Welcome to a Demonstration of the "How to Become an A-Performer" Course, Lesson One

The "How to Be an A-Performer" course includes 20 lessons. When you complete all 20 lessons of the course, your supervisor will send you a Certificate of Completion. Lesson One of this course will take you less than an hour. Please plan to do it in one sitting as this system does not save your answers until the end.

The course includes articles, videos, essays and action steps designed to help you improve your performance. You can take this course using any device, anytime, anywhere.

To begin, complete the form below. Only your supervisor will send you email.

Thank you. Please read the article below: "Introduction: Why Be an A-Performer?"

Introduction: Why Be an A-Performer?

Why should you want to be an A-Performer?

Of course, it would help your employer as you would get more work done in less time and with higher quality. You boost your employer's income while reducing his or her stress. But what's in it for you?

For one thing, A-Performers are extremely valuable to their employers. If the economy goes bad, an A-Performer's job is more secure than all other types of performers.

By being an A-Performer, you can increase your income. Nearly all employers are happy to pay you more, either by giving you a raise because of your improved performance, or through accomplishment rewards. As you will learn in "How to Be an A-Performer," you can write down and present solutions to your boss regarding your pay.

For example, you can say, "Right now, we get ___ per week. If I push this up to ___ per week, can I have a bonus of $25 for each one above our current average?" If your proposal makes sense to your employer, he or she will approve it.

You can use your A-Performer training to improve your personal life as well. For example, you use the information in this course to have more grit, increase your charm and charisma, create a terrific first impression, gain cooperation from family members and friends, handle angry people, have more class, keep yourself motivated and much more.

Best of all, as an A-Performer, you have more pride. You can see your constant improvements in your job and home life. Your future looks better than ever.

Who Are A-Performers?

Every terrific movie you watch has at least one fictional A-Performer, played by an actor who is an actual A-Performer. For example, Wonder Woman is an A-Performer acted by A-Perfomer actress Gal Gadot. Justice League’s Superman (obviously an A-Performer) is acted by Ben Affleck, an A-Performer actor.

Successful businesses always include several A-Performers. Every self-made millionaire, multimillionaire and billionaire is an A-Performer.

You can start to be part of this elite group by following the recommendations in this course.

How to Be an A-Performer

Follow the advice in every part of this online course, as best you can. Once you complete all the lessons, go through it again, and find even more ways to put the recommendations to use.

A-Performers are constantly looking for ways to improve themselves, their performance, their income and their happiness. They never believe they know it all, even when they have decades of experience and success.

All A-Performers always have room for improvement; if that is true for you, you will improve!

Realize that what you are doing is very important. Do not settle for what you have today, but work for a better tomorrow.

Take one step at a time. Be happy with small improvements. Set goals and reach them; and then set bigger goals!

As an A-Performer, the world becomes your playground. You have the skills to play any game better than most.

Choose which game you want to play and play to win!


What is an A-Performer?

Whether you are a teenager in your first job, a licensed professional, a construction worker, an executive in a corporation or starting up your own business, everything goes your way if you're an A-Performer.

When you are an A-Performer, you earn above-average pay. Your boss has no doubt that you are the reason things are going well. Giving you rewards is a joy for your boss.

As an A-Performer, you earn more power. You become a natural leader who makes the best decisions. Your boss trusts you, listens to you and lets you get on with it.

Best of all, as an A-Performer, you have more fun. Succeeding at your job is easier and less stressful than ever. Work is pleasurable.

We all fit into one of four categories:

A. High Performers

These high-energy people are organized, clean and very productive. They can get more work done per hour than average. They are fast learners, honest and popular.

B. Adequate Performers

B-Performers are good and average. They do their jobs, get along with most people and like stable work. They have good production records, can complete most assignments and are proud of their work.

C. Poor Performers

C-Performers do not have a lot of energy and have difficulty learning new jobs. Their work areas may not be too clean or organized. They make mistakes and need constant supervision.

C-Performers are usually quite friendly which makes it easy for them to get others to do their jobs for them.

