Whether you head a company, lead a good cause, or coach your children’s soccer teams, your job is to root out complacency. Remember to:
Keep up the essential disciplines every single day, not skipping a single one.
Keep checking everything carefully.
Repair, renew, relearn, and reinvest regularly.
Don’t rejoice in others’ misery, because you could be next.
Thank anyone who points out flaws. Listen to disgruntled customers or disaffected constituencies.
Treat even small setbacks as occasions for redoubled efforts.
“Winning is great, but sometimes it takes a loss to get you motivated again. It humbles you down to reality,” said a high school athlete in my research. That youth speaks truth! Although he might not be old enough to drive a Toyota, he is headed in the right direction.
