***The Fast Track to Success

tempo: the rate of motion or activity.nn--Webster's DictionarynnI’ve mentioned before that when you’re the CEO of a company, it’s like being a general. You have to be in charge. You have to take responsibility. You have to instill confidence. It's also a bit like being a conductor, which is one reason tempo is such a big factor. Think about it: an orchestra, like any well-run organization, has many parts, many instruments and players, which have to play well together. The conductor is responsible for maintaining the tempo, for the managing the teamwork.nnMy organization is the orchestra and I’m the conductor. I operate quickly, which is allegro to an orchestra. I’m very well aware of how important it is to keep the momentum going at all times, whether I'm in the mood or not. My team will take the cue from me, and I know it. An effective CEO develops his or her own tempo and sticks to it. Tempo is like an inner metronome that keeps consistent time no matter what’s going on around you.nnPeople often ask me what makes me tick. I simply respond to my own tempo: fast. Maybe yours is slower, maybe it’s even faster. We all know what speed is best for us. Stick to that tempo and keep at it. People will learn to plug into that, and you will see faster results because of it. Can you imagine if every musician in the orchestra played according to his or her own idea of what the tempo should be? It’d be cacophony, a mess. Being off tempo can destroy businesses, too.nnWhen I conduct a meeting, I’m in charge and I need people to keep up with me. People who work with me know my tempo, and they’ve adjusted. New people learn how. No matter what situation or business you are in, be alert to the level of energy around you--it will help you through every day. If you’re not in charge yet, realize it’s your responsibility to take the cue and respond accordingly.nnPeople talk about being in “the zone” when they reach a certain level of achievement, whether they’re runners or writers. It’s when things come naturally, a sort of synchronicity. I know the feeling when I’m making deals and I see the pieces falling into place the way they should. It’s something to aim for and tempo has a lot to do with it.nnWe all remember what it was like to have to write a term paper. Sometimes it wasn't so easy to get started, but finally one night you get down to it and after awhile you are producing the pages without a lot of agony. Thinking about doing it was probably harder than actually getting it done. Something takes over and the work evolves. A lot of that is tempo, or getting into the groove; pretty soon performance takes over, then you’re done.nnIn How To Get Rich, I mention that some people need a new speedometer, because their positive momentum is so slow that they couldn’t possibly expect to get anywhere. Their tempo is set at a big number in the minus category somewhere, and they still can’t figure out why they haven’t arrived anywhere yet. Some people may think they’re born losers, but a tempo adjustment just might change that scenario.nnYou’ve got to think big and pace yourself. To get where you’re going, develop a tempo that will enable you to get you there. Chess players also use tempo, a turn to move in relation to the number of moves required to gain an objective. Note that it refers to gaining an objective. We all know that chess is a game of strategy. So is business. Think about that--and develop a tempo starting today.