In the latest book by Jim Collins, How the Mighty Fall, Collins carefully outlines how great, thriving organizations can quickly and dramatically fall from prominence.

While he spends a lot of time outlining what he calls the “Five Stages of Decline”, I was particularly motivated by his thoughts on what those who fall, and then recover, have in common.

I certainly want to understand how to avoid a fall in the first place. (Or should I say, avoid any more “falls” than I’ve already experienced!) But since it’s a given that stumbling and falling down is a necessary and inevitable experience of life…I’m motivated by examples of those who get back up and recover.

Here are some excerpts from How the Mighty Fall that I found of particular interest:

Xerox. HP. Nucor. IBM. Merck. Texas Instruments. Pitney Bowes. Nordstrom. Disney. Boeing. What do these companies have in common? Each took at least one tremendous fall at some point in its history and recovered…in every case, leaders emerged who broke the trajectory of decline and simply refused to give up on the idea of not only survival but ultimate triumph, despite the most extreme odds.

The signature of the truly great vs. the merely successful is not the absence of difficulty. It’s the ability to come back from setbacks, even cataclysmic catastrophes, strongter than before. Great nations can decline and recover. Great companies can fall and recover. Great social institutions can fall and recover. And great individuals can fall and recover. As long as you never get entirely knocked out of the game, there remains hope.

The path out of darkness begins with those exasperatingly persistent individuals who are constitutionally incapable of capitulation. It’s one thing to suffer a staggering defeat–as will likely happen to every enduring business and social enterprise and (individual) at some point in its history–and entirely another to give up on the values and aspirations that make the protracted struggle worthwhile. Failure is not so much a physical state as a state of mind; success is falling down–and getting up one more time–without end.

Mr. Collins couldn’t have put it any better. So I have nothing to add.

I want to address something that lurks in the wings, waiting to suck you in…and it’s a real productivity killer: Perfection-ism Syndrome.

“I can’t do the next thing until this task is just right!” If you find yourself saying this, you’ll have a really hard time being efficient and productive.

Successful entrepreneurs must be able to juggle multiple tasks and while the details are important, getting it “just right”…doing things “perfectly” will slow progress and hold you back.

Consider these tips, they’ll help you get real about the Perfection-ism Syndrome:

 Tip #1: You’ll never do it perfectly. Nobody does anything perfectly. But you can do things very well. You can do great work, you can do your very best…and that’s all that’s required to make real, measureable progress.

Tip #2: Accept the fact that you have to complete steps simultaneously. There will always be at least 2 or 3 three things happening at once. You’ve got to be able to move from one task to the next without being afraid that one of the steps wasn’t done perfectly. A trusted advisor or coach can give your work the second look, the added perspective that will shed light on some obvious changes that can be made. Even then, it won’t be perfect!  

Tip #3: Do good, quality work and your inevitable imperfections will be forgiven. When you focus on quality and trust the methods of experts who have already “been there” you can rest assured that your efforts will be well received by your target market.

So remember, there’s really no such thing as perfection in business. You’ve got to manage multiple tasks, and focus on quality.

You’ve got permission to be less than perfect. Trust me, imperfection is a hallmark of a great entrepreneur!

In business you’re flooded with information from marketers and experts.

Some of it piques your interest but eventually you simply get stuck staring at all of it; “Is this the right thing to do next, or is that the right thing?”

That’s Paralysis Analysis! And before you know it, hours, days, even weeks can go by and you’re still stuck in the exact same place—nowhere.

The truth is, analyzing information creates a “feeling” of work and it creates the illusion of progress when it’s really just another insidious form of procrastination.

So, here are some important tips that can help you bust out of Paralysis of Analysis:

Tip #1: Unsubscribe from those unnecessary lists, set inbox rules, and find an expert who can answer your questions quickly. Limit your information influx and you’ll have a lot less stuff to analyze!

Tip #2: Don’t over-think your business, keep it simple. I don’t mean to oversimplify things here, but remember that building a marketing plan around your business consists of a few key concepts—a validated “niche” idea, a strong and effectively written offer/message, a proven strategy for building your own list or distribution, and the ability to execute the plan. So, focus on grabbing insight on those key concepts but don’t get sucked into spending hours and hours analyzing every possible approach to doing these things—pick a technique, confirm it with a coach or expert—then Get To Work!

