Pressure drives you. It forces you to perform out of your normal operating mode. Pressure shoves you in to daunting situations and tells you that if you focus, adapt and react accordingly you will come out the other side successful.

It sounds like I could be talking about the performance of a professional athlete, but really I’m describing any person who is faced with an important duty with a less-than-desirable amount of time to complete it. Most people want a no-pressure lifestyle. They would rather have a relaxed existence that one that provides them obstacles and challenge. But these challenges are how we measure ourselves. And they are how we know we are successful.

  Share  

If there is one thing , one prize piece of knowledge that I would pass on to someone who asks me what it takes to make it in the world of business I would tell them that it is Persistence. Not just persistence in interviews, meetings and pitches… but persistence with yourself.

Who is the person that keeps you on track and goal-oriented? It’s you of course. If you choose not to be hard-headed in dealing with yourself then who will? It is of the utmost importance that you push yourself each day in order to get where you want to be. It is greatly important that you hold yourself responsible for your victories and your losses.

  Share  

The title of one of the chapters in my latest book is “Be prepared to Change it up”. The key idea is to anticipate the fact that sooner or later, you will have to make the difficult decision to change your strategy. It’s the same as the director that knows the majority of the footage he shot, while it may be quality stuff, will end up on the cutting room floor before the film ever makes it to theaters.

It’s inevitable that unexpected things will occur. In shooting for perfection you must overcompensate in order to guarantee that you’ll end up where you want to be.

  Share  

Having the ability to step back from the fray of day-to-day business and take stock of everything in your scope is one of the most important tactics of the successful business person. While there are moments when laser-like focus on a task at hand is vital, other times you can become lost in the in the intricacies of a job; and gaining a distanced perspective is the best move.

It’s like the old criticism of “not being able to see the forest for the trees”. When you focus too intently on one aspect of a strategy you hamper your ability to craft a well-rounded plan. A little time away from the project, or a fresh set of eyes can always give you the inspiration you need.

  Share