Mindset & Motivation

Don’t despair. The average person fails 7-12 times before finally figuring out how to create lasting change. Slip ups are inevitable, and anyone who claims to be undefeated is a liar (or Rocky Marciano). You’re going to fail. And fail. 5-10 more times (on average). To succeed we have to find a way to keep failing (and then learning/refining our approach of course).

Want incredible life changing results? Get 1% better. Small improvements accumulate according to the Aggregation of marginal gains theory (AOMGT), a thesis taught in B schools across the world. Dave Brailsford, (MBA Sheffield Hallam University) applied it outside of business with astounding results.

I read a lot. On my phone. Via the kindle app. Or on Social, and if something strikes me as particularly inspiring or clarifying I take a screen shot. Why? Because I write a weekly fitness blog and I’m always looking for new material.

So what’s the deal with will power? Sometimes you feel locked in; sometimes the Dairy Queen staff know your first name. Is the presence of will power a character trait, or can it in fact be developed?

Psychologists call this the negativity bias. We are trained to scout for and fixate on threat. Why? Because we are wired to survive, and the world is filled with things that can kill us.

‘The difference between the almost right word & the right word is really a large matter–it’s the difference between the lightning bug and the lightning.’- Mark Twain

The most important ingredient for success, in brief, is mindset. Give me 2 minutes. I’ll prove it.

Not so fast. Meditation? Everyone raves about meditation. It has a 99% approval rating. You know what else has a 99% approval rating? The Shawshank Redemption Sensodyne tooth paste Kim Jong Un (No wait… his approval rating is 100%)

There’s something about having a dream, a thought, an idea, then writing it down, breaking it into small goals, and making it happen.  Well actually there are two somethings.  Encoding and the Generation Effect.

If I can do it I can train you to do it. But first you’ve gotta dump that big weight you’ve been carrying around your neck.    That’s your ego.  It may feel like it’s motivating you, like it’s helping, but it’s only holding you back.   Drop it and you too may just get in the best shape of your life.