- Finding Signal
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- Mastering the Essentials
Read time: 3 minutes
In Today’s Issue
How improvements in the fundamentals are core to levelling up everywhere else
How doing the ordinary things everyday can lead to big advantages over time
Fundamentals are like the ABCs of achievement.
Whether you're in sports or business, getting the basics right is key.
Just like a skyscraper needs a solid foundation to scrape the sky, your ability to reach the clouds of success hinges on mastering the fundamentals.
You can practice shooting eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.
But what exactly do I mean by this?
I meet so many people trying to advance to the next level, that next job or promotion – but haven’t even shown they can master the job they’re in right now.
You have to start there. There are no shortcuts.
The best way to get your next job is by being amazing at your current one.
And it all starts with the fundamentals.
Let’s dive in.
So, what are the basics and fundamentals?
Here are some examples:
Communicate Clearly: Speak and write in a way that's simple, clear and purposeful (more on that here).
Listen Actively: Truly engaging with others in conversation by attentively absorbing what they're saying and responding thoughtfully.
Time Management: Do you work on the right things? Are you busy, or are you productive (I share some tips here)?
Be Reliable: Do what you say you’ll do, when you say you’ll do it
Respond Quickly: Something as simple as responding to an email right away can be an edge (more on that here).
And these may look basic (that’s why they’re called basics!), but WE ALL can improve in one or more of these areas.
You’ll be surprised how many people overlook and struggle with these.
Nailing the basics can really make you stand out and are fundamental in building higher level skills effectively like: leadership, executive presence and influence.
The best way to reach that next level?
Be great at the basics. Be great at the fundamentals.
It doesn’t take a special talent to be successful.
There isn’t a secret hack for those that get ahead.
The real cheat code to winning is simple (but not easy):
Have an intense focus on the fundamentals and basics
Maintain the discipline to stay consistent
If you want to win, do the ordinary things better than anyone else does them day in and day out.
Be better at the things that other people overlook and take for granted.
These small advantages gained everyday compound into big advantages over time.
Having intense focus doesn’t necessarily mean saying “Yes” to what you want to focus on.
It means being able to say “No” to the 1,000 other things that are just distractions.
In Conclusion
Just like MJ preached, nailing the fundamentals is essential to being great.
Starting from the ground up is key—humbly examine which basics you can improve.
Success isn't about luck or shortcuts, it’s about crushing the ordinary stuff every single day.
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Did this resonate? What’s something you can work on?
Send me a reply to this email!
Thank you for reading,
-CJ
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