effect-Mark SanbornTODAY’S IDEA: The Encore Effect – Part 6

— From The Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do by Mark Sanborn

Welcome back to the last part of this miniseries. So far, we have learned what the Encore Effect is (from the book by the same name from leadership guru and author Mark Sanborn) and understood what it takes to create a remarkable performance, the one that causes your audience to want more and more.

The author has focused on several Ps along the way: passion, preparation, practice, etc., as the ingredients to create a remarkable performance. However, all the while, he’s been wondering what came first: the remarkable performance or the remarkable person?

“Distinguishing between remarkable performances and remarkable people is like asking which came first—the chicken or the egg?”

Sanborn says that remarkable performances often result in increased rewards. “These rewards may include money, but they also come as increased exposure, recognition, influence and opportunity. […] The person who strives to perform more remarkably without also focusing on becoming a more remarkable person is missing the larger point.”

So, how do we ensure that, along with our remarkable performances, there is also growth in the personal area?

Sanborn suggests “six areas of focus that, when developed and mastered, can’t help but make anyone a remarkable person.” He calls this The Pyramid of Possibility, and pictures each of the six areas—each one starting with a P—like an inverted pyramid (that is, in a V shape) “with potential as the foundation for being remarkable and personalization as the highest expression of it.”

It looks like this:

The Pyramid of Possibility
\       Personalization       /
 \       Persistence          /
   \      Principles         /
     \      Passion        /
       \      Purpose   /
         \   Potential /

Let’s take a quick look at each of the six Ps on the Pyramid.

Potential: “Our potential—both individually and collectively—has no known limits. Many of us know how good we are at our jobs and responsibilities, but none of us knows how good we could be. That is the magic and mystery of our potential.”

Purpose: “Potential without purpose is like a sheet of metal that has not yet been formed to make a useful object. Feed that sheet of metal into a press and its value is transformed. Every human being has unlimited potential. But we need the press of purpose to create a channel for expression and action. Purpose focuses potential.”

Passion: “Passion is the fire-in-the-belly that we bring to human endeavors. Of course, passion that is not tied to purpose is like lightning firing in the sky… But electricity that has a purpose—well, that’s a different story. That kind of energy can run a household of light up a city.” (For more on passion, read this post.)

Principles: “What are the beliefs that allow you to shape your world your performances) instead of being shaped by it? [… Remarkable people are] unswervingly committed to their core values, ethics and personal and spiritual beliefs…When what you say is reflected and amplified by how you live, you are almost certain to live a remarkable life.”

Persistence: There’s an important difference between persistence and endurance. “ Remarkable performers and people don’t simply endure—they exercise persistence. They refuse to give in to despair, and they work hard at doing what’s right. Persistence is a strategic word that suggests purposeful action…”

Personalization: England’s equivalent to the U.S.’ American Idol is The X Factor, where the X refers to that one “elusive and indefinable ‘star’ quality that separates one performer from the rest.” For the purposes of personalization, Sanborn wants you to think instead on what he calls the “U Factor”: “those qualities that make you unique among the world’s performers. The U Factor is not something that you have to acquire or search for. It’s something you already possess, and something no one else has… It’s how you use purpose, passion, principles and persistence to make your actions you.”

And with that, this miniseries on The Encore Effect comes to a close. I hope you liked it as much as I enjoyed writing it. What was your favorite part? Did you get any a-ha moments while reading it? Let me know in the comments here.

ACTION

TODAY: Think about your potential. How do you see yourself? How do you see others? The author asks us to ponder, “do you see yourself as ‘finished’ in terms of your spiritual and career advancement or as just getting started?”

FUTURE: Think about your goals. On which of them are you just enduring vs. purposely persisting to make them happen? Make a list of next steps to move that goal forward – there are 100 days left in the year for you to make it happen or to advance it significantly!

Know someone who is an encore performer? Please share this miniseries with them via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!

 

The Encore Effect – Part 4

The Encore Effect – Part 4

by | Accountability, Celebration, Goals, Growth, Habits, Leadership, Mindset, Miniseries, Opportunity, Planning, Tools

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes, 17 seconds.

