High Expectations Are the Key to Everything

Sam Walton once said, “High expectations are the key to everything.”

He’s a guy who should know. While some folks may not be fans of the Wal-Mart culture, you have to admit that Walton’s story is pretty amazing.

He grew up on a farm in Oklahoma, worked odd jobs in middle and high school to help provide financial support for his family during the Depression. His family moved around frequently, searching for the secret to staying afloat. He became the Missouri Boy Scouts youngest Eagle Scout in eighth grade.

It would seem, given his background, that high expectations weren’t in his wheelhouse. But he had them anyway, building the largest retail empire the United States has ever seen. He was named to Time’s list of the 100 Most Influential People of the Century in 1998 and given the Presidential Medal of Honor in 1992, just a month before he died.

But this isn’t a litany of Sam Walton’s achievements.

It’s a reminder that High Expectations really are the key to everything.

I’m a certified You2 coach. I’ve learned that the first step to reaching a successful Quantum Leap (more on that later this week) is to have a High Aiming Point. To dream big.

In Chase the Lion, one of my favorite books, Mark Batterson says, “If your dreams doesn’t scare you, it’s too small.”

My Aiming Point at this time last year seemed oversized to me. It included finishing the book (which was called What Worked for Me at the time) and creating passive income with my real estate business of a specific number. Both felt completely unattainable when I wrote them in my Pursuit Journal.

But I knew Price Pritchett, author of You2 and one of my personal coaches, knew better than me what we are capable of when we know where we’re going. So I wrote down my aiming points and then I repeated them to myself every day, along with this phrase:

“I’m making a quantum Leap. I know exactly where I’m going, and I’m open to the unexpected.”

I also wrote down 29 things I could do right then that would move me closer to my aiming point. I studied the list and did at least one of them every single day.

One was “Write 1,000 words.” Another was “Study publishing options.” Yet another was “talk to a real estate mentor about best practices.” One was “nurture existing real estate clients for referrals.” Close to the top of the list was “Find a better editor.”

That list of 29 things became second nature to me. Whenever the opportunity presented itself, I already knew what I needed to do to move toward my aiming point. The daily writing practice became essential to the success of my day. The editor moved me forward and helped me see my book as an asset to readers.

If you’re feeling stuck, let’s talk.

I know how scary high expectations can be. But rather than worrying about your expectations for yourself and your success are too high, shouldn’t you be concerned that your dream is too small. Think what you can accomplish. Your mind is your greatest power!

I’m here to help. Shoot me an email here and let’s confer on your hopes and dreams.

Thanks for checking in.