No one who ever really got anywhere in business — or life — did so by constantly veering around random goals. The most successful people make sure every single objective they set is going to propel them closer to the main vision they have.
Once their goals and vision are aligned, they still have to go out and follow through. So, getting results is a tough job. Making it work requires five key components.
1. Intense Communications
There are two parts to this. The first is technical effectiveness. You have to consider who's listening, choose your words carefully and do the work to figure out what's going to resonate with them the best. The second part is having passion behind every message. Everything you communicate has a purpose, and you should know exactly how each message connects to your values.
Intense communication inspires others to follow and act with you because it proves you're trustworthy and shows people exactly how to take action.
2. Tremendous Influence
This has nothing to do with the number of Twitter or LinkedIn followers you have. It has everything to do with whether the people you are connecting with actually change or behave differently because of you.
Successful people find the right people and invest in getting their support. This process takes time, and you have to be as personally vulnerable as you are intelligently convincing.
3. Relentless Productivity
Can you take breaks on your journey to the finish line? Sure. In fact, rest and recuperation are going to help you prevail over the long haul.
But successful people understand there's no reason to wait to start pursuing their goals. They know that once they achieve their initial vision, they're free to build a new one. They know consistent output gives some verification of who they are and what they can do. So, they move quickly from step to step. They're ruthless about ensuring what they're doing actually adds value to the lives of others.
4. Transparent Relationships
Ever had a boss who wouldn't tell you what was going on? How about a coworker who said one thing to you and something else to others? Those kinds of situations never feel very good, and they throw trust right out the window.
People who want to move through all the goals necessary to achieve a vision aren't hiders. They know they need others to trust them if those individuals are going to be part of their team or support network. You need to be clear about your intent, what you've got, what you've done, what's left and how you're really involved with other people.
5. Situational Awareness
Depending on the circumstances, you might have to tap the breaks, idle or put the pedal to the floor with what you're doing. If you misinterpret what's appropriate for the moment, you'll come off as incompetent or lacking empathy. You might burn the resources you'll need later, too. You have to analyze the context you're in and stay flexible to keep everything humming.
Putting all of this together and becoming a top performer has real benefits. For example, top performers usually:
• Have higher job satisfaction.
• Have better relationships with others.
• Make more money than their peers, which allows them to retire earlier and enjoy personal hobbies more often.
Even though aligning your goals and vision and getting results isn't a cakewalk, it really does give you a shot at a happier, better quality of life. And the good news is, all of the five components necessary for success are things you can improve upon. You can learn how to be a better active listener, for instance, or you can come up with strategies to get distractions out of the way. If you fearlessly commit to that improvement, then there really isn't a single thing that can hold you back from achieving your goals and realizing your vision.