EntreGurus-Book-The Encore Effect-Mark SanbornTODAY’S IDEA: The Encore Effect – Part 4

— From The Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do by Mark Sanborn

As promised, today we’re going to talk about PASSION. This is one of the various Ps that are needed to achieve a remarkable performance as explained in the book The Encore Effect. Stay tuned over the next few days of this miniseries to learn about the other “P” components.

In yesterday’s post, the author, Mark Sanborn, said, “Passion is the fuel that drives performance.” Today, he expands on a very important point about passion: “remarkable performance isn’t just about what we do; it’s also about how we do it.”

And he centers on an important point. “Life isn’t just about living our passions but about living passionately.” And while subtle when reading, this makes a world of difference once we understand it.

Sanborn explains, “In the everyday world, most of us don’t get to focus exclusively on doing those things we are passionate about. The solution? Do everything important with passion.”

No matter your role, if you infuse it with passion, creativity, and enthusiasm, you’ll guarantee increased value in the eyes of those around you. This, in turn, will generate opportunities and doors will open for you. “As a parent or spouse, as a volunteer in your church or community, as an employee making a sales call, teaching a class, or leading a company, bringing passion to what you do each day is an exercise in living fully and influencing others by your example.”

“The good news is that passion can be created and stoked. It’s up to you to do so.”

So, how can we develop and cultivate passion?

Sanborn suggests the following five things:

1. Study and learn. “You can go a long way toward becoming a passionate performer by buying the best books, subscribing to the best magazines and going to free university lectures [online]. […] Given the unlimited amounts of information available today, there is little justification for anyone not being a reader [hmmm, let me tell you about a blog that can help you with this… 😉 ] There is no shortage of ways to become an expert in your field—and grow more passionate in the process.”

2. Use small achievements or successes to fuel larger ones. “Remarkable performances are like losing weight. Which goal sounds more achievable—losing one pound per week for a year or losing fifty-two pounds? The result may be the same, but psychologically these goals are as different as night and day. Focus on achieving a remarkable performance today, then another one tomorrow.”

3. Look to other passionate people as role models. “Reach out to people you respect for their passion and performance. Start a group of like-minded people with similar goals. Avoid the people who act as ‘blockers.’ Remember, passion begets passion.”

4. Plug the leaks. “Examine those areas in your life where your resources (your time, talent, and skills) are not being put to the best use. […] Don’t spend time on things that diffuse your focus and do not advance your goals.”

In here, Sanborn tells the story of a student asking Albert Einstein how many feet were in a mile, and him saying he didn’t know. Upon seeing the student’s amazement, Einstein explained, “I make it a rule not to clutter my mind with simple information that I can find in a book in five minutes.”

5. Make passion part of your life. “Where the head goes, the heart will follow. You may not feel passionate, but when you decide you are going to become a passionate person, you will become one. If you act the part and succeed in the part, one day you will discover that you have become the part! If you deliberately and consciously act with passion, you will come to feel that passion.”

All remarkable performances require effort and energy, but they start with and continue to be fueled by passion all along.

As you know, I’m passionate about sharing the ideas I come across in the books I read (…barely noticeable, huh?). What are you passionate about? Let me know in the comments here.

And please come back tomorrow, as we will take a look at more of the “P” elements for remarkable performances in this miniseries.

ACTION

TODAY: Let’s plug the leaks today: find your sources of distraction and eliminate [or appease] them. For example, social media. If I don’t set limits for myself, I go in to read ONE tweet and I’ll still be there 2 hours later… ugh!… (#NotProud). While you don’t have to eliminate it, can you give yourself a set amount of time, timer-in-hand, so that you don’t get sucked into a time vortex? Can you silence or eliminate the notifications on your phone so that they don’t distract you until you are actually on your specified time for this? What other leaks are there in your life that you might be able to plug today?

FUTURE: Create the intention and commit to develop and cultivate passion in those areas of your life and business that are important for you. You will enjoy them more and become a remarkable performer at them.

Know someone who is an encore performer? Please share this post with them via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!

The Encore Effect – Part 3

The Encore Effect – Part 3

by | Accountability, Celebration, Goals, Growth, Habits, Leadership, Mindset, Miniseries, Opportunity, Planning, Tools

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 57 seconds.

