Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?
Olympic strategies applied to personal and professional goal achievement.
Summary of 7 Key Points
Key Points
- Setting Clear, Compelling Goals
- Creating a Strong Team Culture
- Maintaining Focus Under Pressure
- Constantly Seeking Improvement
- Overcoming Setbacks with Resilience
- Aligning Actions to Goals
- Measuring Progress Regularly
key point 1 of 7
Setting Clear, Compelling Goals
In this context, setting clear, compelling goals involves defining objectives in a way that they become a driving force that encourages action and progress. It’s about creating a target that is so vivid and attractive that it not only inspires but also serves as a compass, guiding every decision and action. Setting a clear, compelling goal isn’t just about deciding what you want to achieve; it’s about creating a vision of the desired state that is so clear it leaves no room for ambiguity…Read&Listen More
key point 2 of 7
Creating a Strong Team Culture
Creating a strong team culture is about cultivating an environment where everyone is working towards a common goal and supporting each other to achieve it. It requires open communication, trust, respect for each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and a willingness to take collective responsibility for success or failure. A strong team culture is akin to a well-oiled machine, where each part fulfills its function effectively and contributes to the overall functioning of the entire system…Read&Listen More
key point 3 of 7
Maintaining Focus Under Pressure
Maintaining focus under pressure is likened to rowing a boat in turbulent waters. It requires a strong will and an unwavering concentration on the ultimate goal. The individual or team must disregard the intensity of the waves or the deafening sounds of the wind. Instead, the focus should remain laser-sharp on making the boat go faster, which serves as a metaphor for achieving the set goal, despite the pressure…Read&Listen More
key point 4 of 7
Constantly Seeking Improvement
The perspective of constantly seeking improvement is vividly brought out as an endless journey. The pursuit of betterment isn’t depicted as a linear or finite progression but one that necessitates consistent dedication and effort. It’s an ongoing quest to push beyond the current limitations and achieve something remarkable. It’s about not settling for the status quo but always looking for ways to grow and evolve…Read&Listen More
key point 5 of 7
Overcoming Setbacks with Resilience
The book elucidates on how the author, a renowned Olympic champion, faced setbacks and overcame them with resilience. He emphasizes on the significance of mental tenacity and determination in the face of adversity. He narrates episodes of his training sessions, where despite encountering physical and mental exhaustion, his resilience helped him to persevere. He would constantly remind himself of his goal, ‘Will it make the boat go faster?’, which became a driving force behind his dedication and resilience…Read&Listen More
key point 6 of 7
Aligning Actions to Goals
In the process of aligning actions to goals, it is emphasized that one must keep a clear vision of their end goal at all times. This vision should be so clear that it remains at the forefront of their mind during all actions and decisions. If a particular action does not contribute to the achievement of the end goal, it should be questioned and possibly eliminated. This unyielding focus on the goal is a key element in maintaining alignment between actions and goals. ..Read&Listen More
key point 7 of 7
Measuring Progress Regularly
In ‘Will It Make the Boat Go Faster?’, the concept of regularly measuring progress is discussed in depth and is considered as a significant factor in achieving success. The authors advocate for setting clear, tangible goals and then regularly assessing your progress towards those goals. This constant evaluation aids in keeping you on track and enables you to make necessary adjustments in your strategies or procedures. It is akin to navigating a ship; you need to keep checking your direction and making slight course corrections to ensure you stay on the right path…Read&Listen More