I heard his name several times but had never read any of his books.
Who am I talking about?
Dan Sullivan, a coach, and entrepreneur who is approaching 80.
I like people who carry their messages through what they do. This is the case for Dan who is currently writing (with his teams) one small book per quarter. And he plans to do so for the next 25 years. His creativity, consistency, and ability to simplify messages fascinate me.
I’ve read 8 (small) books by Dan Sullivan recently, and here are 4 ideas that impacted me.
25 years + 90 days
When you look too far away without doing anything, you are a sweet dreamer.
But when you look ahead and execute with intention, you become a magician who creates his future.
This is Dan’s message that he manages to get across with great clarity by using two completely different, but ultimately very complementary, horizons.
In a 25-year period, we have 100 quarters. It gives us time and allows us to think big. Whether we reach the “ideal” or not is less important than its capacity to make us dream, push us to undertake, and energize us.
- Each quarter represents 1% of our global vision.
- Each quarter is an iteration.
- Each quarter is a new beginning.
I’ve been using the long view(the life plan, my 10-year goals) and the quarter for years to achieve my dreams. And I haven’t found a more effective method.
Dan clarified the message even more and allowed me to extend my vision from 10 to 25 years…
But also, remind me that how I measure my progress can constantly satisfy or depress me (see his second concept) 👇
A book to dig into: The 25-Year Framework: Your 21st-century entrepreneurial mindset for continually slowing down time while speeding up your progress over a 25-year period
The Gap And The Gain
A picture is worth a thousand words. The diagram below explains the concept.
If I go back to the 100 quarters, at each end of the period I have the option of measuring against the goal (quarter) / ideal (25 years) or against the gain.
And most of the time, the goal depresses me:
- If I have achieved it, I am already thinking about the ideal and my next actions without even savoring my small victory.
- If I haven’t reached it, I get depressed, and start comparing myself to others. I enter a vicious circle.
But no matter where I am in relation to the ideal or my quarter, if I compare myself to where I started, I have made progress. Listing them gives me joy, satisfaction, and courage to attack my next period. I create a virtuous cycle.
We always have the opportunity to focus on the GAIN instead of the GAP when pursuing our dreams and everyday lives.
Where can I put more gains instead of gaps in my life?
A book to dig into :The Gap and the Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success
What if retirement wasn’t necessary?
But Dror, what’s wrong with you? I remind you that you have built FIRE life. ( Financial Independence Retire Early)
Hey yeah, that’s right.😀
But as I’ve written many times, the FI (financial independence) part has always attracted me. This is a crucial form of freedom for me. The part (Retire early) never really convinced me.
But Dan has managed to clarify it (more) with these two concepts.
ABC model
This straightforward diagram illustrates three types of activities.
- A = Irritating.
- B = Ok
- C = Fascinating and motivating.
If you are in a job that you like, where you can create more and more type C activities. Why stop?
A book to dig into: The ABC Model Breakthrough: Shifting Your Time into Activities That Fascinate and Motivate You
The second “Who instead of What” model
The concept is dynamic. Each quarter (you have 100 😀), you can review your activities and ask yourself the following questions.
- A = Irritants: How can I eliminate them? Technology can help a lot.
- B = OK: Instead of asking how I can do them, ask yourself who can do them.
What you find irritating may seem interesting to someone else.
I recently spoke with a client who is in the creative field. She told me that her accountant admired her for what she was doing, but couldn’t see herself doing it for a second. And this is also the feeling of my client. She is happy to have found her accountant because the administrative part of her business irritates her.
What is irritating to you may be fascinating to someone else.
This is the feeling I have with my new career as a coach.
Learning, writing, coaching, and developing my business fascinate me. I see myself doing it over my next 25 years and why not more 😀
A book to dig into: Who Not How: The Formula to Achieve Bigger Goals Through Accelerating Teamwork
With that in mind, why stop?
I do what I like, with people I like, where I want, and work when it suits me.
And for FI fans (Financial Independence), it creates a new form of autonomy from the financial markets. Even when crises multiply (the banks at the moment), I’ve gained a new form of serenity. My business is profitable and growing.
Is retirement really a goal for you?
PS: Whenever you are ready, here are 2 more ways I can help you accelerate your growth through coaching:
- You are an individual: you have a penchant for action. You’ve achieved a lot. And yet you want more. Curious? Let’s connect for a free call and see if we can work together
- You want to be coached in the workplace: I help successful leaders become even better. And you only pay me if you succeed (yes, I am serious). Curious? Let’s connect for a free call and see if we can work together
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