Pile On Motivation

Join 21K other subscribers

Category: Motivational

  • “Slow and steady” in business as well wins the race

    10X or high performing companies as analyzed by Jim Collins in “Great By Choice” exhibit one very surprising pattern

    They have pegged their targets to a ceiling while at the same time earmarking a level beyond which it should never fall down.

    It is like playing an infinite game of business with discipline to fight the ofds when the chips are down while at the same time showing restraint of not being too greedy when the times are good.

    The comparison between Stryker and USSC has been cited as a reference wherein Stryker’s sustainable targets helped it stay afloat while USSC greed of aggressive targets eventually led to its acquisition by Tyco.

    Thus in the game of business as well , slow and steady wins the race

  • Are you still living your life by accident?

    Most of us live our lives by accident.We live as it happens without wanting to take risks to chase our passion.

    Fulfillment comes when we live our lives on purpose.

    It’s upto us to choose the kind of life we want

    Adopted from Simon Sinek’s book “Together is Better”

  • Comparison between Amundsen’s and Scott’s South Pole expeditions

    Adopted from the book titled “Great By Choice” by Jim Collins.

    Roald Amundsen and Rober Falcon Scott had contrasting approaches in their march towards South Pole.

    In the end it was the better prepared and ferociously competitive Amundsen who not only reached South Pole earlier but returned home safely.

    The following link from wikipedia.com highlights the contrasting approaches adopted by the two and also mentions how Amundsen with his better preparedness and  leadership traits was able to reach South Pole and return back safely.This little story highlights the fact that there is no shortcut for better preparedness and “Productive Paranoia” when it comes to overcoming an “unforgiving environment”.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_the_Amundsen_and_Scott_expeditions

     

  • “Ambition” for self vs a “Just cause”

    All high performing leaders are incredibly ambitious.

    What makes their ambition different and in turn helps them rally followers and supporters around them is that their ambition is for a “just cause” not for self.

    When followers are shown a futuristic “just cause” for achieving something larger than themselves it can lead to a big impact.This is when followers get viscerally involved to realize something in order to achieve fulfillment in their lives.

    Thus when ambition is directly towards the betterment of a company , a just cause it has far reaching impact.

    Adopted from Jim Collins’s “Great By Choice” and Simon Sinek’s “The Infinite Game”

  • How to succeed in an “unforgiving environment”?

    Look at the behavior patterns of the following 10X high performing leaders:

    1. Herb Kelleher of South West Airlines – Predicting 11 of the last 3 recessions
    2. Andy Grove of Intel –  “Always looking for the black cloud in the silver lining”
    3. Bill Gates – Issuing nightmare memos in Microsoft

    By embracing the myriad of possible dangers , they put themselves in a superior position to overcome danger due to an “unforgiving environment”.

    These are leaders who succeeded in uncertain , unforgiving environment through deliberate , methodical and systematic practice.

    Adopted from Jim Collins’s book titled “Great By Choice”

  • Is “Productive Paranoia” good for high performing organizations?

    The high performing 10X companies are ones who maintain hypervigilance in good times as well as bad.

    They are always on their toes wary of disruption and hence competing with themselves to be a better version everyday.

    These companies constantly consider the possibility that events could turn against them at any moment and hence to counter such unpredictability they are always better prepared.

    Such “Productive Paranoia” thus keeps a high performing 10X organization afloat to be better prepared in the “Infinite Game” of business.

    Adopted from Jim Collins’s book “Great By Choice” and Simon Sinek’s book “The Infinite Game”

  • “Progressive Insurance” – a first of its kind

    Progressive Insurance under the able 10X leadership of Peter Lewis became the first publicly held company to report underwriting results monthly.This was way back in 2001.

    This was not only against conventional wisdom , it was a step that went a long way in making “Progressive’s” reporting processes much more transparent to Wall Street investors.

    Please find below the link(source progressive.com)highlighting “Progressive Insurance’s” journey.

    https://www.progressive.com/about/history/

    Adopted from Jim Collin’s book titled “Great by Choice”

  • “Empiricism” over “Analysis” or vice versa?

    10X leaders are characterized by unique traits that enable them to stand tall when the chips are down.

    Following conventional wisdom when the tide is rough is not something that can help someone stand out of the rest of the pack.

    Hence 10X leaders be it Andy Grove of Intel or Ronald Amundsen who conquered South Pole , favor empiricism as the foundation for decisive actions.

    Had analysis based on conventional wisdom always worked , 10X leaders would not have stood out

    Adopted from Jim Collin’s book titled “Great By Choice”

  • “Avoiding conventional wisdom” during uncertain times

    Social psychology research dictates that during times of uncertainty we should look up to experts as to how to proceed in the best possible manner.

    The pattern of all 10X leaders be it Peter Lewis of Progressive Insurance , Herb Kelleher of SWA , suggests that during uncertain times they did not do what the pundits said.

    They primarily looked up to empirical evidence and faced the problems head on.

    This is what makes them different.

    Adopted from Jim Collin’s book titled “Great By Choice”

  • What goes into FANATIC DISCIPLINE ?

    Fanatic discipline is one of the 4 facets manifested by 10X high performing leaders as mentioned by Jim Collins in his book “Great by Choice”

    Discipline in essence means consistency in action , with respect to:

    1) Consistency with values

    2) Consistency with long term goals

    3) Consistency with perfomance standards

    4) Consistency of method

    5) Consistency over time

    Adopted from Jim Collin’s book “Great By Choice”