A Personal Note from the Authors

A Personal Note from the Authors
Bob the Brand-New Chief Effectiveness Officer
was far from perfect in his new position. He made
sure he told everyone in the company, “We’re in this
together. We’ll learn together, we’ll grow together, and
we’ll succeed at becoming on-time and on-target
together.” One of the first things he did was to
distribute small cards to every employee. They read:
THE THREE P’S OF THE ON-TIME,
ON-TARGET PERSON:
PRIORITY. Triage everything.
PROPRIETY. Remember the Bill of Rights.
COMMITMENT. “I gotta wanna.”
“Carry this card with you—or post it on your
computer—as a reminder of how important the Three
P’s are to our business and to our personal success,” he
suggested as he handed out the cards.
Bob maintained an open-door policy, and said
that he’d meet in off-site private, confidential sessions
if that’s what it took to help someone become on-time
and on-target. As time went on, people opened up to
him more frequently, and he became the glue that
held struggling departments together.
Recognizing the importance of the Three P’s, Bob
persuaded the company to make The Process the
central framework in the orientation program for all
new employees.
Bob continued his predecessor’s practice of
leaving voicemail messages that all employees could
dial up at their own discretion. He called them “Rich
Moments,” and they became the talk of the company.
He remained in close contact with the former
CEO, because anytime he needed his “batteries
recharged,” he knew he could count on her. In fact,
they decided to coauthor articles and deliver
presentations about the functions of the Chief
Effectiveness Officer so that more companies could
develop on-time, on-target leaders.
In a personal sense, Bob’s implementation of the
Three P’s also got him in tune with his physical and
spiritual well-being. He remembered what the CEO
had told him about her father, so Bob was determined
not to miss the important events in Jared’s and
Michelle’s lives—from graduation ceremonies to the
112 / Epilogue
birth of his first grandchild! His visits to his health
club became more frequent and regular, and he even
felt a need to develop his spiritual side.
Bob, like other On-Time, On-Target Managers,
now knew who he was, where he was going, and what
would guide his journey. He anticipated the changes
and challenges—and confronted them head-on.
On-Time, On-Target Managers embark on their
extraordinary journeys for the right reasons, with the
right people, at precisely the right time, and for the
right results. They do the right things along the path,
all in the right order, and they do everything with
tremendous intensity.
On-Time, On-Target Managers are committed to
the journey as well as to the end result. They are
committed to the vision. To the truth. To integrity. To
the best interests of others.
They are dreamers.
Yet they are realists.
They are hopeful.
Yet they recognize the present situation.
They are listeners.
But they speak up when necessary.
They are caring.
But not careless.
They have replaced selfishness with selflessness.
In essence, they have servant hearts.
Epilogue / 113
Bob the Former Last-Minute Manager ultimately
discovered that he needed to respond to the needs
and longings of his family—and serve his wife and
children.
Sometimes there’s pain associated with the
decision to live by the Three P’s. The On-Time, On-
Target Manager does not always experience smooth
sailing. There were times when Bob’s best efforts
seemed to have little if any impact. There were other
times when he got off track himself. But he was
guided by “Ya gotta wanna,” and that kept him from
becoming discouraged.
The most important thing you should know is
simply this: No matter how good your intentions, if
you procrastinate as a regular habit—if you fail to
triage your responsibilities, if you ignore the Bill of
Rights, and if you lack in commitment—you could be
flirting with disaster.
We believe that if you study the personal and
corporate “Crash and Burns” of this world, you’ll
discover that procrastinators move to the head of that
class in terms of flawed behaviors that lead to failure.
Why? Because they fail to understand the essential
nature of the Three P’s.
114 / Epilogue
If this story has paralleled your life in any way, we
want to be the people who give you hope! You can
conquer the affliction of procrastination. You can
become on-time and on-target in every area of your
life!
But Ya Gotta Wanna . . .
. . . Because No One Else Can Wanna for Ya.
—Ken and Steve