Here at the Grundl Leadership Institute, "we explore and teach high-quality distinctions so that your life becomes your best teacher." You may remember my last distinction, which we published here a few weeks ago: "Result Orientation Task Orientation."
In recent weeks, this distinction has become clearer to me than ever before: Result Orientation demanding and difficult for me. During this time, there have been quite a few unpleasant situations that I have had to face. We strayed from the course, I could feel it.
In short, our results told a different story than our activities. To tie in with this distinction —between "Result Orientation task orientation"—I would like to share with you today my experiences regarding the distinction between "feeling successful and being successful."
A look back
Even at the beginning of my career, networking was always important to me. I believed that having a good network was a fundamental part of a promising career. I attended many seminars, read books, and participated in information and networking events. As a result, my network continued to grow steadily.
At the events, I felt very successful and thought: Now I've arrived where I always wanted to be. But my results told a different story. I felt successful, but I wasn't. It was a hard realization that hit me hard at the time. Looking back today, I sometimes even have to smile at my almost sweet naivety—at my drive and energy.
Results show the way forward
Today, as the institute's sales director, I have a duty to deliver results, and that's the only language that counts. Success is what matters, not how I feel. And I've noticed that lately, this "feeling of success" has caught up with me again. I've been to some really great events, like the World Leadership Summit with Barack Obama in Cologne, for example.
I had appointments and agreements for information events with potential partners. I had important meetings and I felt somewhat successful. But when I looked at the results, I realized that my results left something to be desired! Boris Grundl confronted me with this distinction: "Feeling successful or being successful." "Maybe it will help you," he said.
She helped me. And how! But first I had to come to terms with it and think: Okay, now I'm going to take a close look at my activities and appointments and question them. Are these things that just make me feel successful? Or are they activities that produce results? Appointments and meetings that produce results?
Stay awake!
All these considerations led me to actually cancel appointments and sometimes say "no" to cooperation partners or further meetings. And then, at one of our last sales meetings, I stood in front of our team and clearly and openly shared this distinction with them: "Feeling successful – being successful." I wanted to share my insight, as painful as it was for me, with the team. What did that achieve?
My perception expanded. The entire team raised their level of awareness. The distinction that Boris Grundl had pointed out to me awakened me and, with me, the team. Thanks to my experience, I was now able to take the topic of success to the next level in a results-oriented way.
Was it easy to share these experiences with the team? No! Are we automatically more successful? No! Now it is up to each and every one of us to recognize this distinction for ourselves. To know immediately when I feel successful—in which activities, at which appointments, on which topics? And when am I really successful—when do I deliver results? Each of us is now challenged to deliver the results we need in our sphere of influence to advance our vision for the institute. And that is a damn hard road to travel. But we are all awake now. We are on track. And I am certain that in the coming weeks and months, we will work hard as a team to refocus and know at the end of the week that we are successful and not just feeling that way.
What is your conclusion?
Personally, this distinction has helped me enormously and continues to help me, because despite all my growth, I am still in this "feel successful mode." But now I know that only I can change that.
In the hope that you have enjoyed this distinction and that this insight will also be helpful to you, I would like to take my leave.
One final idea for you: take a look at our seminar dates for the second half of the year. A personal highlight for me is the Steh auf seminar in December at the beautiful Lake Tegernsee.
I cordially invite you to join us. We look forward to seeing you. Until then, all the best. Become the best person you can be.
Yours, Jochen Hummel
Image by Free-Photos on Pixabay
