How To Turn Ideas Into Action
When I was named CEO of a Rockefeller foundation at 26, Mr. Rockefeller knew that I needed a lot of help and assigned his right-hand man, Charlie Owen, as my mentor. Every Monday, Charlie would walk into my office, put a business book on my desk, and say, "I'll see you on Friday for lunch."
At the end of each week, we would go to Em's Home Cooking for chili, cornbread, and iced tea, where he would grill me on everything I had learned in the book.?
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He would ask me dozens of questions, but in the end, he always asked the most important one:
"What are three specific action steps you will take in the business as a result of reading this book?"?
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I would tell him what I planned to do. Then he would write it down and say, "You will now be held accountable for doing those." Every Monday, I got a book, every Friday, I made a book report, and Charlie held me strictly accountable for?implementing the ideas?I was learning.
Several years ago, I was doing a strategic planning retreat for a large company in Texas and described the three circles of the?Hedgehog Concept?from the famous book?Good To Great?by Jim Collins. Just as I was beginning to explain the concept, the CEO interrupted me and said, "John, you don't need to cover that, we all read the book and went through a training course on it, and I even hired Jim Collins to come in and teach it to us." I thought for a moment and then asked the CEO, "Then could you or anyone else on your team explain the Hedgehog Concept to me, the?Stockdale Paradox, or the key characteristics of a?Level 5 Leader?" There was total silence.
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To clarify, it is one thing to read a book, attend a training session, watch a YouTube video or listen to a podcast, and a completely different thing to understand the ideas well enough to implement them. Studying without application is useless because it does not improve performance or results.
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Because of Charlie, now when I study anything, I constantly ask myself three questions:
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By asking myself these questions, I have gained the invaluable ability to convert what I have?learned into action. These questions have changed my life and career. I hope they do for you as well.
Please visit my site at?https://johnspence.com/contact/?if you want to get in contact with me. I’d love to hear from you.
Facilitator & coach for life and leadership wellbeing. Employee wellbeing consultant. Podcaster. Accredited Mediator. Panel discussion creator and moderator. Deep & creative generalist.
2 年I call this turning information into transformation. Information overload is a real thing and most of us no matter how good our intentions are overload ourselves with information. Asking ourselves questions is such an effective process, thanks for sharing your insightful questions.
Owner at Buzy Bee Cleaning Specialists, LLC
2 年I very much identify and relate to ALL of your articles. As the owner of a 9 year old, very successful janitorial business, your insight applies to my daily struggles as my business grows. Many hit home on things I need to do to manage my business and my life.
Mortgage Connector ★ Broker Owner ★ Your Dream. Our Privilege. ★ Entrepreneur
2 年Thank you so much for sharing! This is so true!
Philosopher. Yale PhD. UNC Morehead-Cain. I bring wisdom to business and to the culture in talks, advising, and books. Bestselling author. Novelist. 30+ books. TomVMorris.com. TheOasisWithin.com.
2 年Great stories, important insight, great read. I’d say more but I gotta go do three things.
From workforce reduction to rebuilding, you want me as your guide. I am the #RTO expert in the #DMV because I build #internalcommunications structures that drive #operationalexcellence
2 年YES! YES! Sooo good John Spence! Have a happy, safe, and delicious Thanksgiving!