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Hi — It’s Dennis.

Life is one big mess! But we are here to make it great!

To be definitive, there’s no other way to success than high performance. 

The first thing we must do to understand and extract some value from this topic is to understand what it means to be high-performance. The essence, the fundamental principles, and how to apply them to your daily life. Ultimately, is this not what everyone wants to achieve on this earth?

I have been in the corporate world for close to 14 years. In the last seven months, I bought a factory, founded a consulting agency, and started my life as an entrepreneur and solopreneur. I had to “high-perform” to achieve the position of manufacturing director in the company I worked for and CEO in my own company. 

Also, I loved to read and watch biographies of people who were high achievers and high performers. 

If we do a short research on the most successful people in recent history, we will find out that the critical differentiator they had was their worldview and their performance. 

But…

What does it mean to be a high-performing individual?

High performance makes all the difference between achieving your dream and living just wishing you achieve it. 

Let’s analyze what it means to be high-performing… 

In a sentence…

As I said at the beginning, most people who achieve something of significant impact on the human race have been high performers. 

Here is a list of some of them: 

Ancient to Early Modern History:

• Hippocrates (c. 460 – c. 370 BC) - Ancient Greek physician, often called the "Father of Medicine."

• Archimedes (c. 287 – c. 212 BC) was an ancient Greek mathematician, physicist, engineer, inventor, and astronomer.

• Cleopatra (69 – 30 BC) - The last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt.

• Leonardo da Vinci (1452–1519) was an Italian polymath of the Renaissance, known for his art, science, and engineering works.

• Galileo Galilei (1564–1642) was an Italian astronomer, physicist, and engineer, sometimes described as a polymath.

17th to 19th Century:

• Isaac Newton (1643–1727) was an English mathematician, physicist, astronomer, and author widely recognized as one of the most influential scientists ever.

• Marie Curie (1867–1934) was a Polish and naturalized French physicist and chemist who conducted pioneering research on radioactivity.

• Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948) - Leader of the Indian independence movement against British rule, employing nonviolent civil disobedience.

20th Century to Present:

• Albert Einstein (1879–1955) was a theoretical physicist who developed the theory of relativity, one of the two pillars of modern physics.

• Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968) was an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the Civil Rights Movement.

• Steve Jobs (1955–2011) was an American business magnate, industrial designer, investor, and media proprietor, best known as the co-founder of Apple Inc.

They all shared some characteristics that made them known as high performers. 

A combination of four skills helps us to navigate the path of high performance quickly, achieving our goals faster. 

Let’s examine the skills you need to focus on to become a high performer faster than anyone else.

1. Consistency in Results

Being consistent in the results you deliver is critical. 

Consistent in the results you deliver shows that you have a reliable process and understand the nuances of your industry or working area.

In a world where change is the only constant, having a strategy that consistently produces quality outcomes is like finding a north star in a constantly shifting landscape. This consistency builds trust with your clients or audience as they know what to expect from you.

Moreover, 

It's about refining your methods, learning from each success and failure, and adapting while maintaining the core of what makes your approach effective. Think of it as an artist perfecting their style; the essential elements remain the same, but each piece is better than the last.

In addition, consistent results enable you to set realistic expectations, not just for your clients but for your team as well. This clarity in expectation prevents overpromising and underdelivering, a common pitfall in many industries. When your team knows what's achievable, they can focus their efforts more efficiently, improving productivity and morale.

Furthermore, you create a personal brand for reliability and quality when you deliver consistent results. This reputation becomes your most excellent marketing tool. 

People are more willing to recommend services that have proven their worth over time, turning your consistency into a powerful word-of-mouth campaign.

Lastly, 

Consistency provides you with valuable data. 

By analyzing your repeated successes (and failures), you can identify patterns that might not be evident in a more erratic performance record. This data is gold in fine-tuning your strategies and making informed decisions about the future direction of your business or career.

In essence, consistency in results is not just about repeatedly delivering the same quality level; it's about creating a legacy of reliability, trust, and continuous improvement.

2. Highly Adaptable

Highly adaptable individuals and organizations thrive in today's fast-paced and ever-changing world. 

Adaptability is not just a skill; it's a necessary trait that enables survival and success in an environment where change is the only constant. Highly adaptable people can pivot quickly in response to new information, altered circumstances, or unexpected challenges.

Acquiring new knowledge and skills is crucial in a technological landscape evolving by the minute. Adaptable individuals are lifelong learners, constantly curious, and always open to growth. They don't see change as a threat but as an opportunity to evolve and improve.

Moreover, adaptability is closely linked to creativity and innovation. 

