We like progress so much that we think something is wrong when progress slows or disappears. Sometimes something is wrong with our execution but most often I believe that progress slows due to an unreasonable timeline to achieve a goal. When something takes longer than expected we tire of it quicker. It’s almost as if we only
Progress feels good because momentum feels good. When we start a journey we are often motivated to reach the goal. If the journey takes longer than expected we are in danger of becoming bored with the journey. When we get bored, our motivation decreases and then our discipline is likely to lapse. Without discipline our decision making
I learned a long time ago that if every day was a cheat day then I am not really on a diet. Compromise has a way of lying to us about the ramifications of our decisions. Celebrating with a cheat meal is ok but finding reasons to celebrate with a cheat meal too often isn’t. I want
Something that my daughter is learning in her first week at the gym is the great feeling you get when you finish a workout before the sun rises. We joked about how good it feels to get better while our enemies are sleeping. It’s not that serious because we don’t have too many human enemies but the
If you have been reading this blog in the past week, you will know that I am enjoying working out with my daughter at the gym. We have a lot in common and I see something in her that I know was something that set me apart from my adversaries and competition. She likes the work. She
Some people are satisfied with where they are at and accept the ramifications of that. Others see something available to them as long as they make a change to their current mindset and practices. Still others mix the previous two by wanting something that requires change without being willing to change. Again, I am a proud dad
This week was the first week that I got to workout with my daughter at the gym. I was a proud dad as I watched her power through her workouts. She didn’t quit when her brain lied to her about the mortal danger she was in because she was becoming fatigued. I got to talk to her
Teams that focus on opportunities to improve have a sense of emotional security that is non-existent on teams that focus on being perfect. Perfection is not excellence but it is a costly imitation of excellence. Perfection leaves so little room for error that only the best of the best are given the most difficult tasks. This causes
Having a culture of feedback is different than having a culture of criticism. Critics have a way of pointing out our faults and while their observations may have a kernel of truth in them, they are not behaving like a teammate. Criticism is not constructive if it isn’t edifying. Edification builds a team which is a figurative
Some people say they work at their best when the pressure is on. That’s usually a procrastinator making themselves sound heroic for waiting until the last minute. Pressure creates anxiety and it also creates all kinds of terrible anxiety-induced chemicals in our body when we feel it. Great teams know that there are enough pressure-filled moments they