Producing Great Work!

While reading the account of the Jewish people rebuilding their walls in the Old Testament books of Ezra and Nehemiah it occurred to me that all great works have several key elements. In order to produce a great work we must have focus, set goals, stay committed, persevere, and be flexible. The closer we stick to and apply these elements, the sooner we will produce a great work. Without following the steps we risk delay or even failure in reaching the desired result. Early in my sales career I was told “the things we focus on get done.” Any great work begins with deciding exactly what we are trying to accomplish. Many times the decision of what we want is more difficult than the task. When we get distracted it takes much longer than if we were to stay focused.

Once we get focused on what we want, goals must be set to reach each step toward fulfillment. The goals must be specific in nature and must be put in writing. Being both specific and in writing are great aids in remaining focused. Without the goals much time, assets, and effort can be wasted.

Once we have focused and set goals we must stay committed to the task. We must adopt the attitude that “a task worth starting is one worth completing.” A work not worth committing completely to should have been eliminated earlier and time not wasted. A wise man once said “the good things are the enemies of the best things because of lack of time.”

If we can’t commit to the idea we must move on to something we can commit ourselves to. Norman Albright once told me “No one has endurance like the man that sells insurance.” If that is true then it has been an asset for me in persevering in my plans. All kinds of distractions will come along. Some are urgent and must be taken care of while others must be cast aside. Other distractions will be important and cause short detours in our plans. In short order we must get back on the track that leads to project completion.

The final element in producing a great work is equally as important as the first four. Flexibility is a key to working out a successful conclusion to our plans. Seldom does a project go exactly the way it was envisioned. We must use judgment in what must stay in order to keep the integrity of a project and what may be given up in order to meet costs or other constraints. It will be worth it when the project is successful and we can feel the accomplishment of a job well done.