The Most Common Practices Of
Super-Achievers
Good Storytelling
Stories have the ability to transport people to your world, so
they're more likely to invest in you and your brand. Instead of
million-dollar ads, Zappos.com CEO Tony Hsieh wanted each customer
interaction to sell the brand. With positive word of mouth, every
customer was telling the story of the company.
Dedication To A Vision
Super-achievers are dedicated to their vision day in and day
out. Philippe Petit, famous for his high-wire walk between New York
City's Twin Towers, dedicated himself to the feat before he was even an
accomplished wire-walker. He stuck with it until he'd accomplished his
goal.
Listening And Remaining Open
Successful people practice the art of listening to learn what
they need to know about the world around them. They may listen in the
tradition sense, but it's also about being open more generally. Actress
Laura Linney does this with every script. She never takes a part unless
she has read and reread the script so many times that it has opened up
to her.
Pursuing Happiness
Success fuels happiness, and happiness in turn fuels greater
success. Game show champion Ken Jennings said his passion for the game
helped him win, and every win gave him more confidence for the next
round.
Intelligent Persistence
Super-achievers are intelligently persistent—meaning they know
when to pivot. When faced with setbacks, instead of doggedly using the
same tactics that aren’t working, they examine the problem and figure
out what will work. Opera superstar Anna Netrebko was initially
discouraged from being a solo singer. However, she took a job as an
opera-house janitor, got the chance to audition and eventually got a
shot at the lead role.
Testing Ideas In The Market
"Everybody has a bias to think their own idea is
brilliant," says co-author Gosfield. "[Achievers] roll it out in an
environment that’s as close as possible to
the market." Bill Gross, the head of Idealab and a mega-successful
entrepreneur, always tests his business ideas first to better understand
consumer interest before he launches them.
Fostering A Community
Success cannot be achieved alone. Achievers galvanize a group of
people around their idea or goal. Jessica Watson, who sailed around the
world at age 16, sought the help of mentors, experts and friends to
support and prepare her for the journey.
Constantly Evolving
Successful people maintain success by consistently learning and
adapting to the environment around them. Tennis champion Martina
Navratilova realized this when her game suddenly started sliding. She
decided to transform her training routine and diet, and soon was back on
track to become an all-star athlete.
Managing Emotions
Super-achievers know how to manage their own emotions and
those of the people around them. Gary Noesner, former FBI hostage negotiator, would listen and
find out what the person’s needs were in order to gain their trust and diffuse the
intense emotions.
Practicing Patience
Co-authors Sweeney and Gosfield heard again and again the
importance of patience--whether it's strategically waiting for the best
time to take action or continuing to pursue a larger vision without
receiving immediate rewards. Jill Tarter, director of SETI research, has
been searching for life on other planets for the last 50 years without
any guarantee of success.
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