PUBLISHER ‘S CORNER
For many, the name Steve Jobs is synonymous with inspiration. “My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to take these great people we have and to push
them and make them even better.” — Steve Jobs, founder and CEO, Apple Computer Jobs was an innovator who dared to be different and created change around the world with
his ideas and products, but also with memorable words. He was a motivating leader who pushed people from good to great. Tis technology industry pioneer was someone who we can glean a little bit of knowledge from to make ourselves better. What will success look like? How will you know when you have reached your goal? Taking the
Achieving Excellence
By Tony Corpin
time to get specific and spell out exactly what you want to achieve removes the possibility of set- tling for less — or telling yourself that what you’ve accomplished is “good enough.” Tousands of studies have shown that getting more specific is one of the single most effective steps you can take to reach any goal. According to the Harvard Business Review, there are six keys to achieving excellence: 1. Pursue what you love, as passion is an incredible motivator. 2. Do the hardest work first. Great performers delay gratification to take on the difficult work. 3. Practice intensely, without interruption, for no longer than 90 minutes and then take a break.
❝ We as an industry need to understand and replicate
how others are successfully navigating the political landscape to achieve a specific goal of federal funding. ❞
4. Seek expert feedback in intermittent doses. Te simpler and more precise the feedback, the
more equipped you are to make adjustments. Too much feedback can create overload. 5. Take a regular renewal break, as relaxing provides an opportunity to rejuvenate. 6. Ritualize practice, as will and discipline are wildly overrated. How do we as an industry apply these tools to achieve excellence? Can we strive to be an industry
with one loud voice and one specific goal? I guess it’s easier said than done as everyone is motivated by different things in life. How is the voice of APTA, the major bus/rail transit association, heard at the highest levels of
government and not school transportation? Why do they receive billions of dollars in federal fund- ing for equipment, staff, programs and efficiencies? We as an industry need to understand and replicate how others are successfully navigating the political landscape to achieve a specific goal of federal funding. We need to be a laser, as one voice with the ability to channel that voice and energy into actionable results. Let’s take a page out of Steve Jobs’ book and build a successful industry with vision and leader- ship to change the world. ■
58 School Transportation News Magazine November 2011
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