What if . . . ?

These two powerful words usually conjure up the results of past decisions—how things might have been different and better if only . . .

But they are equally powerful when applied to the future. We can’t change the past. But the future? That’s a totally different story.

What if a CEO or organization leader had such a reputation for effectiveness as a leader-manager that she never had to go looking for new employees? There was always a long line of job applicants ready to do whatever it took to work for her. (Example: In 2006 Google received one million job applications and made 5,000 hires.)

What if a teacher was so extraordinary that many of her students stayed after school for tutoring, not because they needed to but because they wanted to? (This happens to teachers like Jaime Escalente, subject of the film Stand and Deliver, who changed the lives of his inner-city students at East L.A.’s Garfield High School.)

What if a restaurant had such good servers that customers asked to sit in a particular server’s section, and was even willing to wait if necessary to do so?

What if a pastor was so effective at communicating that first-time church visitors came back the following week, and brought others with them? (Example: By his own admission, the first few rows of seats at Pastor Tommy Barnett’s Phoenix First church in Phoenix [weekly attendance: 15,000] look like “the bar scene out of Star Wars,” so diverse is the eclectic crowd that comes to hear him preach.)

I know—at this point you’re probably saying, “But those are the exceptions to the rule—the superstars. I’m not sure I could ever develop that kind of reputation in my line of work.”

Why not?

What if you were so good at your work, such an asset to your company, that your employer would do almost anything not to lose you?

What if you performed in such a way that people buzzed about your remarkable performance and wanted more of the product, service, or ideas you provide?

If you knew how to consistently get people to demand more and more of you and whatever it is you do, it would be because of the encore effect.

What are you doing today to create an encore with your employer, customers or colleagues? What time and effort have you invested to create an encore at home with your spouse and kids?

In September of this year you can read my new book The Encore Effect: How to Give a Remarkable Performance in Anything You Do. In the meantime, I’ll share ideas and techniques you can use to get people to want more of you and what you do.

Aim for an encore.