Why 99% of your hard work does NOT pay off (& the fix)

Summary

The speaker shares their obsession with tracking failures and seeking advice from successful individuals. They discover that while cliches like discipline and hard work are important, the key to success is a results-focused attitude. They illustrate this with a job hunting example and offer three strategies to develop a real results-based mindset: being ruthlessly selfish, spending mornings with 'TINA' (There Is No Alternative), and tracking and testing quantitative metrics.

Takeaways

• 😅 The speaker admits to being obsessed with tracking their own failures and learning from others' successes.
• 🧐 They find that most advice given by successful people falls into five categories: discipline, hard work, learning more, finding mentors, and working smarter.
• 🤔 The speaker questions if these common pieces of advice are truly helpful, as they feel they are already doing these things but still failing.
• 💡 A key realization is that success is not just about doing these things, but about having a certain attitude that makes them effective.
• 🏆 The secret attitude is being results-focused by default, which is something that successful people have naturally and others need to learn.
• 🔍 The speaker uses the example of job hunting to illustrate how people often think they are being results-focused but are not actually achieving results.
• 📝 To be truly results-focused, one should narrow down goals, research, and directly communicate how they can help solve specific problems.
• 💪 Developing a results-based attitude involves being ruthlessly selfish by helping others achieve their goals first, which in turn helps you achieve yours.
• 🌅 Spending every morning with 'TINA' (There Is No Alternative) ensures that you start the day focused on your desired results without distractions.
• 📊 Tracking and testing quantitative metrics weekly helps in developing a true focus on results and making necessary adjustments to improve.
• 🎬 The speaker emphasizes the importance of being clear on desired results and suggests watching a video for further clarity on this aspect.

Q & A

What is the speaker's obsession with tracking their failures?

The speaker is obsessed with tracking their failures to understand where they went wrong and to learn from them in order to achieve success.

What are the five common pieces of advice the speaker has received from successful people?

The five common pieces of advice are discipline, hard work, learn more, find mentors, and work smarter.

Why does the speaker feel that the common advice is not enough?

The speaker feels that the common advice is not enough because it feels obvious and doesn't address the underlying key attitude that successful people possess.

What is the key attitude that the speaker believes is crucial for success?

The key attitude is being results-focused by default, meaning every thought and action is aimed at achieving the desired results.

How does the speaker describe the difference between being results-focused and not being results-focused?

The speaker describes the difference by using the example of job hunting. Being results-focused means not just applying to many jobs but specifically targeting potential employers and showing how you can solve their problems.

What is the speaker's example of a results-focused approach to job hunting?

The speaker suggests narrowing down job applications to just five, researching the person you'd be reporting to, finding their direct email, and conveying how you can make their life easier and look good to their boss.

What are the three strategies the speaker suggests to develop a results-focused attitude?

The three strategies are: 1) Be ruthlessly selfish by helping others achieve their goals, 2) Spend every morning with 'TINA' (There Is No Alternative) focusing on your desired results, and 3) Track and test quantitative metrics to improve results.

Why is it important to be 'ruthlessly selfish' in the context of the speaker's advice?

Being 'ruthlessly selfish' means focusing on helping others achieve their goals, which in turn helps you achieve yours. It's about understanding that most impactful results require help from others.

What does 'TINA' stand for and what is its significance in the speaker's advice?

'TINA' stands for 'There Is No Alternative'. It signifies the importance of dedicating the first part of your day to working towards your desired results without distractions.

How does tracking and testing quantitative metrics help in developing a results-focused attitude?

Tracking and testing quantitative metrics helps in developing a results-focused attitude by providing a clear measure of progress and encouraging the testing of new strategies when progress stalls.

What is the speaker's view on the character in 'The Devil Wears Prada' and how does it relate to being results-focused?

The speaker initially views the character as a jerk but later understands that her focus on results is what drives her to prioritize efficiency and effectiveness, which is a key aspect of being results-focused.