A couple years ago, while I was downrange, I read a book that really was a motivation to many of the decisions I have made since I read it. I got busy, as sometimes happens downrange—then moved from Germany, etc—and I keep recalling this book as important, as well as the review of it.
Mark Sanborn’s book, “Encore Effect” was monumental in telling me that I can achieve my dreams through diligence and focus. This idea was somewhat foreign to me, as I was “living the dream” in the Army—but there is so much I still want to achieve in the Army and beyond.
Preparation is one of the key underlying themes within the book that shows me that it is the effort that one places toward a goal that assists the person to achieve that goal.
Sanborn writes:
“The level of our preparation is a declaration of the value we place on our performance and our audience.”
But, practice isn’t enough to really achieve the goal you may have. Sanborn emphasizes that much practice is needed to achieve these goals. This is the hard work most people are not willing to do or understand its importance in getting ahead. And, many times, this practice is overlooked for the easier solution of “simple talent.” I can’t tell you the amount of times people have looked at me as if I were from another planet when I mention rehearsals for sermons—but it is the rehearsals that determine the quality of the presentation.
He writes:
“It generally takes a decade (give or take) to reach what is considered a world-class performance.”
This does not mean that it will take a decade each time I preach to present a good product—however, to become a world-class speaker, it will decade of sincere honest and deliberate work to achieve this goal.
What makes this amount of work possible is that the person seeking the goal, is that they enjoy what they are doing.
“When you focus on things you really like to do, you are likely to do them with passion—and do them remarkably well.”
This is an encouragement to spend your life focused on what you enjoy doing. Some would add that doing so is not always possible, but I would offer that it is—you may not like little details of the moment—but you must find what you enjoy and do it—because that is where you will be most successful. Even if you are in a job that you particularly do not enjoy—find an aspect that you can pour your passions into and focus on that.
I definitely recommend Mark Sanborn’s book, “Encore Effect” to be a motivator—as it was to me—of developing the skills needed to receive an “encore” every time you perform.