More Praise for Win Every Day
So many leaders are visionaries, and often what visionaries struggle with is execution. The problem, of course, is that greatness doesnt hinge on vision nearly as much as it hinges on execution. Marks decades of real-world experience at the highest levels of leadership have come together in a powerful book that you can both read in a single sitting and implement for years to come. Read this book, run the play, and execute at the same level as the worlds best organizations.
Carey Nieuwhof, bestselling author and host of The Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
Experienced business leaders and entrepreneurs know that planning is overrated. Execution is what is the key to excellence. In Win Every Day, Mark Miller offers a clear path to execution that will lead to organizational excellence. Many business books I read are based on armchair observations from the authors. Mark Miller did the hard work of learning the keys to successful execution from data gathered from thousands of employees in dozens of businesses.
Dr. Jeff Cornwall, Jack C. Massey Chair in Entrepreneurship and Professor of Entrepreneurship, Belmont University
An important lesson our church has learned over the years is that big vision and proper planning amount to little more than words on paper if we dont excel at execution. Win Every Day has provided a clear pathway to follow as we seek to accomplish our mission and see our vision realized. Every organization and team should integrate the wisdom in this book into their culture.
Shane Duffey, Lead Pastor, NewSpring Church
Many leaders dream of building a great company, but few are able to deliver. Mark Miller distills forty years of experience and hard-won wisdom into simple, clear principles and then uses story to help you see them in practice. In Win Every Day, Mark will empower you to excel in executing the vision for your organization and for yourself.
Jo Saxton, leadership coach and author of Ready to Rise
WIN
EVERY DAY
Other Titles by Mark Miller
The High Performance Series
Chess Not Checkers
Leaders Made Here
Talent Magnet
Win the Heart
Other Books
The Heart of Leadership
The Secret of Teams
Coauthored with Ken Blanchard
Great Leaders Grow
The Secret
Field Guides Coauthored with Randy Gravitt
Chess Not Checkers Field Guide
The Heart of Leadership Field Guide
Leaders Made Here Field Guide
The Secret Field Guide
The Secret of Teams Field Guide
Talent Magnet Field Guide
Win Every Day Field Guide
Win the Heart Field Guide
Win Every Day
Copyright 2019 by CFA Properties, Inc.
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First Edition
Hardcover print edition ISBN 978-1-5230-8840-9
PDF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-8841-6
IDPF e-book ISBN 978-1-5230-8842-3
Digital audio ISBN 978-1-5230-8843-0
2020-1
Cover designer: Irene Morris, Morris Design
Mom, thanks for showing me what a life filled with faith, hope, and love looks like. Your example of a life well-lived has always inspired me and everyone who knows you!
Contents
Introduction
Organizations around the world are facing a challenging reality: the new global standardfor those who thrivehas become flawless products, services, and experiences, delivered with no friction, 24/7/365. Never before have customers demanded so much. But for leaders who can build high performance organizations, the demands of the modern world fit right into their game plan. And for those who struggle to execute, the challenge will ultimately prove unsurmountable and the consequences dire.
For the last several years, we have been attempting to answer this one simple question: what specific behaviors enable and sustain elite levels of execution? Im excited to share what we have learned.
The ideas you are about to explore are born of almost a decade of research, conversation, debate, and real-world cases involving hundreds of thousands of employees. Weve studied scores of organizationssome household names and others quiet exemplars of what is possible: Apple, Cirque du Soleil, Navy SEALs, Starbucks, Danaher, Clemson football, Southwest Airlines, Mayo Clinic, Zappos, and many, many more.
Our findings were clearhigh performance organizations all do four things: (1) Bet on Leadership, (2) Act as One, (3) Win the Heart, and (4) Excel at Execution. These four moves together create remarkable organizations.
Win Every Day is the fifth installment in the High Performance Series and will focus on the fourth of these defining characteristics, the hallmark of all high performance organizations, execution.
For many, the ideas on the following pages will be transformational! Theres just one catch. If you miss any one of the four moves, not only will execution forever be a challenge, but youll forfeit your place among the worlds great organizations. Todays execution challenges often find their energy and source in the first three moveseach represents a critical step on the journey to Excel at Execution.
One final introductory thought: this book, although simple and succinct in its final form, required a tremendous amount of work. I know that sometimes when you see a business fable, you may think a guy like me just sat down one afternoon and knocked it outIts just a short story. In this case, and with my other books, nothing could be further from the truth. When you finish the book, or right now, please take a moment and read the acknowledgments. We worked with scores of businesses with thousands of employees to discover, validate, and refine the truths you are about to encounter. I am forever grateful for the entire teamyou will be too.
I trust this book will serve you and your organization well. It could be the last critical piece youve been searching for to release the untapped potential in your people, create real competitive advantage, and ensure your leadership legacy.
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