Trailhead Thoughts

“Execution is everything. No matter how brilliant the strategy, it’s worth nothing unless it’s implemented properly.”

- Mark Fields

Trail Map - Learn. Think. Act. ™

Execution Made Simple

Let’s talk about execution. It’s a word some people really don’t like, but it’s necessary when it comes to getting things done. So, let’s talk about what it means, why we struggle with it, and how to overcome common challenges.

📚Learn

Execution = How we Achieve Results. It’s doing the right work in the right order to achieve a specific objective.

The top 3 reasons people fail to execute:

Doing too much: we confuse being busy with making progress.
Avoiding hard things: we gravitate to easy tasks and skip what actually matters.
Quitting too soon: We give up before the work has time to work.

Ouch. Guilty of all of the above. 🙋‍♀️ Anyone else?

Success isn’t about trying harder. It’s about choosing smarter.

🤔Think

Ask yourself:

What’s one specific goal I want to achieve?
What’s the real work that will move me toward that goal?
Am I tracking progress or just hoping?

When we stop to reflect, we begin to correct.

💪 Act

Try this simple 3-step plan:

Define a small, clear goal (start with a micro-goal.)
Map the “how” - three key actions to get there.
Break it down into 2-week sprints. Do the work. Check results. Adjust.

Repeat every sprint. Learn from what’s working. Change what’s not.

Beyond the Trailhead

Doing the Work That Matters

We love to talk about strategy, planning, and purpose, but execution is where it all comes to life (or unfortunately, where it all falls apart.) It’s easy to say “I’ll get it done,” but much harder to actually do the right work, in the right order, at the right time.

Most of us can agree that execution isn’t about effort alone. It’s about alignment. You can move all day long in the wrong direction and still end up stuck in the same spot. The trick is to build systems that help you stay clear, consistent, and accountable. Especially when motivation dips (and we all know it will.)

Here’s how to make execution work for you this week:

Start with one focus- don’t try to fix everything at once. Pick one goal that would actually move something forward. Ask, “If I could only make progress in one area this month, what would matter most.”
Identify your “energy leaks” - Where are you wasting effort? Look for meetings, habits, or distractions (hello doom scrolling) that drain time without creating results. Eliminate or delegate one of them this week.
Build micro-rhythms, not massive plans - execution thrives on short feedback looks. Block 90-minutes for deep work. End each day with a 5-minute review. What worked? What didn’t? What’s next?
Create visibility- don’t try to be accountable in the dark. Share progress publicly or within your team. Simple dashboards, whiteboards, or shared docs can make a huge difference.
Ask better questions - What’s the next logical action I can take? What’s blocking me and how do I remove it? Who can help me make faster progress?

Execution gets better when it becomes a habit of curiosity. You don’t need to do more. You need to decide what matters and do that better.

If this hits close to home, you’re in good company. We wrestle with execution too. After all, we raised our hand in the Trail Map section.

Too many ideas, not enough hours, and a constant pull toward “busy” instead of “impactful.” No one ever fully masters execution. It’s a skill you strengthen over time through awareness, systems, and intention. And we are right there with you.

Voices from the Trail

Meet Mike – founder of Find My Catalyst

Let’s apply Jobs to Be Done to improve the effectiveness of your meetings.

In this episode, Mike shares how leadership principles can transform meetings into catalysts for action. From decision-making to collaboration, he outlines strategies to align teams, solve problems, and achieve goals. Mike highlights tools like guided whiteboard sessions and the importance of starting with self-leadership to build stronger, thriving organizations.