EntreGurus-Book-The Encore Effect-Mark SanbornTODAY’S IDEA: The Encore Effect – Part 3

— From The Encore Effect: How to Achieve Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do by Mark Sanborn

This miniseries on The Encore Effect has focused so far on explaining and understanding all about remarkable performances. But what do we need to make those performances happen?

According to the author, Mark Sanborn, the formula is simple:

P+D+A = RP

Where: P = Passion, D = Discipline, A = Action and RP = Remarkable Performance.

While this formula is not a panacea, it serves very well to convey the requisites needed to achieve a remarkable performance.

Let’s take a quick look at each:

Passion: “Encounters with passionate people are memorable,” says the author. “You are captivated not only by what they do but by the way they do it. You may not agree with them, but there’s no doubt that what they believe is important.”

Discipline: “Passion is the fuel that drives performance. But without discipline, passion is just loud talk and noise… When discipline is lacking, results are inconsistent and sporadic. It is discipline that enables us to do what needs to be done even when we are not at our best.”

Sanborn explains that discipline is the things that we do over and over again, “often behind the scenes, that ultimately result in remarkable performances.” For figuring this out, he suggests asking ourselves questions, such as:

  • How many times did I rehearse and refine my sales presentation before giving it?
  • How many books did I read (and re-read) about my industry/career/service/skills?
  • How much time do I spend each day in the gym and how many days each week, to keep myself physically fit?
  • How many thank-you notes and follow up e-mails do I send to important customers, clients, volunteers, or friends?
  • How much of my income do I invest in myself to further my vocations and my passion?
  • How much space do I make in my schedule to do the things that matter to me the most, whether developing my skills, spending time with my family, or giving back to my congregation or community?

Action: The most important thing, the author cautions, is not to confuse activity with action. “You can think the right thoughts all day long, but even if those thoughts make you feel good, nothing happens until you take action. […] Activity is effort without effect. Action is what achieves a desired outcome.”

Sanborn mentions that “some people hide behind activity and use it as an excuse to absolve themselves of responsibility (‘I’m so busy!’).” But it’s precisely that busyness that leads to lots of activity but no specific action to move forward.

The author closes by pointing out that “remarkable performers focus on the outcome they’re striving to achieve and say no to any activity that would divert their efforts. They know exactly where they are going, and they focus on how to get there.”

Come back tomorrow to read a bit more about passion. I’ve reserved a whole post for it, given that passion is the fuel for powering remarkable performances.

ACTION

TODAY: Sanborn suggests, “to discover what you are passionate about, ask yourself: What would I like to spend the rest of my life doing?” And says, “How you answer that question will lead you to your true passion.” Take a moment today to answer that question.

FUTURE: Look at your performances and see where they have had or have lacked passion, discipline, and action. Going forward, determine to have these three components whenever you need to do a remarkable performance. Commit to incorporating the three elements into, both, the preparations and the performance itself.

Know someone who is an encore performer? Please share this post with them via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!

School is never out

School is never out

by | Accountability, Goals, Growth, Habits, Mindset, Opportunity, Tools, Wellbeing

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes, 6 seconds.

EntreGurus-Book-177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class-Steve SieboldTODAY’S IDEA: School is never out

— From 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class: The Thought Processes, Habits and Philosophies of the Great Ones by Steve Siebold

Steve Siebold, mental toughness guru, asked himself twenty years ago why some people were more successful and fulfilled than others. “Were they smarter? More educated? More talented?” He wondered… But, “the answer is no,” he says.

In his book 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class, Siebold mentions that he has indeed come across a genius or two over the years. But the answer to his questions is much simpler in 99% of the cases: Great people “become great because they are more mentally tough. Through time and effort, they have learned to take control of their thoughts, feelings and attitudes in the game of life and, in turn, life has rewarded them handsomely.”

Much to my delight, the author then goes on to say, “You can do the same thing if you’ll commit yourself to never ending personal growth and development.” (Hint: I know of a blog that will help you with that… 😉 ) “Champions invest time in getting better. School is never out for the great ones.”

