We assessed over
6,000 studies on extraordinary performance—focusing especially on those in the top 2% of productivity and results—to uncover what sets them apart. The research reveals a powerful opportunity: organizations, teams, and individuals can achieve consistently
Next Level Results—outcomes far beyond their past performance. Even the top 2% can elevate their results in areas that matter most.
The Two Key Characteristics of the Top 2%
The research points to two defining characteristics that set top 2% performers apart:
1. They Are Clear About Their Next Level Results (NLR) Goals.
The top 2% have extraordinary clarity on achieving results that go far beyond their past performance. While they may not initially know exactly how they will succeed, they are fully committed to putting in the effort required. This isn’t just an individual trait—it extends to high-performing teams and organizations operating at elite levels.
2. They Are Committed to Being A+ in What They Control.
Top performers identify the controllable factors that drive their results—and they commit to being A+ in them. They know that when they execute at an A+ level in what they control, extraordinary results follow. This commitment fuels a level of energy, confidence, focus, and joy that far surpasses the ordinary.
The Next Level Results System (NLRS): A Replicable Process
The good news: These characteristics can be developed and replicated. We’ve built a step-by-step approach—the Next Level Results System (NLRS) that helps organizations, teams, and individuals define highly specific Next Level Results Goals and then design and execute A+ standards in what they control to achieve extraordinary outcomes.
NLRS has driven sustained transformations across four continents in metrics such as:
- Revenue and profitability growth
- Sales conversion rates
- Top performer attraction and retention
- Work engagement and fulfillment
For teams and organizations, NLRS is game-changing—elevating their industry position and competitive advantage.
For individuals, it can be career- and life-changing. Those who implement NLRS not only achieve extraordinary results but also experience higher energy, confidence, focus, and joy in the process.
The Starting Point: Creating Clarity and Energy Around NLR Goals
The foundation of NLRS is defining clear, energizing Next Level Results Goals—results that are substantially beyond past achievements.
For some, this clarity comes quickly. Others need reflection. Either way, this step is non-negotiable—without one to three compelling NLR Goals, achieving top 2% performance and fulfillment is nearly impossible
Design and Execution: Committing to A+ in What We Control
Once NLR Goals are set, the next step is A+ standards design and execution—a one-time design process followed by systematic, high-energy day-by-day execution.
Real-World Example: A Global Technology Division’s Sales Transformation
A multinational division of a Global 1000 technology company provided software development services. While they had grown rapidly, a new President saw an opportunity for even greater expansion through large account growth and new customer acquisition.
Phase 1: Defining Next Level Results Goals
We worked with the Executive Leadership Team to define their NLR Goals. They had a strong vision, but we helped ensure there was exceptional determination to follow through—committing to winning before knowing all the details of how to win.
Phase 2: Designing A+ Standards
We then designed A+ standards in three key areas:
1.
A+ Decision-Making Standards
- Defined A+ standards for who, why, what, and how decisions—including value proposition (who we are), purpose (why we’re here), quarterly goals (what we’re committed to), and weekly priorities (how we’ll achieve them).
- Established a systematic meeting cadence to align decision-making with NLRs and ensure rapid problem-solving.
2.
A+ Activity Standards
- Identified key activity blocks that drive NLRs (e.g., targeting, meeting generation, customer meetings, proposals, follow-ups).
- Established clear A+ standards for each—leveraging analytics, top performer insights, and external best practices.
- Communicated the standards and strengthening A+ commitment mindsets.
3.
A+ Leadership Standards
- Optimized leadership actions relating to hiring, incentives, coaching, and performance management.
- Created a culture that attracts and develops top-performing talent who thrive in an A+ environment.
These three A+ design steps, by creating specificity around key controllable standards that drive results, positioned the organization to achieve outcomes far beyond what they had previously attained.
Phase 3: Executing A+ Standards
After designing the A+ standards, we launched a 13-Week Execution Sprint to embed them into daily habits:
1.
A+ Decision-Making
- Ensured leaders at every level identified and acted on their who, why, what, and how decisions, focusing especially on setting key weekly priorities aligned with their NLRs.
- Elevated the quality of Win the Week 1-on-1 and team meetings by focusing on three key questions: What happened? Are we on track? What’s next?
2.
A+ Activities
- Systematically implemented the standards relating to relationship-building and sales advances with existing and new customers.
- Introduced new scorecards tracking not results and standards—shining a light on these standards led to immediate improvements in them.
3.
A+ Leadership
- Executed A+ hiring, incentive compensation, coaching, and performance management.
- Leaders not only elevated performance but also strengthened team energy, confidence, focus, and joy, driving top performer attraction and retention.
Results: A Rapid and Lasting Transformation
Within 13 weeks:
- New customer acquisition productivity increased by 15%
- Existing customer growth rose by 13
These exceeded ambitious 6-month targets—in just 3 months.
Just as importantly, committing to A+ standards in every block became part of the culture—ensuring sustained, compounding improvement.
Other Success Stories
- A B2C Home Services Company reversed declining growth rates—not just recovering but surpassing prior growth rates, by systematically identifying and committing to A+ standards in what they controlled.
- A Technology Company improved product development speed by 50%, without new tools, just executing with A+ standards in what they controlled.
- Individuals have used the system to achieve career promotions, weight loss, athletic breakthroughs, and even improved family relationships, all by holding themselves to A+ standards in what they control.
Join Us in Achieving Next Level Results
The science is simple: Identify the controllable inputs that drive results, commit to being A+ in them, and systematically follow through. Consistently executing A+ Standards will lead to consistently achieving A+ Results.
A+ Decision-Making. A+ Activities. A+ Leadership: When you control what you can at an A+ level, you unlock results far beyond what you’ve achieved before.
As importantly, you’ll work and live with levels of energy, confidence, focus, and joy that are substantially above what you’ve ever experienced.
Join us in empowering people, teams, and organizations to be A+ in what they control—and achieve consistently Next Level Results.