I love sharing the hunt everywhere I go, with everyone I meet. I thought I would ask the hunters I admire to share what success means to them so we can all learn from the amazing people I am fortunate to know. In this space, you will hear from politicians, outdoors enthusiasts, and entrepreneurs – each of whom is hunting down what means the most to them.
Meet Josh Linkner. You might know him as the New York Times best selling author of “Disciplined Dreaming” and “The Road to Reinvention.” I know him as an above & clear hunter who sees blue sky and opportunity everywhere. He accepts the reality of the work he needs to put in to achieve his long-term goals, but never stops dreaming. He harnesses the power of his creativity and turns it into success.
1) What does success mean to you? Reaching your full potential. This, of course, is different for each of us. For me, I enjoy helping others find success. I also enjoy taking risks and creating. If I can build or create something and end up brining it to life against the odds, I find it very rewarding.
2) How do you set goals? I’m a big fan of goal setting. I start with my long-term goals and work backwards. Starting at the end – how do you want to be remembered – and then backing into the steps that are needed to get there. I do this all the way down from 20, 10, 5, and 1-year goals to 90-day sprints. The more you track, measure, and visualize, the better you’ll be able to deliver and hold yourself accountable for reaching the goals you set.
3) What was your break out moment? For me, it has been a series of moments, not a single event. I find big breakthrough usually occur as a result of small wins, which are driven by a combination of creativity + discipline + focus. Also, by the way, many setbacks and mistakes that were painful at the time ultimately led to future accomplishments. Every bull’s eye is the result of 100 misses, as the saying goes.
4) Who was your greatest influence? My grandmother. She gave me the drive to push for being the best and the confidence to do things in non-traditional ways, to stand out from the pack. Also, the jazz musicians of the bebop era in the mid 1940’s. They showed what could happen when you ignore the rules and truly push the boundaries.
5) How do you influence others? I try to be generous with my time and share the things I’ve learned, good and bad. I try to help empower people to be their best, focusing on them and not on me. I find when you really care and sincerely want to help with no expectations in return; the influence and impact come without much effort.
