What Is Stopping You?
There are three important principals at work when it comes to achieving your maximum performance. These are principals that are often ignored but are essential to understand.
First, your maximum is determined by how your are built. Genetics does play a part in what you can be good at. Some of us are not capable of being world class sprinters or Olympic swimmers. We deceive ourselves if we think otherwise. TV reality shows make entertainment out of this principal when we have to watch people who believe that genetics don’t matter and they have the stuff to make it. Having said this there are an awful lot of people who have the genetics but never do anything with it.
Second, your maximum is different from anyone else. This is such an important point and yet 90% of us don’t get it. Nearly every business I’ve had to deal with and nearly every person I’ve ever coached doesn’t understand this principal. Setting team or business goals is a good idea as long as you understand that some people will make those goals easily and others will struggle. Not because some are better people or harder workers but that their maximum – in that arena – is different from others. To better manage people you have to deal with them as individuals. Ideally in a business every worker would have their own goals to achieve and rewards should be made based on individual performance. I understand that this is not always possible but managers must understand this principal to get the most out of the workforce. As for yourself you need to understand your own capabilities. What do you find easy? What are you good at? To extend your current maximum you have to know what your current maximum is, then set yourself a goal that extends it. We must not measure ourselves against others- we must measure ourselves against our own maximum performance.
Third, your maximum is by how much time and effort you are willing to put in to achieve it. Genetics and measuring performance aside this last principal is the most important. It doesn’t matter what gifts God has endowed you with or how much better you feel you are than someone else your maximum is determined by how much time and effort you are willing to put in to achieve it. Do you want to write a book? How much time and effort are you willing to put in to achieve it? Do you want to make a million? How much time and effort are you willing to put in to achieve it? Do you want to be an excellent parent? How much time and effort are you willing to put in to achieve it?
Maximum performance is about many things but these three principals are important to understand. However in the end it will come down to the third principal of how much time and effort you are willing to put in. You are capable of much more and you can achieve many of your dreams but they will require time and effort. Start that time now.
Christopher Brown is a Success Coach and Stress Management Consultant in the UK. He has spoken Internationally and is a sought after motivational speaker. To discover more visit his website at http://www.browncow-opportunities.co.uk where you can sign up for a free e-course called “Avoiding Burnout”. You may also contact Chris direct at chris@browncow-training.co.uk
