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specialists in enhancement and management of human performance |
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"I Need It Now!" This is about the technology of success, as I've gleaned from 20 years of research and application in business: large and small, high tech and not, individual and corporate. (I assume everyone reading this desires greater success.) One of the most common failures I observe is the tendency to act too quickly. No one is surprised when someone fails who "shoots first and asks questions later". They don't recognize the fallout of their actions. They lose their company (or job), find themselves in areas they don't belong, or squander valuable resources better used elsewhere. As you climb your ladder of success, make certain from time to time that it's still leaning against the right wall. Efficiency (doing it right) is like ladder-climbing. Effectiveness (doing the right thing) requires seeing where your ladder takes you. Effectiveness calls for critical observation and profound thinking. Yet most tend to use these unique human talents too little. Most people are trained to use these skills in very limited circumstances: CPA's see numbers, Eskimos discriminate types of snow, engineers apply these talents to their specialty. Clearly, we all have the capacity. The failure is in not using them enough, as global skills for success in all areas of life and work. Here's where it gets tough -- in our culture (business, technology and otherwise), solving problems FAST is paramount. Where do your solutions lead you? Someplace that truly serves you, your business, community, etc.? Or do they forestall the real problem, and lead to needing fixes for fixes? "Nice Theory, But..." Great (mechanical) thinking within very limited applications turns to garbage in the real world. In creating New Coke to steal Pepsi market share, Classic Coke drinkers were lost. Companies that created software that won't work past 1999 didn't look far enough. The 8086 and DOS had design limits, while the 68000 and Mac OS were designed for as-yet-unthought-of possibilities. The evolution of the PC is filled with fast fixes for poor planning and execution, leading to fixes for fixes. Users are stuck with computer standards that most struggle with and needs constant tinkering. The world really wants a maintenance-free user-friendly tool as simple as a ball point pen, but don't get it, because IBM and Microsoft were motivated by the fast fix. This hurt IBM greatly, and "wares" vendors struggle to compensate. By comparison, Apple was inspired to create a "computer for the rest of us", causing one of very few computing revolutions. Apple put its sights on big, compelling ideas, and attracted fanatic talent to produce miraculous results. Note that they failed to think through the rest of their decisions, and Apple has struggled for its existence. All these things give useful insight to the technology of success. Thought before action produces quality results. The Japanese think in terms of a hundred-year plan, and do so frequently. They use profound thinking and critical observation to take them from 1950's throwaway products to world class excellence, and see opportunities that others don't. So, Why Heart, Head And Body? When one knows their mission, their deepest and highest motivation for themselves (their company), they know their heart. What's the greatest good, the highest purpose you can imagine for what you do? Whatever your "job" in this world, if the answer fills you with peace, inspiration, creativity, and energy to do it, you're probably right on target. Teddy Roosevelt said "Power undirected by high purpose spells calamity." Identifying your core values, strengths, weaknesses, and conditions in the world around you allows you to know what effective actions to take, consistent with your mission. You can see which "problems" are not worth addressing. You have greater resources to apply more effectively to real problems. Now you are using your head with your heart. Your passion, vision and creative ideas will attract all forms of valuable resources, relatively effortlessly. Everyone involved sees the big picture, and you now tap their critical observation and profound thinking. You are using your head effectively, not just efficiently. Now is the time to generate plans, brilliant plans. Then comes action. The "body" is a tool for your mission, your vision. If you write code, you use a mechanical part of your mind to execute your vision. If you are a CEO, you put the "machinery" of your staff in action to produce your product or service. The time invested in uncovering "right" action will pay for itself in fewer mistakes, less wasted resources, and more miraculous results. Cementing Your Success In Place Finally, critically observe the results, reflect on your mission or vision, rethink what's called for, and take new effective actions. I have observed this "system" in successful people, the lack of it underlying many failures. I use this in coaching my clients to greater (and sustainable) success. I encourage you to step back from the details of your work and life, to give deep thought to what will have you be successful, brilliant, effective and fulfilled. Make your decisions and take action from this knowledge, and watch your world change. For more on success, see "Accomplish ALL Your Goals, Realize Your Dreams" and "What Is Success?" (NOTE: Allies Consulting offers several programs that can meet or exceed your expectations in this area; they are designed to deliver real results. They also leverage our other programs, magnifying your ROI!)
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POBox 9635