Less is more, and more is less. Excellence requires extraordinary focus. Simple, however, a profound principle of change.
The key to extraordinary success is to focus on the “vital few” that are most important for achieving your objectives, rather than chasing too many things. The principle of excellence is to dream big and to execute relentlessly. The big dream acts as a lighthouse; however, the principle of prioritization, extraordinary focus, and staying in the game produces the impossible.
Desmond Tutu once wisely said that “there is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” He meant that everything in life that seems daunting, overwhelming, and even impossible could be accomplished gradually by taking small steps one at a time.
Start by thinking big, then narrowing the focus until you’re thinking small, and work on the most important thing to deliver immediate results in the direction of a long-term vision. Success is sequential, and it builds over success. It is like a domino effect or a chain reaction where you prioritize and focus on the first domino and topple it. When you prioritize and focus on the right thing at the right moment, everything sequentially falls into place like dominos. Each domino requires a small amount of energy, and as the dominoes fall, the energy in the system builds, and the extraordinary is achieved.
In his famous book “Good to Great” Jim Collins talks about the “hedgehog” concept. He argues that a company is more likely to be successful if it focuses on doing one thing very well and diversification can sacrifice its competitive advantage. He found that the great companies (also applies to individuals) identify and focus on their “sweet spot” where talent, passion, and economic opportunity meet.
In this age of instant gratification, we often forget that Rome was not built in a day. Instead, excellence requires time and patience – Riches, mastery, and extraordinary success are built over time. Prioritize and take the first step.