We have performed brilliantly in many many different arenas, but the cycling has yet again captivated me with how unstoppable, unbeatable we are in this category.
What fascinates me though is HOW we have got there………..Listening to the Performance Director being interviewed gave me all the answers I’d hoped for.
He said that you don’t just look at one event, such as sprint, and commit to being better in that event as that simply doesn’t work. Remember past newsletters, when I’ve been talking about keeping things simple and how setting an undefined goal like that is actually keeping things very complicated?
He went on to say that you start with where you are now, look at where you want to be (and this can be a huge gap!), then look at ALL the elements that make up the event, break it down into many small elements and then look at ways to improve each one of the smaller elements and whether that’s possible – Brilliance 🙂
Brilliance, as this simplifies the task, you are changing one very small thing at a time, so it becomes so much more achievable. The athlete truly believes they can achieve the small step that is being asked of them, the experts can help the athlete achieve that small step as they know the small changes to make to achieve this, and then once achieved, you build on that by moving on to the next one and so on and so on.
The end result is MASSIVE – you have kept the task simple, you constantly work at improving that task until it’s achieved and then progress to the next – the compound effect speaks for itself.
Let’s relate this to something in your life, e.g. weight loss:
If you have a goal to lose 2 stone by Christmas and set off on your weight loss journey, we all know that initially, whilst we are still all fired up, we stick to the diet and we will lose weight quickly, but then…….it all goes to pot.
But, if your intention is to lose weight, become fitter and healthier by Christmas and you break down the things you have to do to achieve this, it might look more like this:
Week 1: Â Increase my water intake to 3 litres per day
Week 2:Â continue doing wk 1 but add no chocolate this week
Week 3: Â continue doing wk 1 & 2 but add walk for 10,000 steps per day
Week 4: continue wk 1,2 & 3 but add eat protein with all meals
week 5: continue wk 1,2 3, 4 & 5 but add no cakes or biscuits
and so on – I’m sure you get the picture.
This is such a simple thing to do that WILL change your life if you commit to it.
Doing small achievable steps wins on all levels:
YOU, and more importantly, your subconscious believes you can achieve it.
Your brain likes to keep things SIMPLE.
Your brain loves PATTERNS, once established into habits they stay with us.
Because your Brain love patterns so much we have to be CONSISTENT – it’s the only way to success.
Patterns and consistency reduce perceived THREAT by your Brain and that makes us feel safe and happy.
When we feel happy, we ENJOY doing the thing that we are doing.
When we Enjoy the task we are far more likely to stick with it.
The COMPOUND EFFECT kicks in (must-read book, if you haven’t already, by Darren Hardy).
We get the RESULTS we wanted 🙂
This is what I apply to my life, it’s turned my Business, Relationships, Finance, Health and therefore Happiness around – go on try it today!