Further, I laughed when Siebold asked, “Have you ever been to the bookstore and wondered who reads all those business and self-improvement books?” I think I know someone… Now, seriously, he continues, “The people who need it most wouldn’t even consider it, and the people who need it least wouldn’t consider missing it. A never-ending cycle of self-education is the centerpiece of world-class consciousness. All it takes to get started is the decision to do it.”

And I’ll leave you with one of my favorite quotes:

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss. From I Can Read with My Eyes Shut!

ACTION

TODAY: Siebold suggests asking yourself a few critical thinking questions: “Am I really committed to going pro? Am I willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill my vision?” Then make the decision, today, to never stop growing and always keep learning.

FUTURE: Once you’ve made the decision, remember that success leaves clues. Who has done what you want to do? How can you learn from this person? Never stop learning in your area of interest. Remember what Earl Nightingale said: “If a person will spend one hour a day on the same subject for five years, that person will be an expert on that subject.”

Know someone who is a lifelong learner? Please share this with them via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!

Feedforward

Feedforward

by | Collaboration, Creativity, Goals, Growth, Mindset, Planning, Tools

Estimated reading time: 3 minutes, 57 seconds.

EntreGurus-Book-What Got You Here Won’t Get You There-Marshall GoldsmithTODAY’S IDEA: Feedforward

— From What Got You Here Won’t Get You There: How Successful People Become Even More Successful by Marshall Goldsmith

In the last few posts, we’ve been learning how to change the habits that hold us back. Today we’ll read about another tool to help us in this area. “Feedforward is so simple I almost blush to dignify it with a name,” says executive coach and business guru Marshall Goldsmith in his book What Got You Here Won’t Get You There. “Yet some of the simplest ideas are also the most effective. Since they are so easy to do, you have no excuse not to try them.”

Goldsmith points out that “Feedforward is a dramatic improvement on what we traditionally think of as feedback.” And while feedback has its merits, because “it’s a great tool for determining what happened in the past and what’s going on in an organization,” it’s no different than reading history. “It provides us with facts about the past but not necessarily ideas for the future.”

“Feedforward, on the other hand, is feedback going in the opposite direction… [it] comes in the form of ideas that you can put into practice in the future.”

Here are Goldsmith’s four simple steps to obtain feedforward:

1. Select what you want to change. “Pick the one behavior that you would like to change which would make a significant, positive difference in your life. For example, I want to be a better listener.

2. Describe and dialogue. “Describe this objective in a one-on-one dialogue with anyone you know. It could be your wife, kids, boss, best friend, or coworker. It could even be a stranger. The person you choose is irrelevant. He or she doesn’t have to be an expert on the subject… Some of the truest advice can come from strangers… And when a useful idea comes along, we don’t care who the source is.”

3. Ask. “Ask that person for two suggestions for the future that might help you achieve a positive change in your selected behavior—in this case becoming a better listener. If you’re talking to someone who knows you or who has worked with you in the past, the only ground rule is that there can be no mention of the past. Everything is about the future.”

For instance, the dialogue could go like this: “I want to be a better listener. Would you suggest two ideas that I can implement in the future that will help me become a better listener?” The other person could then suggest, “First, focus all your attention on the other person. Get in a physical position, the “listening position,” such as sitting on the edge of your seat or leaning forward toward the individual. Second, don’t interrupt, no matter how much you disagree with what you’re hearing.”

These two ideas are feedforward.

4. Listen and thank. “Listen attentively to the suggestions. Take notes if you like. Your only ground rule: You are not allowed to judge, rate, or critique the suggestions in any way. You can’t even say something positive, such as, ‘That’s a good idea.’ The only response you’re permitted is, Thank you.”

And this is it. Simple indeed. Do steps one through four. Rinse and repeat with someone else. “In seeking feedforward ideas, you’re not limited to one person… You can do feedforward with as many people as you like,” says the author.

Goldsmith swears by the effectiveness of feedforward because, he says, “Feedforward eliminates many of the obstacles that traditional feedback has created.”

So, what are those obstacles and why/how does feedforward work? Goldsmith explains that it works because while we may not like hearing criticism (negative or constructive feedback) we love getting ideas for the future. Also, it works because:

  • “We can change the future but not the past.”
  • “Helping people be ‘right’ is more productive than proving them ‘wrong.’ Feedback focuses on solutions, not problems.”
  • “People do not take feedforward as personally as feedback. Feedforward is not seen as an insult or a putdown.”
  • “[When] all we have to do is function as a listener, we can focus on [truly] hearing without having to worry about responding.”

