“If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.”
– Isaac Newton
Modelling is one of the keys to results for all successful people.
Modelling is observing what someone has done and then replicating this to achieve the same results, often in less time.
It is taking a complex situation and splitting it into smaller chunks. It takes overwhelm out of the equation.
You then create a map or ‘model’ of that behaviour which you can replicate – by understanding the underlying process.
You can replicate excellence in any organisation or person.
It’s about fast tracking the results you want, using a proven set of systems and processes to achieve what you want. It’s accelerating the speed of mastery. Consistent success leaves clues.
You can replicate the results and successes often in less time than the original person.
One of the challenges with modelling is ourselves.
We see the success someone has today and skip the years of effort to produce it.
We skim the surface of the model.
And then we get frustrated when we can’t replicate the results.
“It just doesn’t work”. “It wasn’t right for me”. “I can do it better.”
Does this sound familiar?
Successful modelling is about looking deeper at what we are observing.
The gold is in the detail.
No-one suddenly arrives at mastery of an area of expertise.
It takes steps, actions, determination, tenacity and lots of mistakes along the way.
So, how do we learn to model successful people who have the results we want, to accelerate our own results?
We can model all areas of our lives, to our careers and business.
It’s like any other skill you want to master. You can learn and improve. You just need to follow the process.
Who Have We Been Modelling?
Countless studies have shown that humans learn through modelling others.
As children we model those around us – unconsciously. Our parents, teachers, family friends and the wider communities we are exposed to. Children pay more attention to what their parents do, rather than what they say. We use modelling to tie our shoes, eat our meals, brush our teeth, how we talk and connect with each other.
We take on board their values, beliefs, rituals, actions habits and attitudes.
We model their behaviour and accept it as normal.
So, as we move from the imprint years of 0-7, through adolescence, into our teenage years and finally into adulthood we look to our role models to set the standards and provide guidance in our lives.
As adults, the interest to model others declines. We can develop fixed mindsets, our ego defends who we are, our curiosity can decrease. We stop mirroring our role models. We can lose our ability to access that part of us.
And like all stages of our lives, we are still the average of those people we spend most time with.
So, at an unconscious level, we are still modelling others.
We find our tribe – where we belong – we have our need to connect and belong. So, we model those in our tribe either unconsciously or consciously.
As children we didn’t have a choice who we modelled – who we were influenced by.
But we do as adults – we have choice.
So, How Do You Model?
Modelling and Achieving Your Goals
We’ve set ourselves some big action goals. The next step is to turn the goals into reality.
Now we need to turn to those who have already what we want. What can we learn from them?
Success doesn’t come to the lucky few. It doesn’t appear out of thin air. It’s not fate or magic. It is a direct result of mindset, the processes & strategies involved, actually taking action, and surrounding yourself with the right people.
So, where do we start?
Well, you already know your goals, so let’s make sure you are modelling the right type of people.
The 5 Steps to Successful Modelling:
Step 1 – Know what you want to model
Decide what area of your life you want to model – consider the Wheel of Life exercise you’ve already done.
Is it career, family, wealth, health, relationships, adventure?
Step 2 – Find someone who has what you want
They must have success in the precise area of you are seeking to improve in. Someone worth modelling who’s attributes and attitudes you respect. You can model a number of people – it doesn’t have to be one. How did they achieve their success? What obstacles and challenges did they overcome? What philosophies about life do they have?
Step 3 – Watch them when they are doing the behaviour you want to model
Observe and mirror. Focus on what they are doing and ask questions to understand their thinking. What resources does this person have available to them to consistently achieve results, deal with the challenges, and move in the direction of their long term goals? What choices do they make? What evidence do they use to determine progress? How do they respond to setbacks?
Step 4 – Find similarities and differences
What are their traits and behaviours in detail?
Compare to others you have modelled.
What are the same and what are different?
Step 5 – Create a strategy
This is a step by step formula to achieving the results you want. A trusted process that you can replicate time and time again. Imagine you are going to teach someone – what would they need to know about the process – down to the detail.
What’s important and what’s not? Keep what is and discard what’s not. Test and adjust.
Your Turn
Let’s do another exercise together.
Download the workbook from the ‘Materials’ tab at the top of this page.
Let’s start to consider who you want to model and the results you want.
Up Next
Step 3 Quiz – You require 90% to pass the quiz
Then onto…
Step 4 – Taking Action