Play To Win
By Mike Myatt, Chief Strategy Officer, N2growth
Today’s message is not likely to please the politically correct, nor will it mollycoddle the timid. I’m not going to address competing or playing nicely, rather I’m going to deal very bluntly with the topic of winning. Want to succeed? It’s easier than you might think…just don’t quit. Strip away the excuses, rationalizations, and justifications, and the only thing standing between you and the attainment of your objectives is what you see staring back at you when you look in the mirror each morning. In today’s post I’ll examine the benefits of playing to win…
“Measuring Success” seems like a simple enough concept right? Well it is, in concept…the problem rests in the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the matter. There has always been vigorous debate surrounding the topic of success metrics, and the argument only tends to heighten during tough economic times. I’m often asked ”What success metrics do you believe are most important to measure?” Regrettably there really isn’t a canned answer as each industry, sector, vertical, and micro-vertical have unique business drivers. Furthermore, depending on how a business is positioned, where it is in its maturation lifecycle, or what its current financial condition looks like will dictate which factors may be most important to measure. That said, in today’s blog post I will attempt to provide some general guidelines that will be useful to any business wishing to analyze success metrics.
Have you been told that you have a bit of an edge? If so, you have likely found that it serves you very well. Let me be clear that when I refer to an edge I’m not talking about rough edges, or confusing an edgy presence with rude or arrogant behavior. What I am refering to is having a direct, no B.S. approach that allows you to get right to the heart of an issue in the shortest time-frame possible. So my question is this…how edgy are you?
While success is normally considered to be a good thing, unless you’re prepared to handle it, success can quickly complicate your life. Even worse, without the proper perspective, success can actually contribute to the beginning of your downfall. So my question is this: Is your success serving as a springboard for even greater success, or is it merely a temporary state, precariously positioned and ready to implode with the slightest change in circumstance? As strange as it may sound, success can often times be the precursor to failure. Success without perspective, purpose, and focus can actually cause more harm than good. In today’s post I’ll discuss how CEOs and entrepreneurs can either leverage success, or if they’re not careful, have it serve as a catalyst for a rapid downward spiral…
“Finding The Zone” is a concept that most athletes are familiar with, but what about CEOs? We’ve all heard the sportscaster refer to an athlete as being in “the zone,” and so my question is this: “How do you find your performance zone as a CEO?” or better yet, “How do you find and remain in the leadership zone?” What respectable chief executive wouldn’t want to function at their best more often than they currently do? Wouldn’t it be a marvelous thing to be able to place yourself in the zone when needed? In today’s post I’ll provide some tips for CEOs to help them be successful in Finding the zone…
As one year ends and another begins, I can think of no better time to ponder the difference between success and significance. Success vs. Significance…some would say that any discussion along this topic line is nothing more than a semantical debate. However, it is my opinion that those who hold this view truly don’t understand the difference between the two, and are simply attempting to blur lines in order to feel better about themselves. In today’s post I’ll attempt to clearly lay out the differences between success and significance, and where your sites should be set…
Truly great leaders excel at mentoring and developing those around them. If you accept this premise as correct, then why is it that so many in positions of leadership fall woefully short in successfully transferring the benefits of their wisdom and experience to others? To the chagrin of many reading this post, I believe there is regrettably all too often a difference between someone who holds a leadership position, and that of a mature, effective leader. In the text that follows, I’ll share a few thoughts on not only the benefits of mentoring, but how to do it effectively. 
Time; it’s the only thing we all have in common, yet it’s how we choose to spend it that defines and differentiates us as individuals. Even though time is a key success metric, I am always amazed at how many executives don’t manage it as such. Time is indeed a precious and finite commodity, and those professionals that manage it wisely are those that achieve the greatest results. Show me an executive that doesn’t leverage time to its highest and best use and I’ll show you an executive likely to be replaced by one that can. In today’s blog post I’ll examine the value of time.