“Stop focusing on what you need to do. Focus on who you need to become.” – Darren Hardy
This week’s Vibe continues with the series on The 7 Habits of Highly Successful People.
Habit #2: Begin With The End In Mind
The end of my accounting career was a REMARKABLE teacher.
The CEO of my company brought in a high powered consultant to help fix a slew of problems.
This consultant was at the top of his game.
He was an Ivy League professor, political consultant, and a talking head on CNN.
After watching me struggle close out a project, he pulled me aside.
Consultant: “What are you doing?”
Me: “Umm, trying to finish this.”
Consultant: “What does the finished product look like?”
Me: “I don’t know.”
Consultant: “Then you’ll never get there.”
Consultant: “Decide what you want to accomplish. Work backwards from there.”
My 24 year old mind was blown.
Two questions each of us need to answer:
- What do I want to accomplish?
- Who do I want to become?
Your answers are an amazing filter to run decisions through.
You know what to work on.
You know what to ignore.
Crossing off insignificant items on a To Do list may trick your brain, but won’t fool your legacy.
Say your career answer is: “Be the #1 salesperson in my company.”
Work backwards:
- How would the #1 person PREPARE?
- What QUESTIONS would that person ask?
- How would that person respond to ADVERSITY?
- What type of MENTOR would they be to their colleagues?
BEGIN WITH THE END IN MIND.
Know who you want to become.
Go…
-Joe Ciccarone
Next Week: Habit 3 – Put First Things First