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What does it take to become an elite professional or as we call them an Xtra Miler and have the income that allows you to live the life of your dreams? Is it magic, a birth right or even natural selection? We don’t think so!
6 min read
There is an incredible amount of talent out there in the world and whether it’s an award winning musician, surgeon, fashion designer or our own highly motivated consultants, we’ve found that these elite have many attributes in common.
The elite professional exhibits a mixture of specific personality and mindset traits that separates them from the rest. They also approach their operational responsibilities with a toolkit that lets them get work done efficiently and productively.
In this blog we breakdown the 12 key attributes we’ve identified with professionals that go The Xtra Mile to becoming elite.
Looking to work with the elite and increase your earning potential?
The American philosopher, Wayne Dyer once said “It’s never crowded along The Xtra Mile and that is because most people don’t do that Xtra 1% , and the ‘Xtra Mile’ is not frequently travelled."
The reality in this case is, many people don’t know what Going The Xtra Mile looks like. So we’ve broken it down into the following 12 key attributes to becoming an Xtra Mile Elite: based on personality and mindset and how to go about responsibilities operationally.
Personality
1. Calm
2. Friendly
3. Enthusiastic
4. Positive Attitude
Mindset
5. Driven
6. Confident
7. Competitive
8. Love to Learn
Operational
9. Process driven
10. Consistent
11. Committed
12. Leadership
Personality
1. Calm
Keeping a cool head in a heated situation is an extremely valuable skill. Emotions can often lead to impulsive decisions and outbursts that are not measured or balanced. Elite personalities will control the ‘Chimp’ and put mind over matter.
“It is the unemotional, reserved, calm, detached warrior who wins, not the hothead seeking vengeance and not the ambitious seeker of fortune.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War
2. Friendly
Being ruthless in business very seldom cuts nowadays. Having a reputation that you are difficult to work with will be a turn off for opportunities. Social media allows information to be transmitted instantly to thousands if not millions of people at the push of a button, so it pays to be friendly. Kill people with kindness and allow your reputation to draw opportunities to you rather than push people away.
“When you give a little love and it all comes back to you” Bugsy Malone (Film, 1976)
3. Enthusiastic
Xtra Mile professionals radiate enthusiasm for what they do. They engage with responsibilities ‘head on’, full of energy and positive determination.
“Enthusiasm is the yeast that makes your hopes shine to the stars. Enthusiasm is the sparkle in your eyes, the swing in your gait. The grip of your hand, the irresistible surge of will and energy to execute your ideas.” Henry Ford
4. Positive Attitude
Like being friendly, positivity is a personality trait that is infectious. The ‘Pint Half Full’ people are like beacons that draw success to them. They are often looked upon as leaders and motivators and with repositioning comes the rewards of their stations.
“Your positive action combined with positive thinking results in success.” Shiv Khera
Mindset
5. Driven
“Being Driven is not the same as being passionate. Passion is a love for the journey. Drive is what you need to get you there.” Simon Sinek
What motivational speaker, organisation consultant and author Simon Sinek is describing in being driven; is the fuel you need to make your passions and goals become a reality. It is an internal driver screaming at you to say ‘You now have the plan - get off your backside and execute it’
6. Confident
You have never seen a world class athlete state before they compete, “I’m not good enough”. To achieve that ‘first in class’ positioning they need to believe in their own ability, almost blindly. This self-confidence is what allows them to constantly push their boundaries and expand their personal best. This skill extends beyond the industry of sport and entertainment into every sector of success.
The political leader Marcus Garvey once quoted “If you have no confidence in self, you are twice defeated in the race of life.”
7. Competitive
Competition is all about benchmarking and the Elite Xtra Miler wants to be the person that is setting that benchmark not chasing it. Being competitive helps keep your weapons honed and tested. It keeps the mind fresh and the eye keen.
“I play to win, whether during practice or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win.” Michael Jordan
8. Loving to Learn
Giving yourself over to a life of learning will help you stay at the forefront of the ‘game’. It is associated to being driven and competitive, without a continuous learning mindset you will be left behind.
“Develop a passion for learning. If you do, you will never cease to grow.” Anthony J. D'Angelo
Operational
9. Process driven
Process driven people have a great ability to stay on task and avoid distractions. They execute responsibilities efficiently, timely and cost effectively.
Henry Ford’s success was developing the process for his Model T automobile where he could produce a fully working car in 93 minutes and in 45 steps. This revolutionised global manufacturing and the world as we know it.
10. Consistent
Consistency breeds success and allows scalability as you will understand an expected outcome. It also helps to refine processes to become even more productive. Consistent professionals are people that are reliable which is positive for colleagues that work under, alongside and above them.
“It's not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It's what we do consistently.” Anthony Robbins
11. Committed
Being a committed employee will help you rise to the top in your community. Embracing the work flow and processes wholeheartedly is always looked upon fondly by senior staff as you become a role model for your peers and identified as a leader.
“Individual commitment to a group effort - that is what makes a team work, a company work, a society work, a civilization work.” Vince Lombardi
12. Leadership
Xtra Mile professionals that show many of the above 11 attributes are generally positioned for leadership. When businesses attract leaders that are driven, friendly, can motivate staff, are engaging, understand how to deliver and improve on procedures then they have a resource extremely valuable and dangerous to competitors. These individuals can go on to be captains of industry and then enjoy the spoils of their success.
“I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” Alexander the Great
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