One of my favorite movie lines of all time is from The Greatest Game Ever Played, a golf drama based on the true story of the 1913 US Open. Twenty-year-old Francis Ouimet was challenging his idol, Englishman Harry Vardon, who had won the Open in 1900. When Harry’s wealthy sponsor said Francis could not possibly win because he was not from the upper class and therefore would fold under the pressure, Harry responded, “If Mr. Ouimet wins tomorrow, it’s because he’s the best, because of who he is. Not who his father was, not how much money he’s got—because of WHO HE IS!”
And so it is with business.
It has little to do with the economy, the market, the competition. It has much more to do with self-improvement—who you have become as a leader and who your team has developed to be.
The great competition isn’t “out there.” The great competition is always between the ears in the mind and the character of a leader.
Weak leaders don’t understand that, of course, because they are at the mercy of the external.
People forget that this is how it is with everything—we get our results because of who we are. A millionaire can lose all his money and recoup it in weeks because of who he had to become to grow and keep a million in the first place.
Make a list of five commitments for a breakthrough in 2009. Be specific. Then become the person who could accomplish those five with ease, and they are as good as complete.
People make “to-do” lists. That’s great. But try this tip that successful people do: They make “get-rid-of lists.”
Decide to get rid of the things that aren’t creating the best ROI for every minute of your time and every dollar you invest.
Things that could and should be on your list include: vendors that need to go, products that overstayed the party, employees who make you want to stop being an employer, mindsets you have that hold you back, mindsets your team members have that need to go, old systems that haven’t been challenged—you name it, anything that you wouldn’t want to start over should probably go.
New results don’t come with old methodologies, old thinking, or other clutter that keeps you stuck in yesteryear. Get out the shovel and clean house!