A+ Achievement - Winning 'This Block'

Win the Block represents a dramatically better way of working and living, distilled from over 6,000 studies on peak performance.

At its core, Win the Block demands A+ standards from yourself, elevating both your results and fulfillment.

These A+ standards foster two essential habits:

1. A+ Energization: Be fully energized—on fire—about your work and life
2. A+ Achievement: Pursue block-by-block wins with exceptional energy, confidence, and focus—enjoy the process. A block refers to a specific period of time during your day—typically lasting 2-3 hours.

This article focuses on the second habit: A+ Achievement.

Research shows that success isn’t about grand plans; it's about consistent action—one block at a time. A+ achievement is about winning "this block"—the present moment—by channeling your full energy, confidence, and focus to achieve A+ results in this block. You do all this while enjoying the process—joy is a powerful results multiplier.

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The Three Principles of Winning 'This Block'

Winning this block requires following three principles. Turning these principles into habits can be one of the most effective things you do to elevate your productivity and results.

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Principle 1: Energizing Objectives

The first principle is having Energizing Objectives. This means being crystal clear about your desired results in this block and being energized about achieving them. Energy is the key differentiator.

Imagine a salesperson preparing for a critical meeting with a prospective client. Their energizing objectives might look like this:

1. Provide a compelling introduction of their company and its differentiated value proposition, ensuring the client understands how they stand out from competitors.
2. Gain a thorough understanding of the client's situation in the context of their industry-specific challenges, such as how market shifts have impacted their operations—connect emotionally to the client.
3. Offer a clear, next-step recommendation based on what they learn during the conversation.

When the salesperson enters the meeting energized and with clarity about these objectives, they become significantly more impactful. Their energy drives them to engage the client more deeply, ask more insightful questions, and confidently present a path forward that’s tailored to the client’s needs.

For a leader, an energizing objective might be to "Get agreement on an impactful solution to [specific challenge], with clear next steps, roles, and responsibilities." The leader would enter a team meeting fully engaged and committed to resolving the issue, energizing the group to align on the best approach. By fostering enthusiasm around this objective, the leader increases the likelihood of reaching a meaningful resolution that everyone is committed to executing.

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Principle 2: Confident Beliefs

The second principle of Winning This Block is having Confident Beliefs. This means being hyper-confident in yourself during this block, especially in making fact-based, confident assessments and decisions.

Confidence isn’t just an abstract feeling—it’s rooted in your understanding of past successes, your belief in your current capabilities, and your faith in the process you’re following.

For example, the same salesperson must have confidence not only in their ability to communicate effectively but also in their organization’s value proposition. They must trust that their company’s offerings will meet the client’s needs and that their sales process is designed to produce results. This confidence enables them to make decisive, fact-based assessments during the meeting. If they learn that the client’s needs are slightly different than expected, their confidence allows them to adjust the conversation fluidly, making decisions on the fly and presenting tailored solutions without hesitation.

For the leader in our example, confident beliefs come into play when assessing their team’s ability to tackle complex problems. A leader who believes in their team’s skills and their own decision-making process can steer a meeting confidently, analyzing past performance to make fact-based adjustments. Whether deciding between several potential solutions or rallying the team around a course of action, the leader’s confidence inspires trust and drives progress, even in uncertain situations.

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Principle 3: Focused Action

The third principle of Winning This Block is engaging in Focused Action. This means being hyper-focused during "this block" on pursuing and achieving your desired outcomes.

Focus is the catalyst that turns potential into reality by eliminating distractions and centering your attention on the most important tasks. Research is clear—multi-tasking doesn’t work.

And when paired with joy, focus becomes even more powerful—joy enhances engagement, making the process of achieving results feel more rewarding and sustainable.

For the salesperson in our example, focus during the meeting might involve adhering to key principles:

1. Start by aligning with the client on the objectives of the meeting to ensure both parties are on the same page.
2. Deliver a concise and compelling introduction of the company's value proposition, ensuring the message is clear and relevant.
3. Listen attentively to the client, asking clarifying questions to fully understand their pain points and confirm understanding—do this while connecting emotionally to the client.
4. Offer executive-level recommendations that address the client’s specific needs, drawing on the salesperson’s deep product knowledge and confidence.
5. Obtain clear agreement on the next steps, making sure both sides know what’s expected moving forward.

Staying focused on these principles throughout the meeting, the salesperson maximizes the chances of developing win-win agreements while keeping the conversation on track. The combination of clarity, attention, and action drives results while creating a positive, engaging experience for the client.

In the leader example, focused action involves guiding their team to assess various alternatives and decide on the optimal solution that addresses the key objectives. This requires both intellectual focus and emotional engagement. Leaders must weigh the options, consider the implications of each choice, and then rally their teams around the best path forward. By keeping the meeting centered on the desired outcome and maintaining focus on the decision-making process, leaders ensure that progress is made efficiently and that everyone leaves the meeting with a clear sense of direction.

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Conclusion

Block-by-block wins compound over time, creating levels of productivity, results, and happiness that far exceed past achievements. By mastering the principles of Energizing Objectives, Confident Beliefs, and Focused Action, you can consistently win "this block"—and the next—and watch as those small wins turn into extraordinary outcomes. Achieving A+ results isn’t a matter of luck or grand plans; it’s about the energized, consistent pursuit of excellence, one block at a time.