I was recently reminded of a great book I read a few years ago The Magic Lamp: Goal Setting for People Who Hate Setting Goals
Even Ordinary Effort over time can yield extraordinary results. Over the last year I have met, through an organization I’ve done work with, a substantial number of people who have lost a substantial amount of weight. Their remarkable accomplishments the direct result of very ordinary effort. Another company I’m working with is seeing very significant results in sales and profit growth as a result of some very ordinary effort in how they manage their reps.
Ordinary effort—a simple concept, but with so many other things just because something is simple doesn’t mean it’s easy. One of the challenges is finding those one or two activities you can execute consistently. Not wade or dabble in—to fully engage in. Whether your goals are personal or professional you’ll want to start with the end in mind to quote Steven Covey. What is it you want to achieve? From there identify those “ordinary efforts” you’ll need to engage in. At one of our open seat Smart Selling Workshops I counted 32 different ideas for sellers to grow their book of business. Every one of the ideas was, in and of itself, ordinary. If an attendee were to take just one, but no more than three, of those ordinary ideas and apply them consistently over time they can’t help but have some extraordinary results. If I were to pick just one it would be to adopt the concept of “What’s the purpose of this call?” but that’s for another post.
Even ordinary effort Over Time can yield extraordinary results. The other challenge for many people is the concept of “over time”. What does that mean and how long does it last? I’m sure I am not alone in wanting things to happen quickly. That said I think any worthwhile effort should be given a fair shot at success. If a new activity has merit and isn’t counter productive to your goal you should continue with it until it proves unproductive. You could quit early and go back to to “Business as Usual” but I suspect you’ll continue to getting the same results.
Do you have an example of an “Ordinary Effort” that’s given you EXTAORDINARY reults? If so leave a comment.
