How Will You Measure Success?

June 1, 2009

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The keeper of my calendar told me a few weeks ago that David Rehr had called to schedule a day with me in Austin. I scratched my head and wondered why.

David served as a congessonal aide on Capitol Hill when he was young, then he took a broken-down trade group, The National Beer Wholesalers Association, and turned it into one of the most powerful lobbies in Washington.

So dramatic was his sucess that the National Association of Broadcasters, the trade group for every radio and television station in America, asked David to come and take the helm in 2005.

On May 6, 2009, shortly after scheduling his appointment with me, David Rehr resigned as President and CEO of the NAB. Then he showed up at Wizard Academy, right on schedule. We had never met or corresponded. I was curious what he knew of me and why he had come.

“Roy,” he said, “a lot of people really like you and a lot of people really don’t but I usually agree with what I read in your books and magazine columns.” 

Curiosity made me ask what David had been told by the people who dislike me. Most of the stories he'd heard were true. Guilty as charged. 

Thirty years as a consultant give me deep respect for an observation made by Mark Twain, “I can teach anybody how to get what they want out of life. The problem is that I can't find anybody who can tell me what they want.”

“David, what do you plan to do with the rest of your life?” 

I never suspected he might have an answer.

“I want to be President of the United States Chamber of Commerce.” 

The clarity of that answer told me: 

1. how David Rehr became successful.

2. that he and I were going to be friends.

3. why he'll someday be President of the United States Chamber of Commerce.

We spent the rest of the day discussing David’s ideas for stimulating the economy of the United States and then I got him to agree to teach a class at Wizard Academy.

David Rehr was able to state his goal in a single sentence of just 12 words.

Can you?

1. What are you trying to make happen?

2. How will you measure success? 

3. What’s the first thing you need to do to get started?

I'd like you to answer each question using no more than 12 words per answer. This means the email you send me cannot exceed 36 total words, plus your name and contact information.

Yes, there will be prizes.

The biggest prizes will be the ones received by every participant: clarity of thought and purpose. There will be other prizes sent by my office.

All Participants will receive advance notice of David Rehr's class as soon as dates and a course description are available. This gives you first shot at the 14 rooms in Engelbrecht House.

Craft your 36 words. Send them to Tamara@WizardAcademy.org. Don't put it off. Do it now.

You're at a turning point.

Which way will you turn?

Roy H. Williams