UPSIDE DOWN EXCELLENCE

Quality that's simple

Setting Expectations: Begin with the End in Mind

Recently, I’ve had conversations with three executives from three different companies.

None of them knew each other, but every one of them began our meeting with the same question:

Within the first five minutes, they had already defined what success would mean for that conversation. They knew what they needed to do to succeed, and by doing so, they practically guaranteed it.

That’s why they sit in the C-suite.

Defining success before beginning anything isn’t just a “meeting trick.”

It’s a mindset. It’s how effective people approach everything.

Here are a few places to start:

• Meetings: What would make our time together successful?
• Your day: What will make today successful?
• Your year: Imagine it’s December 2026, and it’s been a monster success. What happened? Be specific.
• Projects, contracts, or interviews: How will success be measured in this project/role?
• Tough conversations: What outcome would make both sides feel like they’ve won?

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I used this myself a couple of weeks ago:

A coworker came at me frustrated. He said my department had dropped the ball and caused him all kinds of issues.

However, instead of defending myself, I asked:

That one question changed everything. He stopped attacking and started collaborating.

Turns out, he just needed a set of serialized reports we already had.

Five minutes later, we were on the same side again.

When you begin with the end in mind, you stop arguing about who’s right and start focusing on what success actually looks like.

This Week’s Challenge

Before you start anything (a meeting, a task, a conversation) pause and ask:

“What will make this successful?”

Try this out this week; watch how much faster clarity comes and how much less rework follows.

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Ready to Take This Further?

If this idea of beginning with the end in mind resonates with you, you’ll love our upcoming Own the Outcome course, a 7-week email-based program designed to help you reclaim 3-4 hours a week by learning how to align your work, clarify expectations, and take ownership of results that actually matter.

The pilot cohort starts November 3rd, and it’s built specifically for quality professionals who want to stop firefighting and start leading with clarity.

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