Recently in Execution Category

In an interview with Reed Hastings, co-founder of Netflix, he mentions how he connected some dots that really paid off: a mega-deal with Wal-Mart wherein Wal-Mart handed over their online dvd business to Netflix.

First dot: Hastings observes that Wal-Mart enters the online dvd market with modest promotional efforts.

Second dot: Hastings is impressed with Wal-Mart's dvd prices during a Christmas shopping visit.

Third dot: He called the CEO (of Walmart.com) and asked if he could have dinner.

Recently, my business partner and I agreed to blog on the topic of execution in business. That's because we are trying to solve the problem of execution in business. We believe it's the biggest unaddressed problem in business today. Execution (that is to say, getting things done) is a leader's most important job, and, in fact, why executives are called executives in the first place! When executives successfully execute goals, it results in profits, growth, innovation, and yes, even winning!

So, what about execution? It's elusive. Very elusive, yet it's so simple. It's simplicity is its curse. Because, executing isn't just executing. It's executing with perseverance, with an eye to the future, without fear, with knowledge, with discipline, with a generous attitude, with an awareness of your environment, and especially with support from others. It true: you can't do it alone and executing alone won't do it.

I suppose that's what Nike meant by "Just Do It." Or what AA means when they say "One Day at a Time." It sounds so simple, but it's about doing getting things done every day.