Take Responsibility

I am a big fan of Jake Humphrey’s High Performance Podcast and although it took a little while to get around to it I finally read the book last year.

The idea behind the High Performance Podcast (and the book) is that we can learn from people who have been highly successful in life (in business, in sport or whatever) and apply what they have done to our own lives and businesses.

One of the key principles is to take ownership of your own destiny.? We all know people who moan continuously about their job, their partner, their bad luck.? Funny thing is, if we meet them in a year’s time, most of them will still be moaning about the same things.? (I think we probably all know someone like this!)

If the 2020 pandemic taught us anything, it is that we cannot control everything in life.? No one can. It is still scary to think that something as infinitesimally small as a virus can affect the entire globe! (Thanks Google for spell correct there by the way!)

BUT - there are always things we can control.

One of those of course is our mindset - we can choose how we respond.? And it is the ability to respond and change the way we react is one of the things that sets the high performers apart.

One of the techniques described in the book is the “Zander letter” - where you write a letter dated 12 months from now.??

Dear Me… describe in detail how YOU HAVE ALREADY resolved a problem, or met a goal.? Do not use “I hope” or “I expect” - write it as if it has already happened - “I decided” or “I did”.? Be as detailed and as practical as possible.

This enables you to take responsibility over the next 12 months for getting you to where you want to be. Sharing it will also make you accountable - and that makes it even more powerful!

What do you want to achieve in 12 months - write that letter!