Michael is the Senior Partner at Box of Crayons, a company that helps organizations do less Good Work and more Great Work. He’s also the author of several books, including The Coaching Habit and Do More Great Work. Michael has written for or been featured in numerous publications including Business Insider, Fast Company, Forbes, The Globe & Mail and The Huffington Post. Favorite Success Quote “If you’re going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don’t even start.” ~Charles Bukowski Key Points 1. Forget All About Doing Good Work and Focus on Great Work  There are only three kinds of work. Bad work, good work, and great work. Ironically, the type of work that is most deadly to your dreams and ambitions is not bad work. Because bad work is obvious. It’s the kind of work that creates a visceral reaction each time you are forced to engage in it. You know what I am talking about. That work you try and outsource as soon as you receive it. That work that leaves you anxious and exhausted each time it pops up in your inbox. That work that requires no talent, skill, or ability, simply an ability to switch off your brain and put your nose to the grindstone. And most importantly, that work that does nothing to push you closer to your ultimate vision. You know bad work when you see it, which is why it’s not truly a danger to your dreams. Good work, on the other hand, is an innocuous killer of greatness. Because good work (again, as the name implies) is good.  You enjoy good work, you can profit from good work, and good work leaves you with a feeling of satisfaction and fulfillment. But there’s a disconnect. Good work is often what we use to fill our time and distract ourselves from great work we know we should be doing. Good work is that high-paying freelance project that distracts your focus from your new startup. Or that client you keep on retainer who doesn’t push your abilities or stretch you. Good work can even be a relationship, a friendship, or a career that is blowing you off course from your life’s mission. Good work will not steal your soul and crush you underfoot like bad work will. Instead, it will ensnare you and keep you playing the game of life at a small level. So it’s time for you to decide. Do you want to do good work that will make you a living? Or do you want to do great work that will make you a legend? 2. Learn to Understand the True Problem  Men are problem solvers. This isn’t some sort of gender-based stereotype, it’s simply how we are biologically hard-wired. But the unique problem with being a problem solver is that it can often lead to impatience and unnecessary haste. Which, especially when it pertains to leadership and management, can be fatal to your efficiency. After all, how can you effectively solve a problem if you haven’t fully defined the problem you are trying to solve? For example, let’s say that you receive a call from a long-time client who is responsible for more than 25% of your bottom line. As soon as you pick up the phone, the client regretfully informs you that your contract is being terminated and when you inquire as to why he simply responds by saying “We no longer need your services.” At this point, you could make assumptions about the problem, politely hang up, and face the consequences of losing such a big contract. Or, you could ask a simple question, “What’s the real challenge here?” By diving deeper instead of simply assuming that the client is lost, you might find out that they recently underwent significant budget cuts and don’t feel that they can afford your retainer. And while you may or may not be able to renegotiate an agreement, you have stepped further into understanding what the real challenge is. The next time that you are presented with a challenging situation, even an internal one, I challenge you to pause, take a step back, and ask “What’s the real challenge here?” If you are feeling unfulfilled in your work and you’re thinking about quitting your job, stop and ask “What’s the