Feedback

In the article "Continue," I already shared a principle of success with you.

To maximize my results, I can combine it with another principle:

Use feedback!

What do I mean by that?

To leverage feedback means that I recognize the value of feedback, actively gather it, and adapt based on it.

Strictly speaking, this is what brought us from grunting cavemen to (much less frequently grunting) high-end industry people.

The ability to learn and adapt based on feedback.

Darwin indicated this with his "survival of the fittest."

What he means by this is not that the strongest survives, but the one who can ADAPT best to changing conditions.

And what's at the core of adapting?

Exactly!

Observing AKA gathering feedback and implementing my findings.

That's what I mean by leverage feedback.

How does this help me?

If I combine "Continue" with feedback, simply put, it turns me into an unstoppable improvement machine.

If I just stubbornly persist without improving, then I'm using too much energy and making my life harder than it needs to be.

But if I build in a feedback loop, then I put myself on an unstoppable improvement spiral.

I'm always moving forward AND getting better at it.

Do you see how there really is no other option than to become increasingly successful?

How do I do that?

If this is so obvious, one might ask:

"Well, why doesn't everyone do it like that?"

My answer to this question:

Because I must first recognize it, feel it, and also know HOW to do it.

Most people will say, "Yes, sure. Gathering feedback is helpful."

The funny thing is, the vast majority of these people do not gather and use nearly enough feedback.

If you and I do it differently, we automatically have a significant advantage.

But, I digress...

Here are my steps on HOW I do it:

Step 1: I understand the central importance of feedback

The point is less banal than it sounds.

As I said, everyone will agree that feedback is a good thing.

But that's not enough.

I have to realize that it's EVERYTHING.

I have to begin to see that it's my central task to gather and use feedback.

Not a sideline, but my main task.

Step 2: I gather positive experiences

My understanding of the tremendous value of feedback only developed through experiences.

There's a bit of a chicken-and-egg situation.

Meaning...

I CAN only understand the value of feedback once I've EXPERIENCED it.

For that, I must have gotten to the point where I was willing to try it.

I hope my article plants a seed in your mind.

Step 3: I set up a feedback system.

This is a crucial step.

For instance, if I want to receive feedback from my blog readers (which I certainly do! I follow the feedback principle)

then I need to provide a way for that.

AND it must be set up well enough to actually provide feedback.

The same applies for ALL areas where I wish to gather feedback.

I need a setup that gives me the feedback as easily and continuously as possible.

This setup doesn't just fall from the sky.

I have to set it up.

That's work.

And I'll only do that work if I realize how valuable the feedback is.

And that's WHY so many people don't use this.

They don't take the step to set up a feedback system.

Step 4: I evaluate the feedback

Of course, just collecting feedback is not enough.

I have to look at it and draw my conclusions from it.

That goes without saying.

That's why I won't write more about it here.

Step 5: I Adjust

And now it gets essential again.

If I recognize what I can improve based on the feedback, then I have to actually CHANGE it.

This is as clear as it is challenging.

Well...

And if I go through steps 1 to 5 and do it over and over again, then my results get better and better.

It's as simple as that...

And yet so difficult.

Take a look for yourself where you currently have a complete feedback loop, as described above, running.

By the way, I don't exclude myself in any way. I could also do my feedback homework much better.

But... I'm working on it.

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