Six Truth and a Lie — Or how to become a top performer

How to really make an impact at your job

While I am not old yet, I am also not young anymore. I worked as a freelancer, a contractor, a consultant, a small business owner, and a full-time employee for years and in many different companies. Through this I gained experience in different work environments and company cultures.

Over the years I learned things from friends, colleagues, and the internet. Things that are supposed to make you a top performer*. I tested a lot of them in the field. Not all were great, but some are gold and I want to share them with you.

I’m by no means saying those are the only things to pay attention to. Neither can I say that this will work for every person in every company. But I’ve had great success with those truths.

I have learned that most things that really change your life are not complex. They are not mysterious concepts that take years to understand. Quite the opposite. I found the things that really impact my life are simple, obvious, and straight forward ideas. The hard part is acting on them. And continuing to do so until they become second nature.

If you like one of the points, try it out, even if you think this only works in other companies. There is no way to find this out without trying. Just because nobody is doing something does not mean it won’t work. If you are unsure, start with a low stakes project to test them on.

These truths stay true. No matter if you just started your career or if you are a veteran in your field.

*A top performer is someone who drives results and takes responsibility for them¹

1. Have a bias for action and impact

One of the most important things you can change is to focus on actions and impact. Especially in larger companies there is often too much talk and little to no action. People are afraid of failing and thus try to stay safe in stagnation. Either on purpose or by trying to plan and discuss every last detail before they start, making sure…