Four Tips to Be World Class

How does a person or an organization become world class, and stay world class? Here are four tips to do just that.  First, however we need to state the obvious:

It’s a double edge sword isn’t it?  If consistency is the hallmark or quality, and continuous improvement is the key to becoming (and sustaining) world class status, how do you balance risk and reward?

Let’s use this example from yesterday.

As a professional speaker, there are several goals for every presentation:

  • Give a speech to change the world
  • Never give the same speech twice
  • Ask great questions
  • Get the audience to reveal the key points

Let’s review from a different angle, what you just read:

  • Have passion and faith that impossible is possible
  • Be authentic, not going through the motions
  • Know where you want to go and be prepared to get there
  • Lead, don’t manage

The second set of bullet points states the common sense theories that we all nod our heads in agreement when we hear them.

The first set illustrates how I internalized these common sense things to make them work for my particular role in the business world.

Now it’s your turn. Take the four common sense bullet points and make them your own.  Tomorrow, I’ll share how practicing what I preach led to an amazing result.

You don’t have to any of this.  And maybe that’s a leader’s biggest challenge, doing what’s easier rather than what’s harder.  So here’s a fifth tip – being world class means out working your competition.  Most people hate to admit this.  And then they wonder why they aren’t world class.


Scary thought?

If you would have asked me a dozen years ago if I’d ever thought I’d be a public, motivational speaker, I’d have told you, “Not in a million years“.  It was never on my radar, nor was it ever a childhood dream.

You know the scary part?  And by the way, when the scary thought starts creeping into my consciousness, I have to immediately distract myself.  Otherwise, I might get sick.

The scary part is that everyone expects public speakers to be smart and funny.

Smart and funny.

Are you kidding me?

Do what you fear and the death of that fear is certain.  Public speaking also boosts self-confidence.  Self-confidence boosts your leadership thinking.  And that, as they say, could very well be money in the bank.

So today, I’m going to do something I fear, like taking calculated risks to move a great idea forward.  It’s risky because the goal seems impossible to many people.  But that won’t stop me.  Will it stop you?

Carpe diem, jungle jeff  🙂