The Achievement – Expectation Gap & Better Mentors
Our expectations are set by what we’ve seen accomplished in the past. Achieving extraordinary results requires that we find ways to rethink the problem or see better outcomes.
Rethinking the Problem
Takeru Kobayashi (aka Kobi) the hot dog eating champion who, in 2001, crushed the world record of 25 hot dogs and ate 50. He doubled the world record. How often do you hear of that? What’ the deal here?
Kobi redefined the problem, where others were trying to figure our how they could consumer one more dog. He worked diligently to determine how he can eat one dog very quickly, then repeat. That made all the difference.
Now let’s take this to the business world. In most companies, there’s a norm surrounding the KPIs. Sales people have similar quotas, business units have similar margins, accounts receivable runs about the same month over month. Making major changes, say 100% changes, seems unthinkable. But is it?
- Are we just looking at the situation from a perspective that’s too narrow?
- How do people in other industries do this same task?
- What are some other ways to look at the problem?
Making it personal, most of us have an expectation of our income. Who’s to say what’s normal? You are, however, most of us allow ‘normal’ to be determined by the people we know.
Seeing Better Outcomes
Another way to achieve extraordinary results is to associate with those who make outstanding appear normal. In fact, the gap between your reality and your goals isn’t that important. What’s more important is the gap between your goals and the achievements of your closest role models.
Achievement – Expectation Gap
The moral of the story, find role models who have accomplished what you’re aiming to do, or at least come close.
Questions:
- Do you have role models who have achieved what you’re trying to achieve?
- If no one has ever accomplished your objectives before, have you rethought the problem?
- Can you combine great mentors and rethinking the problem to create out-sized results?