Optimizing Performance: Three Essential Factors to Keep in Mind

There are three things that get in the way of performance. We don’t feel like performing, we don’t commit to performing or we don’t know why the goal we strive for is important.

I feel/don’t feel like doing something

I feel/don’t feel like doing something implies causation between 2 things: my feelings and performance.

When we say X (feeling) is in the way of Y (action you want to perform) we create a reality that is based on something that is ever-changing: feelings and emotions. Since most of us can’t control our feelings and emotions this makes things tricky in terms of achievement. Consider this: if I wait till I feel confident to take action, I will most likely never take action because I feel like I lack confidence. Catch 22, right?

That’s why you want to de-couple X from Y.

I need to write that essay AND I don’t feel like doing so

is different from

I need to write that essay BUT I don’t feel like it.

The latter implies that you would perform/take action but something else is in the way.

Feelings have nothing to do with performance.

Keeping Your Word

The more people we tell about our commitments, the more likely we are to keep our word.

If I say I’m going to run a half marathon in 6 months to my mom, it’ll be easier to not do so because my mom loves me anyway and who cares I only told one person. But if I have 10k followers and announce that I’m going to run a half-marathon now the stakes of pulling out are SO much higher. The social cost of not doing what I said I would is too high, so I will most likely train for it and run the marathon. In this example, “I am my word” is easier to keep if I announce it to more people.

This type of performance works for many folks of course, but it’s called extrinsic motivation in psychology. Ideally, you would perform actions based on intrinsic motivation because extrinsic one is short-lived and depends on other people. If you’re intrinsically motivated, succeeding or failing won’t matter that much because the process is what keeps you going.

So when it comes to “being your word”, you want to become a person who first and foremost cares for himself whether you kept your word. Keeping your word creates confidence, trust, and integrity within yourself, and performing won’t feel so difficult anymore.

Consider your why

Sometimes I don’t feel like going to the gym or eating well.

Or keeping my word.

Or doing what I said I was going to do.

When I don’t feel like doing something though, I consider my why and my values. Is it important for me to be fit and healthy? Is health one of my values? Yes, it’s top 5 in fact. So I go to the gym. Is it important for me to keep my word because I value integrity? Yes, it’s also at the top of my value list. So I keep my word etc.

What we do directly reflects what we value. We can say that we value something but do not perform actions that suggest so.  James Clear, the world’s top habit guy always talks about every action being a vote for the type of person you wish to become.

So if you’re not taking action you either

• Have a weak why
• Don’t value the thing you say you value which is fine but then stop pretending it’s your value.

Final words

Performing is mostly innate. The stronger the intrinsic motivation and focus on the goal, the easier it is to overcome obstacles that arise.