In a previous post, I touched on the value of time and the relationship between time and money. I firmly believe that time is our most precious resource. Unlike money, which can be earned back, time is finite and irreplaceable. That's why it's my number one priority. Today, I want to share with you a system that I developed—a game-changer that has allowed me to regain control over much of my time. Originally created for my business, this system has proven to be just as effective in our family, and it can be adapted to virtually any organization.
The time you have to do what you want is directly tied to how efficiently and effectively you invest your time to achieve the outcomes you desire. To maximize time, we must strive to be as efficient and effective as possible in everything we do.
As a small business owner, I spent many years playing catch-up, constantly putting out fires. Often, these were metaphorical fires, but sometimes they were real ones! I never gave myself the chance to get ahead, to plan properly, or to prevent potential problems from growing into full-blown crises. It takes time and thought to anticipate future threats and opportunities, to develop short-, medium-, and long-term plans, but two major hurdles often hold us back:
We don’t have the time to think—or at least, we feel like we don’t. Sometimes it’s a false belief we hold; other times, it’s literally true.
Thinking is hard work. Henry Ford once said, "Thinking is the hardest work there is," and as a result, many people shy away from it.
Another obstacle many of us face, particularly entrepreneurs, is our natural resistance to systems, boundaries, and structure. We often think these will restrict our freedom to take action or pivot quickly. Ironically, having strategic boundaries and systems in place can make us far more efficient with our time, ultimately giving us greater freedom to use our time as we wish.
That’s where my system, P.O.P.S.™ (Peak Organization Performance System), comes in. I’ve pieced it together over the years to create a structure that enables us to be as efficient and effective as possible in both our business and family. The system creates alignment between the three P’s: Purpose, People, and Process. These three domains are interconnected and vital to achieving peak performance. However, there’s a hierarchy to their importance, and they must fit together in a particular way to produce optimal results.
Purpose
Purpose is the combination of Mission and Vision. It defines who you are, where you're going, who you serve, and the value you create as an organization. Ultimately, it answers the critical question of why your organization exists. Having complete clarity on your purpose is essential for guiding your organization in the right direction—purpose is your bedrock.
From purpose, your core values emerge, establishing the guiding principles that everyone in your organization must share. These values are like the roots of a tree, growing out of the bedrock of purpose.
People
If core values are the roots, then people are the trunk of the tree. They are the crucial element that connects your purpose to your process. The people in your organization execute the actions required to achieve peak performance and move towards fulfilling your purpose.
Process
Finally, if the people are the trunk, then process is the big, beautiful, visible part of the tree—the branches and leaves. This is where value is created and delivered to the stakeholders your organization serves. Without great processes, your organization cannot deliver the value it promises.
The Tree Analogy: Key Takeaways
I hope this tree analogy clarifies a few important points:
You need all three P’s to build a great organization.
Purpose comes first; it's the foundation. No matter how strong your people and processes are, without a clear purpose, they will lack direction and fall short of their potential to create value.
People are the lifeblood of your organization. With a strong, straight trunk, you can support a vast, valuable tree.
Processes must be effective and efficient. Even with a great purpose and wonderful people, without strong processes, you won’t reach peak performance.
When the three P’s—Purpose, People, and Process—are aligned through a clear, powerful purpose, your organization can truly thrive. In future posts, I’ll dive deeper into each domain and provide more details on how implementing simple systems can create strategic structure, freeing us from the so-called "entrepreneurial trap." This system will help us escape the fallacy that we control our time and provide us with true control over our time and our future.
P.O.P.S.™ has transformed my life and the destiny of my family, and I’m excited to share more of it with you coming up! I hope you’ve enjoyed this introduction to the system and what it could offer your organization.
Thanks for reading. Until next time, God bless.
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