When faced with new challenges, adaptable people can think outside the box and develop novel solutions. They are not bound by conventional ways of thinking, which allows them to approach problems from different angles and discover unique solutions.

Emotionally, 

Adaptability is about resilience. 

Highly adaptable people don't get easily discouraged by setbacks. Instead, they use these experiences as stepping stones to build resilience. They understand that failure is part of the journey to success and are skilled at returning from disappointments.

In the context of teamwork and leadership, adaptability is about being open to new ideas and perspectives. It involves working effectively in diverse teams, leading under changing circumstances, and communicating effectively across various platforms and mediums. Adaptable leaders inspire their teams to embrace change, fostering a culture of agility and continuous improvement.

It involves a willingness to learn and grow, think creatively, bounce back from setbacks, and lead with openness and flexibility. Adaptability will remain a key driver of personal and professional success as the world evolves.

3. Deep Problem-solving

Deep problem-solving is critical in an increasingly complex world where superficial solutions are no longer sufficient. 

It involves delving beneath the surface of problems to understand their root causes, examining them from multiple perspectives, and developing comprehensive solutions that address these underlying issues. 

This approach goes beyond quick fixes, aiming for long-term, sustainable outcomes.

The first step in deep problem-solving is thorough analysis. This means not just identifying what the problem is but understanding why it exists. 

It involves gathering and analyzing data, considering historical contexts, and examining the interplay of different factors. This in-depth analysis helps identify the core issues that need to be addressed.

Effective deep problem-solving also requires creative thinking. It's about exploring a range of potential solutions without being constrained by traditional approaches or perceived limitations. Innovative solutions often come from thinking outside the box and combining ideas from different fields or disciplines.

Collaboration is another crucial aspect. 

Complex problems rarely exist in isolation and often require a multi-disciplinary approach. Bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise can lead to more holistic solutions. Collaboration also fosters a sense of ownership and commitment among stakeholders, which is crucial for successfully implementing solutions.

Some of the most effective solutions come from trial and error, learning from what doesn't work as much as from what does. This requires a mindset that embraces failure as part of the learning process.

Deep problem-solving involves continuous evaluation and adaptation. Solutions should be seen as dynamic, evolving with new information and changing circumstances. This adaptability ensures that solutions remain practical and relevant over time.

Deep problem-solving is an essential skill in today's world. 

It requires thorough analysis, creative thinking, collaboration, a willingness to experiment, and continuous adaptation. 

High performers can develop more effective, sustainable solutions to their complex challenges by adopting a deep problem-solving approach.

4. Goal Oriented 

Being goal-oriented is a trait that distinguishes high performers, successful individuals, and organizations. 

It refers to identifying clear, measurable objectives and focusing efforts on achieving them. This focus on goals drives motivation, directs energy, and shapes decision-making processes, leading to more effective and efficient outcomes.

A goal-oriented approach starts with setting specific, achievable, relevant, and time-bound objectives. These goals provide a roadmap, guiding actions, and decisions. The specificity of these goals is crucial; they should be clear enough to offer direction but flexible enough to adapt to changing circumstances.

For high performers, being goal-oriented means consistently aligning actions with end goals. It involves prioritizing tasks, managing time effectively, and staying focused amidst distractions. 

Being goal-oriented fosters a culture of purpose and accountability in a team or organizational context. When everyone understands the collective goals, it enhances teamwork and collaboration. Goal-oriented leaders are skilled at communicating objectives, motivating team members, and providing the resources and support needed to achieve them.

And, 

Goal-oriented practices involve regular monitoring and evaluation of progress. 

This allows adjustments to be made as needed, ensuring that efforts remain aligned with the intended outcomes. It also provides an opportunity to celebrate milestones, which can be a powerful motivator.

Practical goal setting also involves understanding and addressing potential obstacles. Goal-oriented people and organizations anticipate challenges and plan for them, developing strategies to overcome or mitigate these hurdles.

Being goal-oriented is about clearly defining what you want to achieve and systematically working towards it. It involves setting specific goals, aligning actions with these objectives, persevering through challenges, and continuously monitoring and adjusting the approach. 

This focus on goals is critical to success in various life aspects, from personal development to organizational growth.

If you learn these skills, set the environment to learn from them, accommodate yourself to them, and live them daily, YOU will become a high performer faster than anyone else. It will transform you in a way that your mind will change, your perspective will change, and your vision will change. 

Therefore, your actions will be different. 

You will become a…

High Performer

The mental transmutation you must endure to become a high performer will show its results when you see the effects, and you understand that the change must happen in YOU first, so the external shows the change you’ve been working on the inside. 

Until the next time. 

Dennis (High Performer) Serrano