CHANGING THEIR BELIEFS

Average performers believe errors are caused by factors outside of their control. Those at the top of their game or profession hold themselves responsible and believe that they are the ones that caused errors to occur.

This is so powerful. If you believe that mistakes are caused by things outside of your control, you’re essentially saying that there is nothing you can do about it. The best know they can get better and improve on those mistakes. They take time to learn about what went wrong and make adjustments based on what they’ve learned.

SPECIFIC AND SMALL ACTIONS

The best don’t try to tackle everything at once. They dial in on one or two specific aspects and hone those until they’re nearly perfect. Once this occurs then they move on to something else to work on.

Instead of trying to completely overhaul your diet, which can feel overwhelming; focusing instead on one specific healthy nutrition habit, mastering it, practicing consistency with it, and once that occurs then moving on to another.

ME VERSUS ME ATTITUDE

The best of the best are not concerned with keeping up with the joneses. Ain’t no body got time for that! The best judge themselves against themselves. They assess how they stack up now versus yesterday, a week ago, a month ago, a year ago, maybe even longer.

They’re not concerned with Jimmy’s mile time, how much weight Don lifted, the 10 pounds Emily lost this month.

Nope, none of that. They’re only concerned with whether or not they’re improving based on where they were before.

Which brings me to my next point…

THEY GET FEEDBACK

How do you know what’s working and what’s not? You have to keep track or get feedback. This might involve hoping on the scale, taking body measurements, doing a body fat test, recoding your workouts (reps, weights, times), logging competition scores, or asking for feedback form someone else like a coach, mentor, or someone else whose opinion you trust and respect.

THEY FOCUS ON BEHAVIORS AND NOT OUTCOMES

The best know what outcome they want to achieve but focus on the behaviors that will get them there.

• preparing healthy meals consistently
• scheduling time in your day to workout even if it’s only 10 minutes
• Working on a side hustle over the weekend

They sometimes look to themselves for feedback. In the book Colvin gives you an example of runners counting breathes and strides as a way to maintain or improve ratios for a race.

THEY’RE NOT AFRAID TO FAIL

The best are not afraid to fail. They understand that “things don’t get easier as you distance yourself from a problem.” Growth happens in the eye of the storm, through failures, experiences, and careful assessment of what they can do better next time.

So slipped up on your diet over the weekend at a friends party? Eat before you go next time, bring healthy snacks with you, ask that there be some healthy options available, or practice Intermittent Fasting.

THEY EMBRACE THEIR SUCK

The best spend time working on what they suck at not what they’re already good at. The book gives an example of a specific study involving figure skaters. The study showed that sub-élite skaters spend the majority of their time on jumps they’re already good at where as elite figure skaters are working on jumps that they struggle with.

THEY ASK FOR HELP

The most talented have mentors, teachers, other eyes to help them see what they might not be seeing.

THEY MAKE THE MOST OF THEIR TIME

The talented spend a lot of time honing their craft. Colvin goes on to give specific examples in the book of athletes, musicians, artists, and successful business people. Noting that 4 to 5 hours per day of work on a specific talent or goal is the upper limit with those hours being broken up into 60 to 90 minutes sessions.

Most of us might not have 4-5 hours per day to dedicate. That’s ok. Build momentum for yourself by dedicating the time you do have. Remember, if you really want something bad enough you’re going to have to CREATE time for it.

THEY CREATE A GREAT SUPPORT SYSTEM

Whether it was parents that were involved in their specific talent (maybe even talented in it themselves) or having a significant other that supported their pursuits.

Is your current circle of relationships supporting you? Have you asked for their support?

Identify Behaviors

The LBB talks a lot about focusing on behaviors because they are something that you can control. 

So here is your task for today. Take out a notebook or open up a word document and get your type on and answer the question below.

What are 3 to 5 of your biggest limiting factors for not being the healthiest version of yourself?

After you have answered that question come up with at least 1 behavior for each limiting factor that you can control that will help you crush it 🙂

Here’s an example from a real life client of mine:

• Limiting factor #1: Don’t like to do things alone.
• Limiting factor #2: Go out to eat more often than I should and over eat.
• Limiting factor #3: Get bored easily which leads to no motivation.

 And the behaviors she’s decided to practice.

• Behavior #1: I’m asked a friend of mine that is in really great shape and is very consistent with her workouts if I can join here 3 days per week… she said yes 🙂
• Behavior #2: I’ve committed to only going out to eat twice a week and I am marking the days off that I do on a calendar. I am also preparing meals every Sunday for the week so that I have stuff already prepped.
• Behavior #3: I’m trying different workout styles form yoga, to Crossfit, to bootcamps.

TAKE ACTION WITH TODAY’S ARTICLE

1. Identify 3 to 5 of your biggest limiting factors and write them down.
2. Identify at least 1 behavior change you can make that will help you crush that limiting factor
3. Using the contact box below send me a message letting me know what 3 factors and behaviors you have decided to dominate.

Live Limitless,

Justin

Photo Credit

###