Achievement: If It Can't be Measured, Don't Do It

As far back as I can remember, “Achievement,”  was a word that was always on my mind, together with Goals, Objectives, and Results.  I tried to define what “Achievement” meant to me specifically, and not just with the meaning from Webster’s dictionary (does anyone still remember Webster’s?).   Measurement was also an important component of achievement, and I made every attempt to design and develop measurement criteria along the way so that I could always monitor my achievement.    As has been mentioned many times, if it can’t be measured, don’t do it.   

In measuring achievement, it was also important to set various options and alternatives for improvement when required.  

If all was well, how do we proceed, and if all was not well, how do we pivot and change direction?    My career, while successful in my eyes, was not a charmed one and there were many instances for change and pivoting along the way.   Fortunately for me, I was able to change and embrace the change.   With no surprise, perhaps this is what made the career so eventful and enjoyable. 

As I began my career in tourism and hospitality, achievement was initially just a one-word definition.    I defined achievement simply as providing “service.”  It would be my ability to serve others, obtain a positive response/outcome, find a solution, and above all garner a smile and satisfaction from those I serve.   If I was able to accomplish this, it would mean achievement to me.   I would try to remember that positive, satisfactory “feeling” at the time and work towards repeating it as much as possible.   Obviously, there is a flip side which would be the negative feeling of not achieving.  Understanding both scenarios is important to guide forward progress.  

Believing in service was first and foremost.  After all, this is the industry I had chosen.   Once this was clear, everything else that was ahead would be related to service.   Service was the foundation on which to build my career.   Like building anything, the foundation must be strong and solid.   A skyscraper must have a strong foundation, and strong pilings in the ground, to support what is on top, or it will collapse.   In the same way, we build our careers in service on a strong foundation which is established early.  The rest of the building blocks will fall into place.

As I transitioned into sales, the foundation of service was well established and sales would be built on top of service.