What keeps encore performers, leaders and high achievers in the game? What accounts for staying power?

Staying power comes from staying relevant.

Aristotle said excellence is new forever. True as that may be, even the most excellent products, services and performances need to be relevant to the audience and the times.

Truth doesn’t change, but its application certainly does. While the essence of what you do may not change, there are important nuances that will affect how relevant it is and hence determine staying power.

Relevance keeps audiences engaged and can be different things to different people. I’ve personally tired of the over-used acronym WIIFM: what’s in it for me? (the station EVERYBODY listens to…) I’ve not tired, however, of the need to engage people with what we do and how we do it.

Generational differences are one of the biggest challenges to staying relevant. Preferences change with age and too often we’re content with a shrinking market of who still loves our unchanged offerings. The automotive industry has tried with varying success to convince us that certain brands “aren’t your daddy’s car” anymore. Same car + different desires = failure.

You can be the best dinosaur, but you’re still a dinosaur. What are you doing to create staying power in your work and organization?