D. Negative or Destructive Performers

If you think of the worst people you have worked with, you know what D-Performers are like. They drain your energy, lie about their accomplishments and spread bad news. A few hours working with a D-Performer ruins your day.

Ten Signs You Work with C and D-Performers

1. Soon after talking to C or D staff members, you feel irritated, unhappy or depressed. You feel like you have to walk on eggshells around these employees. You sometimes get a gut feeling that they want to ruin your job.

2. Accepting the fact that you work with C and D staff members can be difficult. At first, you may deny this fact, despite the evidence. Yet if you closely observe these employees for a few days, a bright light bulb above your head will turn on.

3. C and D-Performers exaggerate minor problems with A and B-Performers. They do not like being compared to good producers. They hide or falsify their production statistics.

4. D-Performers often take control of B and C-Performers. They like to make them as cold and unfriendly as they are. They make poor attitudes acceptable.

5. You may feel like exploding at them. If you do explode at one of them, they seek revenge. They quietly ruin your reputation.

6. You feel like your suggestions and advice is being ignored . . . and you are right! They take pleasure in making you feel ugly, old, irrelevant or stupid.

7. Bad things happen with patients after they come in contact with D-Performers. These patients not only post negative reviews, they tell others about their bad experiences.

8. You are overworked because these staff members ignore their duties. They know how to control you by pushing your buttons. Fear is one of their best weapons.

9. D-Performers can be quite smart. For example, they can make you worry you are in trouble or failing. You feel a vague threat from them. They are opposed to practice consultants, like ExecTech.

10. C and D-Performers stop your forward progress. You take one step forward and they find ways to push you one step backward. As a result, you feel tired, overworked and underpaid.

Ten Benefits of an A-Team

1. Working with an A-Team is fun! You look forward to working with them. They appreciate you.

2. You feel like you are on a team, not just working with a group. You do not feel you are on your own.

3. A-Performers love their jobs. They stick around and give you support. You know they will be there.

4. You can trust your coworkers. You never worry that they will take something you say or do and hurt you with it. In fact, if you get attacked by someone outside your team, they defend you.

5. Your boss is happier. A-Performers like to manage themselves. For example, they are just as productive when the boss is in the office as when he or she is not there.

6. Patients and others enjoy working with A performers as they make them feel great! Warm and friendly attitudes are common and automatic. Your team makes your patients glad they came in.

7. A performers make the practice popular. They give your patients awesome experiences. You are proud to work with your team.

8. An A-Team generates up to three times more patient referrals than average practices. These new patients are much better than new patients who come in from advertising. The practice thrives.

9. A-Performers increase the practice's efficiency, productivity and income. They take personal responsibility for the success of the practice and for each other.

10. At the end of each day, you feel little or no stress. You feel satisfied with what you and your team are accomplishing. You sleep well.

How to Be an A-Performer

Being an A-Performer is not easy! It takes self-discipline, determination and persistence. If you complete this course, you will be on the right path.

Analysis

Less than 69, you are a D-Performer.

Between 70 and 104, you are a C-Performer, but can become a B-Performer if you make major changes to your life, your attitudes and your self-discipline.

Between 105 and 119, you are a B-Performer with the potential to become an A-Performer with training and hard work.

Between 120 and 134, you are probably an A-Performer who just needs to learn how to act as an A-Performer.

Above 135, you are an A-Performer.

Watch the Video Tutorial, "True Grit"

If you have more grit, you are more popular, you increase your income, your relationships improve, you get more done and have more fun.

In the "True Grit" video, you will learn about a college professor and researcher who discovered that people with grit are the most successful.

Click here to watch "True Grit." After you watch the video, return to this course.

To increase your grit, you need to DO at least seven Action Steps in the real world.

Action Steps are things you go out and do. These steps are specific. You know when you start them and when they are done.

For example, deciding to have more courage is good, but does not give you more grit. Facing your terrible neighbor bully and asking him to turn down the noise is an Action Step. It gives you more grit to face your fears because you actually do something.

More examples of Action Steps:
1. Take a 30-minute walk every day.
2. Meet this week with Chris and resolve our disagreement about the money he owes me.
3. Learn how to get Accounts Receivable reports from our billing system.

