The Execution Factor

What separates dreamers from doers? The ability to execute—the skill to turn plans into action and goals into reality.

1. Having a Vision Guides Your Path

Creating a vision is about identifying what you truly want for your future. It acts like a compass, providing direction and helping you stay on track despite challenges or distractions. A clear vision brings focus to your life and ensures every decision aligns with your ultimate goal.

For example, President John F. Kennedy's announcement to land a man on the Moon gave a resolute vision to the American space program. Similarly, in the modern business world, personal visions can take many forms, from becoming financially free to making a positive environmental impact. All these visions serve as motivating destinations.

The author shares her journey of building a digital-marketing company. Her vision was financial freedom, but the path included unexpected ventures like selling remote-control toys. Even as her specific steps varied, her vision remained the guiding force behind each effort.

Examples

• Sailors once used the North Star to navigate their journeys.
• John F. Kennedy’s Moon mission set a clear aspiration for the nation.
• The author herself built financial freedom through unconventional steps.

2. A Clear and Personal Vision Is Essential

Having an idea is not the same as having a vision. A real vision is clear, compelling, and meaningful—and it must align with who you are. Without clarity and relevance, you risk chasing someone else’s dream instead of your own.

Darren, a hospital maintenance manager, serves as a cautionary tale. Encouraged by friends, he pursued the idea of opening a food truck but quickly found it wasn’t for him. Darren learned that just because he loved cooking for close friends, it didn’t mean he’d enjoy it as a business. This highlights the importance of refining ideas into a vision that genuinely aligns with your interests.

To ensure your vision excites and motivates you, ask, “Does this resonate with my values? Can I see my future-self thriving in this scenario?” Specificity, such as picturing yourself managing daily tasks or challenges, helps test this connection.

Examples

• Darren’s unsuccessful food truck experience stemmed from others’ suggestions.
• Refining a general idea into specific details clarifies its feasibility.
• The author stresses the necessity of authentic alignment with personal values.

3. Testing and Prioritizing Your Vision Keeps You Grounded

Testing a vision prevents premature commitments that might not align with what you truly want. Before diving headfirst into any goal, try small-scale experiments to evaluate how well it suits you.

A great example would be cooking enthusiasts testing the waters by participating in public cook-offs before launching large culinary ventures. Similarly, Stacey started her juice business by selling at farmer’s markets rather than quitting her corporate job entirely. Such approaches allow people to explore passions with minimized risks and adjustments along the way.

Writing and visualizing your vision further solidifies it. Keeping it visible, like posting it on a mirror, ensures that daily tasks align with long-term aspirations. This practice prioritizes what matters most over distractions like excessive leisure activities.

Examples

• Stacey tested her business idea by selling juice as a weekend activity.
• Visualizing your achievements helps keep you motivated and focused.
• A focused schedule prevents optional distractions from derailing your goals.

4. Passion Powers Through Sacrifices

Passion fuels your journey, providing the energy to overcome obstacles and make sacrifices. It’s about loving something so much you’re willing to endure challenges to achieve it. This goes beyond enjoyment—it’s about dedication.

The author recalls her younger days when she mucked out horse stables just to afford riding lessons. Her willingness to sacrifice comfort shows how passion motivates action. Likewise, passion creates resilience in the face of setbacks, such as taking business calls while ill or missing social events to achieve an important milestone.

Moreover, passion is contagious. It attracts like-minded collaborators who share the vision and offers a solid foundation for building supportive teams. Leaders with genuine passion inspire others to stay committed and push through tough times.

Examples

• The author cleaned horse stables in exchange for riding lessons.
• Leaders with passion attract dedicated employees or partners.
• Sacrificing personal leisure time is often necessary to pursue goals.

5. Nurturing Passion Through Small Wins

Passion requires ongoing nourishment. This means regularly engaging with what excites you and celebrating both small and large victories. Connecting with your passion builds momentum and keeps motivation alive.

For instance, people passionate about fashion could start by creating a blog rather than jumping immediately into establishing a design company. The author's team celebrated their first seven-figure revenue month by enjoying a group trip to Las Vegas. Acknowledging milestones, no matter the size, keeps morale high and fuels further success.

Additionally, it’s important to prioritize your passion amidst a busy schedule. Communicating your goals with loved ones helps minimize misunderstandings and strengthen relationships during this balancing act.

Examples

• Celebrate milestones, such as the author’s Vegas trip for team success.
• Fashion enthusiasts could start a low-pressure blog before tackling big goals.
• Sharing your priorities with family mitigates potential conflicts.

6. Small Steps Build Big Moves

Taking immediate but small actions is key to translating strategies into momentum. A minor first step allows experimentation without overwhelming commitment.

Stacey’s juice company first existed only as a weekend operation at a farmer’s market. Like her, approaching dreams incrementally avoids unnecessary risks while validating their feasibility. Without that cautious initiation, she might’ve faced preventable failures.

The point is to avoid overthinking. Start small, even if it’s imperfect. The growth from each step often clarifies the next direction, whether it’s moving toward success or reconsidering an approach.

Examples

• Stacey’s juice company started as a weekend stall.
• Testing paths incrementally reduces long-term risks.
• Action, even if imperfect, beats overanalyzing with no progress.

7. Keep Progress Moving Forward

After taking the first step, progress means consistent and deliberate forward movement. Even successful first attempts call for continuous adaptation. Growth requires momentum.

Consider Apple’s relentless innovation. Instead of resting after introducing the first iPhone, they immediately worked on refining it, ensuring progress became ingrained in their ethos. Each new product iteration represents steady movement toward excellence.

Reviewing daily actions helps ensure they promote progress. Writing them down clarifies what aligns with long-term goals, preventing stagnation or misdirection.

Examples

• Apple iterates consistently on every product, e.g., with iPhone upgrades.
• Reviewing daily actions ensures alignment with your vision.
• Constant improvement sustains long-term business goals.

8. Resilience Means Adapting to Setbacks

Setbacks are inevitable, but resilience helps you adapt rather than break. Resilient individuals embrace challenges, learn from them, and come back stronger. Essentially, resilience means choosing to see opportunities where others see obstacles.

Elon Musk’s experiences highlight resilience. Despite Tesla's worker injuries or failing SpaceX rocket launches, Musk learned and adapted, turning every problem into an opportunity to improve. His actions, such as meeting workers individually, exemplify resilience under pressure.

Dealing positively with setbacks ensures continual growth. It’s not about solving every crisis instantly but finding constructive ways to move ahead.

Examples

• Musk’s SpaceX failures became learning opportunities.
• Engaging constructively with setbacks fosters innovation.
• Responding proactively improves long-term outcomes.

9. Relationships Expand Your Capacity

Lastly, successful execution depends on strong relationships. Collaborating with others brings skills or perspectives that one person alone cannot achieve. Networking, trust, and teamwork multiply abilities and opportunities.

Building relationships begins with genuine interest in others. Asking thoughtful questions deepens these bonds. For business success, maintain and nurture networks regularly, as consistent efforts strengthen connections.

Distance is important too. Conducting annual reviews, like the author’s relationship audit, ensures focus remains on positive, supportive connections over draining ones.

Examples

• Harness others’ expertise instead of tackling every problem alone.
• Ask open-ended questions to build meaningful relationships.
• Conduct audits to prioritize positive and supportive people.

Takeaways

1. Start with a small, low-risk action to test and refine your vision before jumping in entirely.
2. Create a visual reminder of your vision and review your daily actions to ensure alignment.
3. Build resilience by embracing setbacks as growth opportunities and focusing on positive relationships.