Tip #3: Get To Work! That’s right, nothing moves you out of being stuck in paralysis quicker than getting moving…just start doing it! You’ll learn more and gain expertise faster than you can by reading more stuff and “thinking about” it. In the words of those killer athletes over at Nike, “Just Do It!”

Analyze yourself for a minute. Are you spending more time studying and contemplating information more than you’re actually doing real work? If so, you’re stuck in Paralysis of Analysis.

It’s time to get moving! Go get to work!

I’ve been reading “The Speed of Trust” by Stephen M.R. Covey.

So much of what he covers is extremely relevant. Especially today.

In times of uncertainty it’s much more difficult for people to hide under the radar or just “skate by.”

Whether in a job, running a company, looking for new work, or starting a new business, those we deal with have a heightened awareness of what’s going on around them. Who can they trust? Who are the most valuable players? Who’s for real? Who’s genuine?

In times like these, one of the best ways to stand out in the crowd and rise to the top of the ladder is to have a solid, trustworthy foundation.

Those who are trusted have a massive advantage.

Here are some very powerful points Covey makes that stood out to me:

“There is one thing, if removed, will detroy the most powerful government, the most successful business, the most thriving economy, the most influential leadership, the greatest friendship, the strongest character, the deepest love.

“On the other hand, if developed and leveraged, that one thing has the potential to createe unparalleled success and prosperity in every dimension of life. Yet, it is the least understood, most neglected, and most underestimated possibility of our time.

“That one thing is trust.”

“Trust undergirds and affects the quality of every relationship, every communication, every work project, every business venture, every effort in which we are engaged. It changes the quality of every present moment and alters the trajectory and outcome of every future moment of our lives–both personally and professionally.

“While corporate scandals, terrorist threats, office politics, and broken relationships have created low trust on almost every front, I contend that the ability to establish, grow, extend and restore trust is not only vital to our personal and interpersonal well-being; it is the key leaedership competencey of the new global economy. 

“I am also convinced that in every situation, nothing is as fast as the speed of trust. And, contrary to popular belief, trust is something you can do something about. In fact, you can get good at creating it!” 

Mr. Covey’s message is powerful to me for two reasons. First, it’s simply an enlightened and timely truth (and his book goes on to explain exactly how trust can be built and restored). Second, I’m imperfect and have broken trust at times. So, knowing that trust can be restored, even rapidly, is encouraging to me as a leader, and as an individual.

Are your to be trusted?

It’s funny how we forget about our brain sometimes.

We try and take care of our bodies with exercise but seem to altogether overlook the fact that our brain needs exercise too.

As America ages, we’re finally seeing an increase in programs and even “head health” facilities that focus on increasing mental capacity and keeping our minds sharp.

Skeptical? Consider this, Do you ever want to say something but just can’t find the word? (I thought so.)

We all have some mental weaknesses. I exhibit mine at least 10 times a day!

Brain fitness is real. And the more fit you can keep your noodle, the more successful you will be in life, business, and anything else.

There are many new tools popping up to help increase your brain power. An example of this is “Brain Age” and “Brain Training” by Nintendo. Additionally, over the next several years you will see “brain gyms” popping up throughout the country.

But you really don’t need to buy a product or hit the brain gym to sharpen your skills.

Here are some brain exercises recommended by Dr. Lorne Label of the Brain Longevity Center:

• Use your left hand, if you are right handed, for tasks such as placing a stamp on an envelope, writing, or combing your hair.
• Name the letters of the alphabet but mix it up—by skipping every other letter (a, c, e, g); skipping every third letter (a, d, g) or, perhaps, starting from the end of the alphabet and skipping a letter (z, x, v)
• Sweep your eyes across a room. Then spend the next few minutes recalling what you saw, where things were placed, the colors, etc.
• Subtract 3 from 100; then continue to subtract 3s from each remaining number (100-3=97-3=94-3=91)
• Pick a category, like food or animals. Then name an item in the category. Think of a second one that begins with the last letter of the previous item. (For example, hot dog, grape, egg.)

According to a five year study by the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than 2,000 adults showed that simple mental exercises improved cognitive skills.

Why am I delving into this today? It’s simple. Smart people experience more success than the dummies out there!

Pay attention to your brainpower and work on simple ways to stay smart and get mentally fit.

I think I’ll try a crossword puzzle today!