Mark S. Brown

Brent Scowcroft once said, “An idea can be as flawless as can be, but its execution will always be full of mistakes.” It makes me think about execution. Is it a strategy or a tactic?

Disciplined execution of an idea or plan is tactical. But the plan to achieve disciplined execution is a strategy. You are not going to achieve a high level of execution by accident. So execution done well becomes both a strategy and a tactic.

Execution becomes important to everything we do. Consider something as simple as an exercise plan. First we will need an exercise plan, then a strategy to execute it, then the discipline to execute it every week.

To be successful, we need to consider execution at every step, and then evaluate our execution in reflection. Finally defining the steps to improve our execution. As  Jeff Bridges has said, “Execution is everything.”

Zig Zigler has said, “There are no traffic jams on the extra mile!” Do you usually find yourself going that extra mile alone? We use the slang, “go the extra mile” when someone does something above and beyond their normal responsibility. If you find yourself alone on that extra mile, it is great to perform above and beyond, but it could be a symptom for other issues.

Consider the following:

1. Where is your team? If you are finishing alone, you have lost the opportunity to develop your team. There is always benefit to bringing others along, even if they are there just to observe and learn.

2. Do you give the proper recognition? Do you provide the proper recognition for others that go the extra mile? If you have failed to provide the proper recognition, people will stop going the extra mile. We all need appreciation.

3. Do you get the proper recognition? If you are not getting the proper recognition, others around you are probably not either. Working based on a sense of responsibility is ok, as long as you are aligned in your priorities and you are not sacrificing something more important.

Pat Riley said, “Great effort springs naturally from a great attitude.” A good reflection exercise for this week would be to evaluate the attitude of your team and their willingness to put in extra effort.

John F. Kennedy said, “There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.” Are you too comfortable?

There are so many things in life we learn by taking risks and jumping into action. The first time I rode a bicycle, the first time I went snow sledding, and the first time I had to speak in public all include a mix of fear and excitement in my memory. Each was a bit uncomfortable, but each let me learn, grow, and experience life.

We cannot achieve our highest potential without being willing to take some measure of risk. Take a moment to reflect on risks that may be holding you back. Answer the following questions.

1. What risks are you currently avoiding that could get you closer to achieving your dreams?

2. Why are you avoiding these risks?

3. If you continue to avoid these risks, what will be the outcome?

Herbert Otto said, “Change and growth take place when a person has risked himself and dares to become involved with experimenting with his own life.” So let’s start experimenting.

Ralph Waldo Emerson is attributed for many great quotes. He once said, “Genius borrows nobly.” To me it emphasizes how much we learn from others. Rarely do we have a thought that is so original, that someone else has not pondered the same thing.

Life is a journey of learning. We are living in the information age, and we are surrounded with opportunities to gather knowledge from others. How can we best take advantage of this opportunity?

1. Commit to Learning: For the opportunity to become useful, you will have to commit some amount of time to learn. As little as 15 minutes a day will add up over time. Make a plan and measure yourself against it.

2. Determine the Best Opportunity for Growth: What knowledge are you in most need of gaining? How can you leverage your strengths and align with your purpose? If you don’t know, look for other experts in your field. What do they know better than you?

3. Practice What You Learn: Knowledge without practice will not be as fulfilling. Imagine buying all the ingredients to bake cookies, and then leaving the ingredients on the shelf, never taking the time to mix and bake them. Put your knowledge to use. You will improve with practice.

Ralph Waldo Emerson also said, “Our best thoughts come from others.”