YOU HAVE A SIMPLE CHOICE

Life has given you a simple choice – be mediocre, or be one of the very few that make a difference in their lives and make a difference to the lives of others.

You and I both know that the majority is content with just being mediocre.

It’s their choice. No-one else’s. They can blame others and circumstance as much as they like (and ALWAYS, without exception, do), but there’s no avoiding it.

They may have different aspirations than you and me. I’m not here to judge. For me, it’s about being the best you can be in everything I do…. and I mean everything I do. That’s just me.

It means standing out from the crowd. Getting noticed. Having a reputation for getting things done. Constantly improving. Being curious. Being good with people. Being good to people. Serving others. Doing Stuff 1% better than anyone else.

Yes, it takes extra effort. But it’s worth it. You feel better. You are better.

So where are you right now in your life?

Looking for change?

Need something different?

Are you stuck?

Stuff not working for you?

Are you willing to do the work?

Because ultimately that’s what it’s all about. Doing the work. Getting shit done. Asking better questions to yourself and of others.

If you’re still with me, I’m about to share with you 9 of what I believe to be the most powerful habits of the overachiever. It’s not the stuff they teach you at college or in the workplace or at home. May be they should. I wish I’d have known some of this stuff back then.

Some of these will resonate with you. Some won’t. Grab one or two by the balls and start implementing them from today.

You’ll notice an immediate difference.

BE SO GOOD THEY CAN’T IGNORE YOU

This was originally a quote from the comedian Steve Martin, but more recently was the title of a great book by Cal Newport (recommended reading- ‘Be So Good They Can’t Ignore You‘), the principle is simple.

Be damn bloody good at what you do. Practice like crazy. Become the go-to person for all things on ‘X’. But choose ‘X’ carefully. You’ll never be the expert on everything. Be knowledgeable on those things that will help move you forward, BUT be damn good in a few specific mission-critical areas.

Some say follow your passion. It seems to be a bit of a thing out there on the internet in the lifestyle design space. It’s bullshit. Yip, you hear me. It’s bullshit. There are very few who are fortunate enough to earn money on those things that they are truly passionate about. Here’s a different perspective….

Competency precedes the passion.

FOCUS ONLY ON WHAT’S IMPORTANT

We’re all busy bloody fools. You’ve probably heard the expression many times.

There are those that work the 9 to 5 and spend the day watching the clock. I’m not here to talk about them – that’d be the subject of a different abusive rant.

There are others who want to get a job done but don’t know what’s critical and what’s not. They’re busy fools. They just keep themselves busy doing all kinds of useless crap. They’re not contributing to the bottom line or helping others.

They’re there just for the pay-cheque. They’re spending all the time justifying their very existence.

You, on the other hand are different. Strike the crap stuff that just keeps you busy (see below) and prioritise the one or two big things that’ll make a difference.

Don’t get distracted. Don’t make things pretty just for the hell of it. To make things happen, you need to deliver. To deliver you need to do the important work. Don’t be an amateur like all the others. Become a pro!

BE RUTHLESS ON THE ADMIN STUFF

In any area of your life, there’s some stuff that’s enjoyable to do. But with it, comes some boring crap.

That’s the stuff drains you. It’s your job to minimize the boring stuff so you can focus on the good stuff.

It’s the good stuff that excites you. It’s the good stuff that’ll earn you (career) capital and drive you forward.

It means you need to be ruthless with the stuff that’s just not important. There are many things that can drive you to mediocrity (and insanity) both inside and outside the office – email, meetings, pointless conversations, negative friends etc. Your job is to find out what’s important and ditch the rest.

Be ruthless. Make the ‘Delete’ button your best friend in your email inbox. Took me years to master. But it’s an amazing habit once mastered.

LEARN FROM THE BEST

Who are the best leaders inside and outside your organisation? What makes them so bloody brilliant? Don’t know?

It’s your job to search for them and find out why. Hunt them down. Get to know them. Learn from them. What made them stand out from the rest? Meet them one-on-one.

There’s nothing more important than finding mentors for yourself both inside and outside the workplace. Use their experiences to help you get from ‘A’ to ‘Z’ much quicker than if you set off on your own path.

Make sure it’s someone you can relate to. Someone who you aspire to be. Leverage them to help you become the person you want to be.

GET SHIT DONE

It’s so easy to plan…. to strategise. It’s easy to buy programs and join free Facebook groups. It’s relatively easy to open the tin can and start stuff.

But there are very few who ‘complete’.

Let me say that again. There are very few who do the work and get the shit done.

It’s not about being the most able or most intelligent guy in the room. Those that are uber-successful are those that bloody DO.

Become the go-to guy by being the guy that gets shit done.

The finisher.

The completer

The guy that delivers results.

The guy that takes the ideas, the strategies, the plans….. does the work and completes. Under-commit and over-deliver. Incredibly powerful but under-utilised.

LEVERAGE

The leadership textbooks call it delegation. That’s old school. Leverage is so much more.

Understand who the people are in your life that can help you deliver.

Find out who the people are that are not currently in your life that can help you deliver and go and find them.

They can be leaders, peers, friends, family or sub-ordinates. It doesn’t matter.

Be the guy who knows people and can get help when needed. Start by providing value to others. They’ll reciprocate over time. Get people to do stuff for you to help you get the job done.

Leadership is not about you doing the work. It’s so much more than that. It’s about becoming the linchpin in your organisation and social circles (more recommended reading – this time from Seth Godin) – the guy that pulls the strings. They somehow make things happen in magical ways.

VOLUNTEER FOR THE DIFFICULT STUFF

Be the guy who says, “I can do that”.

Don’t just do the easy stuff. That’s what mediocre people do.

Take the difficult challenges. I’m not suggesting that you say yes to everyone. Far from it.

Be the guy that smiles when offered the project from hell – the project that’s already running late and over-budget. The project that no-one else will touch with a barge pole.

No-one can work miracles. All you can do is your best. But with the skills that you’ve acquired, you’ll be fully equipped to take on the projects that everyone runs away from….. and deliver them. That’s how to differentiate yourself. That’s how to become a rock star.

Are you up for it?

DON’T SELL OUT

You are uniquely you. So be you. Not someone else.

Don’t pretend to be someone or something you’re not.

There are enough tossers in the world. It doesn’t need adding to.

Yes, you can, and should, acquire new skills. But that doesn’t make you a different person. You’re still you.

For me, that means doing things that little bit different. Don’t really know why. Don’t really care. I just know that helps to think the opposite to what convention asks of me (most of the time).

Okay, I may have a little rebellious streak inside. No tattoos or fist pumping or mass protests. Just a little bit different. I’m not one for blind obedience. That’s rude. It’s ignorant. I question stuff. I’m curious. I look for better ways.

LISTEN

It’s not (just) about you. You may have lots of ideas and opinions but sometimes you just need to shut your mouth and listen to what other great people have to say.

It helps you be a better leader. It helps you be a better person. It means you won’t be considered the arrogant egotistical tosspot.

There are two sides to every argument. Understand the other person’s point of view. Understand why they are saying what they are saying.

Despite his brilliance at many things, a certain Steve Jobs failed at this one. You can do better.