Tips & Insights for Top Performance

What is your edge? Edge is the line between where you are great and where you can grow. You are already successful and effective in many parts of your performance. Your edge is your opportunity to take it up a notch. A true performer is always doing this. While you may “rest” between “pushes”, in your life of personal development you never really “arrive”. It is a journey that will always have a new opportunity to grow into.

So, have you thought about your edge lately? As you develop and as your situation changes, new edges present themselves. Stop and consider, what edge have you been working on? Have you mastered it? Why or why not? What do you need to master it or if you are done, what are you ready for now? Sometimes our edge is something we want and sometimes it is something we need. You might not like your edge, but your edge when developed will support you in greater synergy and effectiveness with your task at hand. Here are some areas to help you consider what your next level might be.

Is your edge to:

• Understand your strengths and passions to minimize weaknesses
• Develop strong personal, professional or team productivity skills
• Learn effective communication skills
• Acquire better time management to maximize effectiveness
• Receive customized training to address personal and business needs
• Create a solid vision of where you are headed
• Flesh out a clear strategic plan to achieve objectives
• Foster the ability to create and keep measurable goals
• Utilize accountability structures to promote forward momentum
• Achieve balance in life to maintain priorities and reduce stress
• Develop the aptitude to achieve results that inspire and motivate

Christy Geiger, Executive Business Coach & Trainer, Minneapolis, MN

1. PLUG IN. Identify what gives you ENERGY in your life. Make a list of at least 5 things that give you energy. What do you love to do? What do you find yourself naturally attracted to? Know what these are, because they are your “fuel” and keep you charged.

2. CLEAN HOUSE. What is the clutter that is slowing you down? What are you tolerating? What are the “cob webs & dust” that cloud your understanding of a clear life?

3. BE AUTHENTIC. Get in-line with your HEART & SOUL; the part that “authentically” represents you. Who you are. What you stand for. Your purpose for being on earth. The gift you have to share. List these key passions (characteristics, traits, natural God-given gifts/talents that you want to share with the world.)

4. LIVE YOUR VALUES. What is important to you about life? What is important to you about living? These are the things that if you honor them in your life, everything is good. If you are not, we get out of rhythm, anxious, frustrated, upset, etc. What are you true values?

5. SEE THE VISION. Establish your personal VISION. Where do you hope to be in 5 years. What do you hope is read in your obituary? You have one life to live. What are you going to do with it?

6. PLAN A DIRECTION. How are you going to get there? What stages and steps will get you there or look back from the future and assess how you got there.

7. AIM PRECISELY. Determine & define your FOCUS. Make it measurable. Identify what is distracting you. How can you overcome the obstacles? Visualize your target.

8. CULTIVATE CHANGE. Evaluate your current position. What is not working? What would serve you better if it were different? What shifts need to be made?

9. MAKE IT HAPPEN. Do something. Commit to the plan and take action. Tell others about it. Find a way to be held accountable. Every day take a step toward the goal.

10. AFFIRM DAILY. Make habits that reinforce the ideas and habits you want to cultivate in your life. Tape the statement to your mirror, on the dash of your car, etc. Whatever you need to be most reminded of and encouraged to focus on, write it and post it. Make a routine reading these, so they become part of your subconscious memory.