Legend has it that J.P. Morgan, the uber-successful bank, once was offered a sealed envelope containing “a formula for guaranteed success.” The person who developed the formula was so confident about its impact that he provided the envelope to J.P., asking for payment of $25,000 (which was a lot of money back in the day) only if J.P. agrees to the effectiveness of the formula.
J.P. Morgan took the envelope, carefully unsealed it, pulled out a single sheet of paper, looked at it, nodded and wrote a check for $25,000 on the spot.
The content of that single sheet of paper?
It only contained two points:
- Every morning write a list of the things that need to be done that day.
- Do them.
Surprised? Sounds too easy? Or too obvious?
Of course. It is common sense – which doesn’t make it common practice.
If I have learned one thing from my successes and failures and those of the smart, successful people around me is that it all comes down to identifying the important things and then relentlessly pursuing them. It is the essence of the GYSHIDO Manifesto.
I recently re-read this story and have come to write a short list of things which need to be done that day in the mornings. The title of this list is “Success” – if I get these things done, the day will be successful. It works like a charm – a $25,000 charm!
Give it a try. You might be surprised how crazy productive you will become.