In a conversation today, an associate shared his philosophy on what it takes for teams to succed in business. The acronym he used to remind himself of key ingredients was easy enough to remember:
FAA
No, he wasn’t talking about the government agency in charge of airplanes. He was referring to a need for “Focus, Alignment, and Accountability”. He made a compelling argument that any employee needs these things to be successful in his or her job.
The more I pondered the FAA, I wondered how a government agency can allow airlines to regularly lose my luggage. The more I pondered the other FAA, the more I realized that these are essential elements for anyone who wants to achieve success in life.
Lift your tray table, fasten your seatbelt, and check this out:
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Focus. You can’t do it all. You’re allowed to have a hundred things you’d like to accomplish in life, but to make meaningful progress, you’ll need to prioritize a few first. Once you select the most worthy goal for action in the here and now, you need to keep that goal at the forefront until it’s complete.
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Alignment. Make sure your goals line up with your personal values. If you’ve taken on a goal that is out of kilter, you’ll struggle to find the long-term energy and commitment you’ll need to achieve it. Better to spend time up front making sure you know what you’re all about (this just in – you rock!) and that your goals flow naturally from your interests.
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Accountability. Nobody can make you successful but you. It’s too easy to hide or to convince others that you’re doing the things you need to do to win. You need to hold yourself accountable and make sure that you have a plan and are that you’re making good progress toward it every day.
That simple acronym may not capture all of the things you need to succeed (I’d add support, flexibility, and the chance to celebrate milestones along the way) but it’s still a handy guide that hits some pretty key points.
So the thought of the day is to remember FAA and to get ready to soar to new heights.
Now, that’ll be $5 for those peanuts. Correct change, please.