My friend Mark Sanborn just released a new book titled The Potential Principle. Mark is an incredible thinker and this new book has some amazing insights.
One of the ideas that stood out to me was Three Secrets To Improving Your Performance.
Regardless of what you do for a living – improving our performance should be a constant priority.
Here is an excerpt from Mark’s Three Secrets To Improving Your Performance.
First, Performance Improves When You Enjoy It
Here’s a rhetorical question: Do you perform better when you are enjoying yourself? Of course you do. You might suffer through a performance that is stellar, but that is rare. A superb performance isn’t just about what you do, how well you do it, or what others think. It is about how you feel when you are doing it.
What is the point of better performance if you don’t feel better too?
Play is innately creative. Rigid rules and structure will help you develop your foundation, but play is what brings artistry to your performance. This doesn’t mean you will enjoy the preparation, practice or even every performance. But when you can find and focus on what you enjoy and are good at, your improvement will come much easier.
Second, Dedication and Discipline Are Twins
If you are dedicated, you are also speaking indirectly to your willingness to do what needs to be done, and that is discipline. Discipline, as I define it, is the ability to do what needs to be done even when you don’t feel like it.
Third, Remember That the Best Have Already Created A Path for You
We have an example in the way they lived their lives and ran their businesses that helps guide us in achieving similar success.
Rare is the innovator who knew little wand then created much. In earlier times apprenticeship was about working for a master to learn your craft or trade. You emulated the master to develop the necessary skills.
As I share in my other books and tell my clients, you first emulate to learn, but then innovate to earn. You can only break the rules when you know what the rules are. You can only innovate when you deeply understand what is already being done and then do it differently.