I posted a series on Discover Your Sweet Spot – The 7 Steps to Create a Life of Success and Significance back in October but I wanted to offer up the abridged version today and invite you to a special call this Wednesday, January 8th celebrating the official launch of the book. (click here to register for the call)
For more than two years Scott Fay has been my coach, mentor, and most importantly, my friend. When I was trying to separate who I was from what I did, and come up with a plan for the rest of my life, Scott believed in me and pushed me in the right direction.
Yes, this is another book that focuses a lot on leadership, but Scott provides 7 steps, built around the idea of Design, Build & Maintain, that will guide you along a path to success and significance in whatever lane you are travelling.
PHASE 1: DESIGN YOUR LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENT
STEP 1 – Discover Your Sweet Spot – Design with the End in Mind
That design, when done correctly, will land in your Sweet Spot. Scott breaks down your sweet spot like this; “The convergence of three things: Purpose, Passion, and Plan.”
- Purpose is who you are designed to be.
- Passion is what you love to do.
- Plan is the strategic convergence of being and doing.
STEP 2 – Sweat the Small Stuff – The Devils are in the Design
This is a great step. Scott describes the importance of ALL the details, especially the small ones because they really represent the minor adjustments that can make a major difference. Scott gives us the infamous five that seem to show up the most often.
- Poor Drainage
- Context Confusion
- High Traffic
- Aesthetic Misfit
- Short-Sighted Plan
PHASE 2: BUILD YOUR LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENT
STEP 3 – Tear Out, Then Build Up
He provides a great three step process to eradicate these weeds, or “excuses,” that are in the way of construction. This is crucial. If the weeds are not removed during the build phase to allow the new “roots” to take hold, you will will be focusing on pulling weeds the rest of your life.
- Identify your weeds.
- Own your weeds.
- Eradicate the weeds.
STEP 4 – Build Midcourse Corrections
Scott gives us four things to consider regarding course corrections:
- Intersect the issue.
- Correct the problem.
- Protect the goal.
- Reflect the outcome.
PHASE 3: MAINTAIN YOUR LEADERSHIP ENVIRONMENT
STEP 5 – PROTECT YOUR INVESTMENT: Poor Maintenance Costs You More In The Long Run
To maintain the success, or significance, that we have achieved will not sustain itself unless we commit to continual growth. Scott suggests asking questions to keep us on top of our game. Here are his Elite 8:
- What do I do best?
- How can I do it better?
- Who can I best serve doing it?
- Of the things I currently do, what should I do more?
- Of the things I currently do, what should I do less?
- Of the things I currently do, what should I stop?
- What should I start doing?
- What am I missing?
STEP 6 – MAINTAIN THE MAIN THING: Keep Your Vision within Sight at All Times
Scott describes the importance of vision and how, unless we keep it on the forefront, it will soon be lost. Here are his “Five Lenses of Maintaining Vision”:
- Define The Vision
- Develop the Vision
- Drill the Vision
- Distinguish the Vision
- Demonstrate the Vision
STEP 7 – GIVE WHAT YOU CAN’T KEEP: Legacies are Maintained by Investing in Others
Investing in others and believing in them is the way we can leave our fingerprint on generations to come. We can’t take anything with us, but we can clearly leave something behind. (Tweet This / Share on Facebook / Post to LinkedIn)
I have reviewed numerous books and many have had a specific topic or targeted audience. Discover Your Sweet Spot is for everyone. We all have a Sweet Spot, but very few are living in it.
Today’s challenge: Click Here and join us on a call that will help you on your way to living in your Sweet Spot
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Barry Smith 1/6/14 photo courtesy of Scott M Fay © Building What Matters 2014
