Going From Goat To G.O.A.T.

My old friend and first mentor in leadership George Kent (may he rest in peace) had a catchphrase he used to say often…something about “going from goat to champ in 3 seconds flat” which was his way of saying that one’s fortunes can turn so quickly in leadership and business and your reputation can change in an instant.  Fast forward 20 years and add the trendy term of G.O.A.T (Greatest of All Time), a moniker we use to describe someone who excels in their field, and we can modernize George’s catchphrase to “goat to G.O.A.T.”  In the context of leadership, a goat is someone who is ineffective and useless.  Conversely, the G.OA.T is the chief producer, the top performer.  But what separates the two? What would enable any one of us to go from goat to G.OA.T.?

Here is a simple action plan to go from goat to G.O.A.T.

First let me show you what G.O.A.T.’s do:

1. Take responsibility for results.
2. Fix problems even if you didn’t create them.
3. Think ownership, not avoidance.
4. Do more than necessary.
5. Be willing to extend yourself.
6. Coordinate the expertise of others.

Then let’s look at what goats do instead:

1. Take only the action necessary to stay out of trouble.
2. Let others fix the problems you created.
3. Think avoidance, not ownership.
4. Do just enough to get by.
5. Blame other people and circumstances for lack of results.
6. Pass the buck to others.