What does it take to be an industry go-to? A lesson from John Wick

​The guy just wanted to enjoy his retirement with his dog.
 
 
You know those LinkedIn posts where people turn some mundane or annoying everyday experience into this epic life lesson? This is one of those. And it’s hilarious. Now stay with me. 
 
So I'm getting reacquainted with the John Wick Chapters. I know I’m early the 4th Chapter doesn’t drop until 2023. But I may have gotten a little excited because the trailer recently dropped.
 
This guy? He’s the GOAT. But what makes Johnathan stand out in his field of work? Its certainly not a 4am wake up. His alarm is set for a more reasonable 6:00am. 
 
The thing I always appreciated about John wick the most is that the guy always double taps. As I'm watching, appreciating his double tap efficiency what I realize is he also does not hesitate. Then because I'm analyzing it now, he's also great at planning and anticipation. 
 
Because I love a good movies series binge, I immediately began to watch John Wick Chapter 2 I noticed that they start out similarly with  John being described as a man of focus, commitment and sheer effing will.
 
Okay what does this have to do with being an industry go-to and maybe even great client experiences? Everything. We can learn a lot from our pal John. Let’s “unpack” this. When John is in the field, he’s able to anticipate a person’s next move. In any field of work this is key to a great experience. Answering a question in an email? Anticipate what next steps your answer will create – is it a return question? Is it finding a document? Maybe it’s booking a meeting? What further task, activity or inquiry needs to happen? Anticipating this and tackling out of the gate creates a better, more thoughtful experience. This is where the planning comes in. John carefully plans and prepares for his jobs. Let’s think about the impossible task he’s given in Chapter 2 (spoiler alert it’s to assassinate a difficult to reach target). He prepares by reviewing blueprints and there’s a “fun” scene where he’s getting his bullet proof suit made and he’s gathering is weapons. Then we see him strategically stashing said weapons in key locations. He does this because he took the time to anticipate what actions will happen as a result of his actions.  Akin to preparing for an important meeting, you take the time to learn about who is in the meeting and what they care about. You carefully prepare your messaging  and practice what you want to say. You test your technology to ensure it runs smoothly and you spend time anticipating what actions will happen as a result of this meeting. What questions, objections, excitement, next steps will need to be addressed?
 
Next up no hesitation. Now in John’s line of work, not hesitating means he stays alive because unlike every bad guy in the history of movies, John does not hesitate even for a second to pull the trigger.  This aligns with the description of his as focused and committed. We all know that procrastinations creates in consistency. No hesitation means “paying yourself first”, “taking the bit out of the elephant” or whatever cliché slogan you want to use. It’s doing the work that’s most important with no hesitation. Staying focused on the one important task.
 
Last we have the double tap. I view the double tap as a throughout completion of the work and a strong follow up to ensure a job well done. Simple.
 
What do you think? Does John Wick really have the secret to success?
 

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