MTV’s VMA Awards used to be one of my favorite programs to watch each year. Less pretentious than the Grammy Awards, it was the one time a year you could see artists perform with a little more edge. From Madonna’s iconic “Like a Virgin” performance to dozens of identical Slim Shadys walking the stage with Eminem, the night was historically about creating mic-dropping experiences that would leave fans talking for days afterwards. If Sunday’s broadcast was any indication, somehow the VMAs seem to have lost their swagger. Unless, of course, you are Beyoncé.
Beyoncé has created a larger than life persona, and has backed it up with discipline and hard work to ensure every performance outdoes that one before it. She’s set a new bar -- repeatedly. In short, she slays.
Are you a strong performer who aspires to slay every single day? Check your game against these high performer bars.
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Write Your Own Happy Ending. Determine what success looks like to you and then work backwards, planning the steps you need to take in order to achieve that vision. Think about breaking it down into attainable, bite-size pieces. It’s fairly challenging to accomplish big things if you don’t have a vision for what that ultimately is or how to get there.
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Find a Role Model….and Then Become One. Part of achieving your vision might mean you start to seek out examples of exceptional people that you admire and respect. Learn what makes them so successful, then apply those lessons learned to your process, making them your own. While imitation might be the sincerest form of flattery, being authentic and true to yourself is even more impressive.
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Step Out of the Comfort Zone. We all have certain things we are good at – naturally or through hard work – that quickly become the things we’re known for. Capitalize on these – and then push past your established comfort zone. Enter the “stretch” zone. We create impact when we follow our passions, take risks, and continuing evolving. No one thrives by resting on their laurels.
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Bring Others Along. Whether it’s for moral support, collaboration, or just simply to make the journey a little more fun, creating a trusted posse is a vital step. While you might be an exceptional individual contributor, you know you’re ready for the big stage when you are able to influence and inspire others. Find those people and nurture those relationships.
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Never, Ever Give Up. No matter how talented you are, you can’t achieve exceptional results the first time out. Set a goal, plot a roadmap to get there, and be prepared to dust yourself off and try again until you nail it. With an open mind, you’ll learn along the way, and perhaps end up with a better outcome than you originally set out for.
By applying the steps above, you might just find yourself slaying in your own job. Go be legendary.
Christina Luconi is Chief People Officer for Rapid7. Follow her on Twitter: @peopleinnovator.
Image via Google Images