Real Story Of The Week...

"Anybody with a goal, a plan and a dream, a job or a business can benefit from it (TQ)!"

By Michael S. Johnston - December 1, 2012

"When the archer misses the mark, he turns and looks for the fault within himself. Failure to hit the bull's eye is never the fault of the target. To improve your aim -- improve yourself." ~ Gilbert Arland

Dear E.R. and Kent...

I'm fairly new to ThinkTQ, probably since about March of 2011. I've always been excited about my future, had big dreams and never been afraid to go for it. In the workplace, I've been productive and always had positive feedback from clients, coworkers, supervisors, etc.

I've also read many of the books that have been referenced on the site, such as the Purpose Driven Life, listened to Joel Osteen's, Your Best Life Now, read several of Anthony Robbins' books ten or fifteen years ago. I've also read a bunch of other books that keep me inspired to live out my God-given potential.

But, I feel like I've never lived up to my full potential in any area that I've been involved in.

When I first measured my performance (took my TQ Test), it was not a surprise, but it was quite low. I measured myself not on past performances in areas where I had experience and a degree of mastery, but on a new career path where I knew I needed to improve in a bunch of areas.

For example, when I first met my wife, I was an Outward Bound Instructor. She asked me what I wanted to do with my life and I said, "Travel the world, climb big mountains and make a difference in the lives of others." This was my stated mission at the time. Getting married and having kids changed that a little bit, but the point is that I've always had a focus.

My mission score on my first test was a one. Going into the test, I thought I had a focus in my life, but when I took it, I was saying to myself, "I don't do that." I haven't done that! I haven't done that either. I've done that, but it's not current.

This was also the theme for my set goals, make plans, prioritize, and act now colors. I've told my wife that, currently, I've been poor at setting goals and executing them as I don't know how to in this new endeavor. If it was an athletic goal, it would be easy; I know my body and have been an athlete for 30 years. In my new career endeavor, it's been a struggle knowing exactly what my performance expectations are and what I can realistically expect to accomplish.

Here is what I most enjoy about ThinkTQ:

1) It's Doable! It's a way to give anybody with a goal, a plan and a dream, a job or a business a tool they can benefit from. When I'm meeting with people about my business, even if they have no interest at all in what I do, or my products or services, very often (if appropriate) I refer them to the ThinkTQ website. When discussing the possibility of becoming involved with my business, the "prospects'" goals and dreams are usually a part of the conversation. I write the website on a card and tell them my current involvement and that I have no monetary gain from this referral, but I highly recommend it as I believe it will help you.

2) It's concise. There are truly hundreds, if not thousands, of books out there which give great input as to how to make improvements in whatever you are trying to accomplish. I like it that there is a 100-skill gold standard that is based off of 40,000 or so concepts from the best business and personal development minds.

3) It's direct. Once you identify what it is that you need to accomplish, ThinkTQ is a daily reminder that if I do what I identified over a period of time, I'll succeed. If I don't, I won't. I'm using one of the daily tracking sheets off of the website to track my performance. I identified what is a performance expectation to succeed. I simply put a "W" if I did what I was supposed to, and a "L" if I did not. It is a call to action when I noticed a string of "L's" in my performance.

4) It's personal. I like the way my ThinkTQ book reads, "Michael, if you do what you say you needs to be done, you will succeed! Michael, if you don't do this, it ain't going to happen." Sorry for the vague quotes, I'm still working through my book!

5) It's thorough. My wife, who was a former semi-pro volleyball player and was invited twice to try out for the Olympics, recently has said I've been swallowed up in motherhood and our family life, and I want to get a focus with my life as I know I have more to give. I suggested ThinkTQ, she said no, that's not really my style. I can respect that, so my request was that whatever resource best fits what you are looking for, that it be a complete package, that it doesn't give you an idea and not a thorough means to accomplish it.

6) I'm improving! The lights went on the other day when I listened to the Mission CD. What hit me like a ton of bricks was that you need to live your values every day. The one thing that I've always valued was to take a risk for what is important to you. The light clicked on the other day when I realized I was not doing that when I was "searching for suspects to turn into prospects." I've lacked a little courage in doing that, and I realized that is the very thing I value and look for in people, and I haven't even clarified how that will translate into my daily activities yet, as the thought occurred about two days ago. I can sense the extra level of boldness that the extra clarity will provide.

7) It affirms me. I'm twenty two months into an independent contractor-structured financial services business for a fortune 500 company. It has been a learning process being in a new industry. The other day, one of the audios said that after you've taken care of your energy, mission, attitude, set goals, make plans, etc., then it's time to act now or nothing will happen. It affirmed me that the past 19 or so months was getting my arms around the business and working through setting goals, making plans, so I knew what I needed to act now on. It affirmed me that that is what has to happen or it will be a misdirected effort.

It also kicked my butt that I needed to stop getting ready to get ready, and that more action could have occurred.

There is probably more to say, but my son is up waiting to be read to. Thanks so much for the opportunity to share. My five year old just woke up and said, "Are you advertising for ThinkTQ?" I said yep!

Sincerely,

Michael S. Johnston