One of the Most Important Principles for Achieving Sustainable Success

Here, I want to share one of the most important principles for achieving sustainable success.

I read a beautiful illustration of this principle in Jocko Willink's book "Ownership":

When a Navy SEAL Team takes a building, the team leader does the following:

He is partly right up front with the forces, clearing the building.

Then he pulls back to the rear lines.

And so on and so forth.

In short, he alternates between the frontline action and the background.

Why does he do that?

Because he must be up front to grasp the situation in detail and be close.

And because he MUST AT THE SAME TIME maintain distance to keep an overview and understand the bigger picture.

This is exactly what you and I have to do if we want to be successful.

I call this principle: Levels.

What does it mean?

Levels means that I understand that there are two different levels...

AND that I dynamically move back and forth between these levels.

It's in contrast to staying statically at one of the two levels.

In my company, for example, this means that I regularly talk to customers myself, even though customer support may no longer be my job.

Towards Elevate, it means that I regularly remove myself from the daily business and look at the big picture.

If we do this, we are in good company.

Bill Gates, for example, regularly withdrew for a few weeks a year to overlook the big picture. It seemingly did not harm his success.

What does this give me?

Overview

We can't help but get drawn into the details when we scurry around at the bottom.

But in doing so, we gradually lose the valuable overview.

If we consciously "remove ourselves," we can regain this overview.

Success in Detail‍

On the other hand, if I only move at the lofty level, I lose touch with reality.

We can see what happens then with some politicians.

I need to stay in tune with the times to keep a feel for my business and my customers.

This is an essential prerequisite for long-term success.

Effective Results

The most important point:

With the right mix of overview and "hustling," I achieve the best results.

Simply because both parts are necessary for an excellent outcome.

If I am only planning, nothing tangible comes out of it.

If I only scurry around at ground-level and don't plan at all, my approach is not effective enough.

The right mix does it.

How do I do it?

Awareness

The first step is awareness.

I need to recognize that there are two levels.

I should learn to identify which level I am currently on.

And I should develop an awareness of how valuable it is to switch between levels.

Rhythm

Once I have the awareness, I should establish a steady rhythm to switch between levels.

Why a steady rhythm?

Because I can easily get pulled into the detail level.

Once I'm deep in it, it's hard for me to extricate myself.

So, I should note it in my calendar beforehand.

These two things are already enough and will certainly take you and me further.