Company of One with Dale Callahan

Company of One with Dale Callahan


178: Three Tools for Powerful Focus and Incredible Results [Podcast]

June 02, 2020

Three tools for powerful focus and incredible results. Sound like a big promise? Perhaps - but these three proven tools have a long track record of results in companies like Google, Intel, Youtube, and MyFitnessPal.

The three tools are 1) Four Disciples of Execution, 2) Objectives and Key Results, and 3) Entrepreneurial Operating System.

Each of the three tools is similar in that they drive focus and results. You only need one of the three, but since each tool works better in specific environments, we will take a look at all of them spending more of our time on the first tool, since it is most likely to have a positive impact on your Company of One.

"Ideas are easy, execution is everything" -- John Doerr

A Quick Recap
In the last few weeks I have been going over the Company of One model:

* Episode 174: Grow Your Own Company of One - An overview of the model itself covering the 4 roles - operations, marketing, finance, and research.
* Episode 175: The Three Kinds of People at Work. Which one are you? - The mindset needed to operate as a Company of One.
* Episode 176: Seven Things You Must Know About Your Boss  - Understanding who your customer is (a major part of your success).
* Episode 177: Become Better at Your Job  - Your Cheif Operations Officer at work.

We will continue to go over these in the next few episodes diving into how to market yourself (your Cheif Marketing Officer), how to control your money (your Cheif Financial Officer), and how to stay ahead of the game by doing great research (your Cheif Research Officer).

But up to now, we have focused on getting to know your customer and then learning how to be more effective at your job - your Chief Operations Officer. In Episode 177: Become Better at Your Job we dove into how to become better doing your job by learning what matters and staying out of the weeds.

Now we dive into becoming hyper-focused on getting powerful results by using one of three tools for powerful focus.
Three Tools for Powerful Focus
Once you know what is important from your boss (See Ep: 177: Become Better at Your Job), now you can focus in to get great results. The trick here will be the focus. If you know what is important, then you also know what you should ignore. The key here is "SHOULD." So many distractions!

Let's dive into the first of the three tools.

Tool #1 - The Four Disciplines of Execution or 4DX. (Here is a 5-minute video by Franklin-Covey telling about 4DX)

These four disciplines are:

* Focus on the Wildly Important. These would be a small number of things that will return tangible and substantial professional benefits.
Example: Lose 20 pounds by December.
* Act on lead measures. Lead measures are things you can do today to get the results. As opposed to lagging measures which are the end result.