The 3As Turn Information Into Transformation

Unlock the 3As and consistently turn information into transformation.

I was 600 miles into the 1,700-mile Fallen Hero Honor Ride , and my bottom was hurting badly. Since mile 300 or so, I had been sitting on bags of ice every night, popping Ibuprofen and Tylenol like candy, and wondering how I would power through the next 1,100 miles.

Quitting was not an option.

I was out of ideas. Should I get a more padded bicycle seat? Should I double up on bike shorts?

Fortunately, I had a cycling coach named Chuck Kyle who built my training program and provided expert advice. He even stopped by my Milwaukee home during a cycling trip to take a ride together.

I told Chuck about the pain and asked whether I should get a new saddle or start wearing more padding.

“Don’t do any of that,” he said, “Just angle your seat forward by 1mm and tell me how it feels.”

The following 1,100 miles felt like a dream. No more painkillers, no sitting on ice bags. A simple change made all of the difference.

I would never have come up with that solution on my own. The saddle was hitting a nerve, and the angle adjustment was enough to relieve the pressure.

A trusted advisor gives you the subtle adjustments you need to thrive.

I was strong enough and had the stamina to make the 1,700-mile journey, but I lacked Chuck’s deep professional expertise. He knew exactly what to do.

His example shows that information creates awareness but not transformation. No one ever learned to ride a bike solely by reading a book. You need the 3As: application, adjustment, and accountability.

The 3As: Application, Adjustment, and Accountability

First, you have to apply what you learned. Chuck provided skill transfer in the training plan, nutritional advice, and preparation, but I had to apply his advice to benefit from it.?

How often have you heard someone struggling with a leadership skill say, “I know that,” but they aren’t doing it? People believe what they see, not what you claim to intend.

Application, as my bicycle seat example painfully illustrates, is not sufficient. Some generalized advice works well, but you must often adjust to get the right fit. Just like you adjust the bicycle to the rider, you adjust the practices to the leader.?

Finally, you need accountability to improve performance and prevent backsliding. Chuck monitored my training reports, and our monthly calls kept me on track and helped us fine-tune the program, so I continued getting better.

Did you ever notice that the best performers, athletes, business owners, actors, etc., have advisors to support them with application, adjustment, and accountability??

Lone wolves starve, and there’s no merit badge for figuring out everything on your own. That approach wastes time and energy in trial and error while increasing the risk of failure. You still have to run the race – no one can do that for you.?

Your support network accelerates, not diminishes, your success.

Take your time to find advisors who are the right fit for you. I’d be delighted to have a meaningful conversation to discuss how to close the gap between your performance and potential and help you find the right advisor to support your journey to new heights.?

The Trusted Adviser program is catalytic coaching for executives who are looking to lead as their best selves, boost performance and accountability, spend more time on growth and less time supervising routine tasks, and make better decisions amidst turbulence and uncertainty.

You meet with me privately by Zoom or phone for regularly scheduled sessions to set goals, remove roadblocks, overcome obstacles, and develop action steps that get results. Additional support is available via unlimited calls, emails, or other means in between your regularly scheduled sessions.