In this article we share with you the two secrets to exceptional leaps in performance. Few people know about this, and even fewer put these success principles to full use. When they do, the results are astonishing.
The first secret isn’t a secret at all. We are speaking about SETTING GOALS. Yes, people who have established written, specific goals, and remain committed to those goals are most often exceptionally successful and accomplished in the areas of life most important to them: financially, in their career, family relationships, social connections, health and well-being, their sense of community as well as personal and spiritual growth.
Here is but one example. The 1979 graduating class from Harvard’s MBA program were individually asked the question, “Have you set goals for yourself”? 84% admitted they had set no goals. 13% had some goals but had not written them down. 3% had established written, specific goals.
Ten years later, the class members were again interviewed as to their success since graduation. The 13% who had set goals, but had not written them down, were on average earning twice what the 84% without goals were earning. More astonishing, the 3% with specific written goals were earning ten times what the other 97% were earning combined.
Let’s do the math. In 1989, if each of the 83% with no goals was earning $100,000 annually, (a conservative estimate) then on average, each of the 13% with non-written goals was earning $200,000 annually. Each of the 3% with specific written goals was, on average, earning $36,000,000 ($36 million) annually.
Considering the obvious benefits to goals-setting, why isn’t every single person creating specific, written goals?
Here is the second secret. So many people are confused about their deepest values, beliefs, and abilities, that setting effective, meaningful goals is difficult if not impossible. Even if people do write down specific goals, they aren’t emotionally aligned internally about what is truly important to them, and the goals soon seem meaningless and are abandoned.
92% of people who set New Year’s resolutions abandon them within a few months. People with Highly Developed Emotional Self-Awareness tend to experience far fewer limitations.
One example of the transformative power of effective goal-setting coupled with emotional self-awareness development coaching will prove instructive.
Recently we coached a supervisor of shipping and inventory control in a moderate sized company with 375 employees and $150 million in sales.
Six months after the coaching engagement ended, he contacted us in an excited state. He said he couldn’t wait to share the news of how the coaching had transformed his job performance. In the previous six months, because of improved teamwork and renewed passion for excellence…
- Inventory count had been reduced by 40%
- Shipping delays were cut by 50%
- On-time delivery jumped to the highest level in history, 99.64%
- “Can’t find” inventory was reduced by 58%, cutting “lost inventory” costs by 85%
Savings to the company because of these improvements totaled over $2 million annually.
As more employees receive this type of coaching, the revenues and profitability of this company continue to soar.
With lower levels of emotional self-awareness, people tend to have conflicting perceptions and beliefs. Because lower self- confidence accompanies lower self-awareness, insecurities result in poor communication and interpersonal skills. Outcomes are often disappointing.
We can see that the secret to exceptional performance, success and happiness rests on the twin pillars of emotional self-awareness and setting effective, written goals.
With high self-awareness, effective goal setting is much easier resulting in elevated performance and success. Developing excellence in emotional self-awareness and goal setting is a matter of determination, being open to honest feedback, and good coaching. It can make a huge difference in your overall success and happiness in life and it’s yours for the taking!
If you would like to know more about this topic, please contact me. Remember one single discovery can change everything for you!
Tom Searcy, BCC
Spirit of Eagles
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