Mark had big ideas and a drive to get things done. He thrived in fast-moving environments and could turn concepts into reality quickly.
But despite his energy and momentum, he never really got ahead.
His projects launched fast but often lacked a clear direction. His team admired his vision, but sometimes, they weren’t sure if they were solving the right problem. When things didn’t go as planned, his instinct was to double down on execution rather than step back to reassess.
Mark wasn’t struggling because he lacked ambition or skill. He was struggling because he was spending too much time in just two phases of success.
Success Goes Through Phases
Many believe success is about traits—being a strategist, a visionary, or a natural leader. But in reality, success isn’t about fixed qualities. It’s about knowing when to shift between phases.
No matter what you’re trying to achieve:
- Launching a startup
- Exercising more consistently
- Successfully completing a project
- Bringing a new product to market
Success moves through three phases:
- Address: Spot the real challenge or opportunity
- Create: Develop ideas and solutions
- Execute: Take action and get results
These are the core principles of the ACE It! Method, a framework designed to help people navigate success as a process, not a fixed trait.
Why Even High Performers Get Stuck
Most of us have a success preference—a phase where we feel most comfortable.
- Some people love strategy but hesitate to take action.
- Some people generate ideas but struggle with follow-through.
- Some people push things forward but rarely step back to rethink.
These aren’t weaknesses—they are strengths. But when overused, they limit progress.
The Real Problem: Under Pressure, We Double Down on What We Like
When things get tough, people tend to fall back on their comfort zones, often making things worse.
- If things aren’t moving, a strategist will plan even more—when execution is needed.
- If results aren’t coming, a visionary will add more ideas—when follow-through is needed.
- If momentum slows, a doer will push harder—when stepping back to rethink is needed.
Mark’s problem? He had a Create-Execute (CE) preference. He was great at coming up with ideas and taking action, but he rarely paused to analyze whether he was solving the right problems.
His solution wasn’t to stop creating and executing—it was to balance his phases, strengthen his Address skills, and build a team that complemented his strengths.
Emma, David, and How Success Preferences Shape Outcomes
This happens at all levels of leadership:
Emma – The Deep Thinker (Address-Create, AC Preference)
Emma was skilled at analyzing markets and crafting creative solutions. She could anticipate challenges and generate strategies others missed.
But when it came time to launch, she hesitated. Instead of moving forward, she refined her plan, questioned assumptions, and restarted the process.
Her challenge? She needed to strengthen her execution muscle and trust that action drives learning.
David – The Relentless Executor (Address-Execute, AE Preference)
David was methodical and disciplined. His team relied on him to get things done efficiently and consistently.
But he rarely entertained new ideas. Instead of brainstorming different approaches, he preferred to refine and improve what already existed.
His challenge? He needed to embrace the Create phase—allowing space for innovation instead of simply optimizing what was already there.
The Best Leaders Don’t Just Play to Their Strengths—They Know When to Shift
The best leaders don’t just focus on what they’re good at.
They understand:
- Which phases they should pay more attention to
- When to keep their own strengths in check
- When to find others who complement them
To become more successful, consider:
- Recognizing which phases you naturally prefer
- Keeping your strengths in check so you don’t overuse them
- Developing skills in the phases you tend to overlook
Because after all, success isn’t about who you are—it’s about what you do next.
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If you want to better understand your success preferences, the ACE Preference Profile (APP) provides insights into how you naturally approach success. And if you or your HR team want to bring these insights into your organization, the Autoris Assessment Certified Practitioner (AACP) program offers training to help leaders apply the ACE framework effectively.
This article is part of our series on the ACE It! Method, which consists of the Address, Create, and Execute process, along with additional insights and tools designed to help individuals and teams reach their full potential. If you want to become an expert in this framework and integrate it into your leadership, coaching, or business, consider joining the ACE It! Master Certification Program.