Choice 2: Go for Extraordinary, Don’t Settle for Ordinary

Last week we kicked off a 5 week blog series to give you an overview to FranklinCovey’s Newest Solutions, The 5 Choices of Extraordinary Productivity.  This week, we will focus on Choice 2: Go for Extraordinary, Don’t Settle for Ordinary.  CLICKHERE to read CHOICE 1.

Last week Mark Murphy took us through Choice 1 where we learned the power of acting on the important.  He took us through the time matrix and explained the importance of living in a Q2 culture. 

Once you understand what Q2 really means, it’s time to identify your Q2 Roles.  This is where we define who we are, but we take the time to define what it means to be extraordinary in each of those roles.  Do you want to be like an average ant carrying crumbs, or do you want to be the one who earns the fruit (like the strawberry shown above) of living an extraordinary life?

Your Q2 roles should…

·         Represent your key responsibilities

·         Should be limited to approximately 5 or so

·        Should express your deepest values and aspirations

·         Create a balanced perspective of your life

·         Change over time

I attended this program back before we released it to the public.  I have also been through FOCUS, 7 Habits and a number of other programs at FranklinCovey.  It wasn’t until I defined my extraordinary roles that I started to achieve extraordinary results.

Once you define your extraordinary roles, you have to craft your Q2 roles statements.  This process has a formula that you repeat for each role:

As ______________ I will ________________________ through ___________________

          (Role /Title)                    (Extraordinary Outcomes)                             (Activities)

The final step is to actually draft goals for each of these roles.  You want to give yourself a deadline and define the contribution you will make through achieving this goal.  Otherwise, without setting the deadline, your goal becomes a dream, something aspirational.  All goals should follow this formula:

From X to Y by When

Below are a few examples…

·         I will go from 200lbs. to 180lbs. by Dec 31,2012

·         I will go from reading 1 book a month to 2 books a month by 3 months from today (insert date here)

·         I will post 1 blog per week for 12 weeks straight by August 31, 2012

Lastly, once you have defined your roles, you’ve written your role statements and set your goals, it’s time to share them someone that you respect and will help hold you accountable.  Declaring your intent is a big deal.  It’s where the rubber meets the road and it’s where you build trust with others and yourself.  If you accomplish these goals with excellence, you’ll not only feel good about yourself, but you’ll increase your credibility.

Next week we’ll dive into Choice 3: Schedule the Big Rocks: Don’t Sort Gravel. 

Until next week,

John Vakidis