July 5, 2011
In part 1 of this 2 part mini-series we presented two models. The first model we shared with you is “Activities, Routines and Practices.” From this point, we will refer to it as ARP.
The second model we introduced was the “Principle of Integration.”
The purpose of this mini-article series is to show you one key thing: if you do not have the correct ARPs and if your business is not designed from the Principle of Integration your ability to perform and have extra-ordinary results everywhere will decrease substantially.
Let us do a quick review of the two models and how they work together. ARPs set you up so you are effective i.e. doing the right things. The Principle of Integration shows us that most of us compartmentalise (separate) instead of integrate what we do, falsely thinking that if one area of our business/life is not working it will not spill over to other areas and affect performance. This is false reasoning.
Keep in mind, we are not saying that you cannot produce results if you compartmentalise how you work. We are saying, however, that your access to the next level of performance will be blocked.
Before we go further in this article, we want to say something about models. Models are not “the truth” – they are simply a way of looking at and interpreting reality, so that we feel enabled and empowered in the adventure of entrepreneurship. If a model does not fit your reality, or how you want to work, you don’t need to use it. What we do encourage, however, is trying a model on before outright rejecting it. That way you can at least test it.
Now, lets get back to your ARPs! The question we left you with was “What are the extra-ordinary activities, routines and practices that you can develop in your business so you can be well and have extra-ordinary results everywhere?”
Let us consider this question, and create a list of all the areas of life and business where you want to have extra-ordinary results. Take a moment to write the list.
STEP 1. Areas of Life Where I Intend To Be Well and Have Extra-Ordinary Results
- _________________________________
- _________________________________
- _________________________________
- _________________________________
Note: Areas can be marketing, health, family, friends, money, exercise, planning etc.
STEP 2. Next, for each area define your set of ARPs for that specific area. (If you don’t remember the ARP definitions for these terms go back to Part 1)
Area of Life/Business #1
- List of activities
- List of routines
- List of practices
Area of Life/Business #2
- List of activities
- List of routines
- List of practices
Area of Life/Business #3
- List of activities
- List of routines
- List of practices
Area of Life/Business #4
- List of activities
- List of routines
- List of practices
STEP 3. Make sure your ARPs are clearly defined. Show them to your coach or business partner.
STEP 4. Schedule your ARPs in your calendar. Having a plan and a schedule gives you a chance at succeeding.
STEP 5. Take the actions. This is the most important step because actions makes things happen!
Now, in regards to the Principle of Integration, the question we left you with was, “Where are you
compartmentalising your life and your business?”
What you probably noticed is that as you went through your ARPs is that there is some compartmentalisation. The degree varies from person to person, however if you tell the truth, you will see it for yourself. For instance, you may have noticed that you want to have more sales but you do not have proper tracking in your finance department to see how you produce your sales.
This is a common example of how one area affects another area. You may also notice that you are not generous with your time or money, and yet you expect your partners to be generous with their time and money. This is a paradox, and you will notice many of them, if you look carefully!
By the way, this is good news!
We recommend that you do this work with a partner or a coach, as it requires someone to be your mirror to get the full benefit. Unfortunately, we are not designed to produce extra-ordinary results working alone…
Conclusion: Being well and having extra-ordinary results
As you can now tell, being well is not simply a function of having the right exercise routine. It requires thinking about how all of the parts of your business work together.
Having extra-ordinary results also requires a shifted relationship to failure. Contrary to popular belief, the access to success is failure. Therefore if you want to have extra-ordinary results the operating principle you will need to adopt is “Fail Faster”. We know this sounds strange, but if you look at anyone who is successful they will tell you that they embraced failure and that is why they have success. One of the reasons behind this idea of failing is that when you succeed, most of the time you give yourself a pat on the back, have a few drinks and move on. When you fail, you go through the process of looking for what worked, what did not work and what was missing.
Unfortunately, our education system teaches millions of students every year that failure is BAD! And, many of us, take that conditioning into our businesses and it is how we define our activities, routines and practices. And, if your activities, routines and practices are designed around the context that “failure is bad” or “failure is to be avoided at all cost” you are not going to be closer to extra-ordinary results. In fact, you will actually move away from the results you seek by avoiding failure.
And that is the simple reason why many people never get to experience extra-ordinary results because their ARPs are created to run away from failure or experiences what they consider to be failures.
With that in mind, take the time to design your ARPs based upon what is important to you, and achieve your extra-ordinary results.
Be well, enjoy the adventure and fail faster!
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