Ex-athletes, for example, don’t succeed in their post-retirement days only by cashing in on their fame and connections; those factors merely open doors. Retired athletes who continue to flourish draw upon the same skills that helped them excel on the field. They simply transfer them to their next career, redirecting techniques such as knowing how to practice and improve, how to work with teammates, how to listen, how to persevere through setbacks and how to lead. Likewise, they know the value of coaching, cross-training, competition and nutrition—all things that will put them at their best on game day, even if the game is now being played in an office. Consider how celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jack Nicklaus, Jessica Alba, Dwayne Johnson, Oprah Winfrey and many others applied the disciplines that made them great in one arena to similar levels of success elsewhere.
Unfortunately, not all people understand this critical insight and therefore fail to apply the basic techniques that helped them excel in one area of life to all of their other undertakings. A classic example is the guy who’s great building a business, but doesn’t enjoy similar success in his relationships. Chances are that while his business has an agreed-upon vision, a strategic plan, key metrics (and periodic reviews of them), targeted learning, briefing and debriefing sessions, team retreats and expert coaches where appropriate, his primary personal relationship may have few if any of those same ingredients. Hmmm.
So what are these powerful universal building blocks? The following list identifies 10 that are explored in Elevate. While they are not meant to be a complete list by any means, they are all incredibly powerful and pervasive. In addition, each skill also reinforces and enhances the others, triggering a multiplier effect:
Ask … and receive
Listen … and learn
Program … and take control
Motivate … and get what you want
Structure … and win by design
Energize … and fuel the machine
Leverage … and lead