By John Capuano, Co-Founder of Simplicity Lone Beacon
We work with some of the best financial advisories and institutions in America, and the thing that separates the good from the great is their ability to execute. Anybody can SAY they’re going to do anything…but at the end of the day we need to execute.
And the path to being able to execute is paved by discipline, or as I like to say, behavior. So…here are the five most important behavioral elements when it comes to effective execution.
#1: Your plan should be 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 realistic.
Your plans have to be based on the reality in the world around you, your resources, and an honest assessment of your abilities…but I say 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺 realistic because entrepreneurs should be fearless and try things that haven’t been done before. Don’t be afraid of the unknown or to dream. That’s called innovation.
#2: Understanding the necessary components.
There are only 2 components of any plan. What 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 do you need to make it work? And who are the 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 you need to make it work? It’s pretty basic but often overlooked.
#3: Calendarize your plan.
I always start at the end and work backward. What do I want my final, aspirational outcome to be, and what will success look like? When will it be launched? What are the specific dates of benchmarks we need to hit to get to the launch date? These should be written in stone.
#4: Clearly communicate your path.
Do all of the participants know what the big objective is, and do they clearly understand what their role represents within the overall outcome? It’s key to check-in on the progress BEFORE we get to the benchmark stages.
#5: Follow through with your launch. Just like a golfer follows through with their swing after they strike the ball…we HAVE to follow through after the launch. With the launch comes a new phase of execution. We go from the execution of building to the execution of monetization, or outcome. Never forget, that as consumed as you may have been from a building standpoint, you’re delivering something new to a crowded world…internally and externally. And as much as you might have needed to make some behavioral changes of your own, the world around you will need to modify their behavior if you want your new platform to break through. This requires consistent and timely work AFTER your launch.
Execution comes easier to some than for others. And those who struggle with execution get super frustrated and find themselves on the never-ending, project hamster wheel. Businesses can’t grow to their potential without execution…and execution is about our own behavior, and how WE can best influence the behavior of those around us every step of the way.
About the Author: John grew up in Schenectady, NY & received a scholarship to Norwich Academy. He began his broadcast management career at WOR, learning spoken word marketing from the best in the business with a specialty in financial and long form. John managed broadcast sales for some of the best known sports teams in the world, at the most legendary stations. However his true passion is in the world of direct response advertising to baby boomers and their parents. In this space he has worked with some of the best brands in America. John lives in Boston with his wife, Melissa who is also a broadcast executive, and French Bulldogs Lou and Sal.
