In 2024, we measured company performance with the most detail since I started Managed Solutions in 1997.
Why?
We preach measurement and we make measurement possible. But to neglect ourselves slows down what might be possible for both us and our customers!
To build on this internal effort, I began reading “Measure What Matters” by John Doerr. It’s about OKRs (Objectives and Key Results), which is a simple but brilliant approach born out of an idea from Intel and Andy Gove in the 1980s. Even if you’re not familiar with Andy Grove, you at least know Google. As a company, Google adopted OKRs very early on. It allowed them to set and meet ambitious goals with a very employee friendly culture.
While reading MWM, a key point jumped out at me. Specifically, it was a story about “Crush”. Intel, a very large company at the time, had to turn on a dime to “crush” a huge threat to their business by behemoth competitor, Motorola. The gist of what they did was to turn Intel into an offering customers could grow with. This involved a lot of work, including developing new products, but it reminded me of the content I’ve written over the years about CIMCO software.
Maybe the effort was so successful because it took into account there are so many areas where companies can get trapped in a proprietary or difficult to integrate system. At worst, these systems can become massive holes into which money gets dumped with very little benefit. At best, they solve one problem well but leave customers trapped on an island.
If applied personally, how many times would you wind back the clock and chart a different course?
Maybe there were people in your circle who were a bad influence on decision making. Or perhaps it was leaving a decent job for a small bump in pay and then feeling like you landed in hell. Or you made a big decision on a new platform and shortly after, realized your company was not prepared to implement it.
There is no magic bullet here, but I think more awareness in thinking about and reflecting on these “forks in the road” can lead to better outcomes.
When it comes to your expertise, your business, your role, or your value, don’t be afraid to speak up and push for what you know works. In the very least you’ve made your case. If someone tries to build a house on a sand foundation and it comes tumbling down around them, hopefully they will remember you tried to warn them. If nothing else, it can become a personal anecdote to help others in the future. Right?
A personal example of why I know this is important.
I recently got to celebrate watching someone I’ve been working closely with for the last five years get promoted (again!). He pushed for and achieved things I did not imagine were possible in his prior roles. I can tell you definitively, he is not afraid to advocate for what he knows is needed and see it through to the end. Because of his vision and drive, his company, vendors, and employees are all able to flourish, too.
To me, this is a strong example that making wise decisions early, and iterating based on a strong foundation, is an effective way to accomplish great things.
And that is why GRIT is a key differentiator for success.
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