Ideas are cheap, execution is rare

What sets apart the successful men from the boys, and women from the girls? One simple thing: execution.

Ideas are cheap. I don’t care who you are or what great idea you have. At the end of the day, there are probably at least 100 other people who have the exact same idea as you at any given moment – and the only thing that will set you apart from anyone else is just one thing… execution.

So what is execution?

In business, the last one per cent is always the hardest. It’s easy to brainstorm, start something, or even get close to finishing it – but that is when the real work starts. It’s no different for me as it is anyone else. I absolutely despise the last one per cent but have trained and taught myself how to execute on command. Execution is not easy. Most people do not have the ability to hit 100 per cent. It’s just too hard. But the good news is that, just like any other skill, it can be learned, honed and applied.

If you can learn how to execute on your ideas, no joke – you will succeed! You will get people’s attention! When you say you’re going to do something, and always do it, no questions asked, that’s impressive. As simple as that sounds, most people today are lazy and don’t want to put in the necessary effort. If you can do even the simple task of following through on your word – and doing what you say you’re going to do – people will be absolutely amazed.

But even more impressive is when an entrepreneur sets out on their journey with an idea they concocted and not just delivers, but over-delivers and executes on that idea. Over and over again. 

How do you learn to be an execution machine? Practice. Plain and simple. Start with little things. Prove it to yourself that you can execute. Start with baby steps, then take on larger and larger things and challenge and push yourself.  

We are very resilient creatures and if we set the expectation high, we have the ability to achieve what we really want.

Choose to be an execution machine and people will look at you in awe.

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