It may be a cliché, but if you plan your work and work your plan as well as measure and refine at every step along the way, you will find the path of success open before you faster than those who leave everything to chance. I am constantly surprised at how many companies and people do rely on the “hope” strategy.
“Hope” is not a strategy and never will be considered a predictable or viable one. A successful business takes a cyclic approach to the steps necessary to ensure a viable strategy that is flexible enough to meet ever-changing market and economic conditions.
The groove you should get into for your success cycle is:
- Plan: If you can’t write down your goals, current situation, resources and provisions as well as strategies and tactics then you are absolutely destined for failure. It may sound trite but planning your work and working your plan does set you on the path to success.
- Execute: Everything starts when you take action. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained” so take acceptable risks to enable success.
- Measure: If you aren’t keeping score then how do you know if you are winning or losing? Measure everything! Ensure as much objectivity and base your decisions on what the data uncovers. A key element to success here is not using the data to justify decisions already mad; but instead let the data tell you what you need to know to ensure success.
- Refine: Rigidity can be the death of any business. You will need to revisit original assumptions as well as strategies and tactics based on what you uncover in the measurement stage and compare it to market and competitive positions.
- Repeat: Yes, by definition a cycle means you will have to go back to the beginning and start over. Why? Because circumstances will constantly change… from the economy to the competition to your partners, suppliers, prospects and customers.
Success is a function of the relentless pursuit of perfection as discussed in last week’s blog but that perfection can only be achieved when the success cycle is managed rigorously.
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