The title phrase is one I hear a lot from my gambler friends when they are on a losing streak. My response is always the same: “If you want to have winners, figure out who wins the most and bet on them!” If you’re betting on the horse races, pick the most successful jockey and/or trainer. In football and other team sports, focus on the coaches who have the highest winning percentage. It seems straightforward, but people often get caught up in trying to find the “diamond in the rough” that no one else has noticed.
During Jack Welch’s amazing run at GE it was said that if a division fell below the top 50% of performers in its respective sector, it would be sold. On the other hand, when Jack looked to purchase other companies he only bought those that were in the top 20% in their sectors. He frequently paid top dollar for these companies, but he knew it was worth it because he was getting the best performers.
There are only so many people who reach the highest levels of achievement in their career. The winners separate themselves by their attitude and their approach to the daily grind. Great leaders set the tone for their respective teams or companies through their approach to the daily challenges. This explains why many successful leaders emerge from winning institutions. They learn the right way to do things from observing the people at the top of their organization.
You can develop winners within your own organization. If you find someone with the right attitude and the talent who is willing to put in the work, then by all means you should work with them to help them develop into a winner. But top-tier talent is in high demand, and there is only so much of it to go around. Think of how many starting quarterbacks are in the NFL. They represent the best of the best from all the college football teams around the country. Yet how many of them are truly Hall of Fame players? Maybe the top 10 or 15 in a given year. It’s why the top players command such high salaries, and multiple teams fight to sign them if they ever become free agents.
Do you want winners? Go out and find the best people, and then hire them!
Have a great weekend,
Ro