Examples that are not Action Steps:
1. Whenever I feel afraid, try to conquer it.
2. Be more positive.
3. Help others whenever possible.

As you saw in the video, grit has seven characteristics. Let’s work out one or more Action Steps for each of these characteristics.

1. Grit is passion and perseverance for long-term goals. Grit is sticking with your goals, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for the years to come.

To help you start improving this first quality, write your answers to these three questions in the box below.

1. What is one of your goals?

2. Using your imagination, write down what it will be like when you reach this goal.

3. Write down at least one Action Step that you will do today or this week that will take you one small step closer to this goal.

2. Grit includes physical ability. You can pick up heavy boxes, trim bushes and clean up garbage.

How can you have more physical ability? 

Write down at least one Action Step you will do this week. You can also select one of these three Action Steps.

1. Make a list of physical changes you need to make at work or home. Pick the easiest and get it done ASAP.

2. Exercise for at least five minutes today and every day this week.

3. Write down something you can do this week that will make you dirty or sweaty.

3. Grit is living life like a marathon, not a sprint. You skip short-term pleasures to enjoy long-term success.

How can you act more on your long-term success instead of short-term pleasures?

Write down at least one Action Step you will do this week to work on your long-term success. You can also select one of these three Action Steps to do.

1. Make a list of skills that if you mastered, would increase your income. Which one is easiest? What can you do this week to start mastering that skill?

2. Make a list of all the tasks you need to do. Which one will give you the longest-term benefit? What can you do this week to work on that task?

3. Make a list of your bad habits. Which one can you break right now? How will you do this?

4. Grit means you face the hard, cold facts when necessary. You do not live in a cloud of theory and wishes.

Are you able to look at things as they are, not as you wish they could be? Could you get better at facing the facts? 

Write down at least one Action Step you will do this week to improve your ability to face the facts. You can also select one of these three Action Steps to do.

1. Write down the name or initials of someone you wish would change or improve. Plan to look at him or her this week newly, not as you wish them to be, but as who they are.

2. Write down something that is not going right for you. Make a plan to not just hope it will improve on its own, but how you will look for the real reasons why it is not going well.

3. Write down an opinion you have that is not shared by others. Consider the possibility that you are wrong. What action can you do to examine the facts until you find out the truth about your opinion, right or wrong?

5. Grit is courage. You face and handle disagreements, difficult people and threats. You protect everyone around you.

Everyone can be more courageous. How can you have more courage?

Write down at least one Action Step you will do this week to improve your courage. You can also select one of these three Action Steps to do.

1. Write down one of your fears. Find a way to face it this week.

2. Write down a disagreement you need to resolve. Work out a plan to clear it up.

3. Is a difficult person interfering with your job or life? Write down a few steps you can take to handle them.

4. Are you bothered by a threat? If so, write down a step or two that you can take to lessen the threat this week

5. Is there anyone you need to protect? If so, write down what you should do to protect them.

6. Grit includes understanding. You find out what others need and want. You help them on a daily basis.

Do the following three steps.

1. Write down the names or initials of 1-3 people you want a better relationship with.

2. Next to each name or initial, write what you will do to improve your understanding of them. For example, ask questions, resolve a disagreement or spend more time together.

3. Write what you will do to help each person on a regular basis.

7. Grit means you make things go right. You do whatever it takes to improve, expand and succeed. No matter how large the obstacles, you never give up.

What is one really difficult thing you will do this week, despite the obstacles and excuses?

Summary

You now have at least seven things you need to go and do. By acting to improve these seven characteristic, you will have more grit and move closer to being an A-Performer. Many people never try to improve themselves, but you can and will, right?

You will also see the value of taking Action Steps. You will have real-world experience and will know what to do to write more valuable Action Steps for yourself. You can constantly improve.

By DOING these seven steps this week you will make a small improvement in how you operate in life. It will also make a small improvement in what you get back from life. Small improvements lead to bigger improvements, right?

As you go through this online course, all these small improvements will add up.

Do it!