Lastly, the author says, “I’m sure that all of us are surrounded by smart, well-meaning friends who ‘understand’ us better than we ‘understand’ ourselves. I suspect they would love to help us; most people like to help others. But they hold back because they think it’s rude or intrusive to try to help someone who has not asked for our assistance. Asking solves this.”

ACTION

TODAY: Try out asking a few people to give you feedforward. See what happens, I’m sure you’ll get some great ideas!

FUTURE: Keep this technique in mind so that when you feel stuck and want to change something you can ask for feedforward.

Know someone who would like this idea? Please share this post! Email, Facebook, Twitter. Thank you!

What is commitment?

What is commitment?

by | Accountability, Goals, Growth, Leadership, Mindset, Tools, Willpower

EntreGurus-Book-The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader-John C MaxwellEstimated reading time: 3 minutes, 12 seconds.

TODAY’S IDEA: What is commitment?

— From The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader: Becoming the Person Others Will Want to Follow by John C. Maxwell

“Commitment separates the doers from the dreamers,” says John C. Maxwell in his book The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a Leader. But what exactly is commitment? Much like success, the answer to this question is different for each person:

  • To the boxer, it’s getting off the mat one more time than you’ve been knocked down.
  • To the marathoner, it’s running another ten miles when you’re strength is gone.
  • To the soldier, it’s going over the hill, not knowing what’s waiting on the other side.
  • To the missionary, it’s saying good-bye to your own comfort to make life better for others.
  • To the leader, it’s all that and more because everyone you lead is depending on you.

Whatever your definition, Maxwell offers three observations about commitment:

  1. Commitment always precedes achievement.
  2. The only real measure of commitment is action.
  3. In the face of opposition or hardship, commitment is the only thing that carries you forward.

And to improve commitment, Maxwell shares the following thoughts:

Measure your commitment. “Take out your calendar and your checkbook register. Spend a few hours tallying up how you spend you spend your time and how you spend your money. Look at how much time you spend at work, in service, with family, in health and recreation activities, and so forth. Figure out how much money you spent on living expenses, entertainment, personal development, and giving. All these things are true measures of your commitment. You may be surprised by what you find.”

Know what’s worth dying for. “One of the questions every leader must ask himself is, What am I willing to die for? If it came down to it, what in life would you not be able to stop doing, no matter what the consequences were? Spend some time alone meditating on that thought. Write down what you discover. Then see if your actions match your ideals.”

Use the Edison method. “If taking the first step toward commitment is a problem, try doing what Thomas Edison did. When he had a good idea for an invention, he would call a press conference to announce it. Then he’d go into his lab and invent it. Make your plans public, and you might be more committed to following through with them.”

I’ll leave you with a great story from Maxwell’s book to fuel your commitment, because it’s only you who can do that. “Former pro basketball player Bill Bradley attended a summer basketball camp at age fifteen conducted by “Easy” Ed Macauley.  During that camp, Macauley made a statement that changed Bradley’s life: ‘Just remember that if you’re not working at your game to the utmost of your ability, there will be someone out there somewhere with equal ability. And one day you’ll play each other, and he’ll have the advantage.’ How do you measure up to that standard?”

And speaking of commitment, I had a crazy idea and shared it with you in another email that I sent earlier. Check out that email, and I’ll hope you’ll join me in committing to end 2018 strong!

ACTION

TODAY: Follow the exercise that Maxwell suggests to see where your commitments are based on your schedule and checkbook. What does this tell you?

FUTURE: Think about your commitments. Which ones do you love and gladly commit to them every day? Which ones do you not love, but commitment carries you through and you don’t even question them? Which ones are you half-heartedly or not-at-all committed to? Can you drop these last ones in favor of those you love? Or find someone who can do a better job than you to take over in this area, thus freeing you to commit in other areas?

Know someone who is fully committed to something? Please share this post with that person, he or she deserves recognition for being a doer, hats off! Email, Facebook or Twitter.