Hi Team...
I wrote a personal post today on Linkedin that I thought would provide some value to all the hard-charging renegades that follow my work...
For most of my life I have been a "hard-charging" person who stops when the job is done- and then, well, I always go above and beyond.
I have learned though through the years that not everything we do actually requires 100% effort, certainly not all the time.
One of my successful VC clients says that most people are putting 100% effort into 80% activities- meaning, they are wasting 20% effort when they do not have to.
I spend a lot of time in my car as I am always driving - so, I am fascinated by the cars dashboard and how in such a small area we can know so much about our vehicle.
From tire pressure to check-engine lights, to brakes- you name it.
There is an indicator for all things today.
Then, we have our own indicators of "feel"....
I do not see an indicator on the dash- but, I feel something with the tires, the brakes, the belts...
We work the same way...
Oftentimes though we run through the signs....
Chronic fatigue = sign.
Lack of productivity = sign.
Uninspired = sign.
Quickly frustrated = sign.
Anxiety = sign.
You see, the body is filled with signs- we have to choose to listen or not.
When we get these signs, we need to make an adjustment.
Over the years I saw sleeping little as a badge of honor.
This weekend, well, I slept 9hrs. per night Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
I feel great.
Shocker.
I would have preferred to be up at 4am- because "I could get so much more done"... but that would be running through the signs.
I wanted to share a few things that I have learned in my own journey to optimize performance:
Ready? Here goes...
-Sleep matters most.
-Lack of hydration can play major tricks on the body.
-Tension is held in the bodies tissues- so release it (massage, heat, stretch)
-Durational cardiovascular activities and sprint based activities need to be done no matter what your age.
-Weight training never leaves you feeling weak.
-A hot bath, soak, or immersion in heat will do wonders for your body..
-Cold exposure works great also- but it is not a cure-all.
-Starchy carbs make one fat and slow.
-Protein is totally under-consumed and under-rated in our culture today.
-Where your food comes from matters- sourcing is as important as food choice.
-Never hang around low ambition people- they got that way for a reason and want you to join their team.
-Everything is temporary- good, bad, ugly- embrace it all.
-You do not need to everything, just do the things that move the needle (you will find this is very few things)
-Always remember, YOU bring the energy.
SO, today, as you head into your day- think about what you need right now to be great.
Go out and win today.
COACH DANA CAVALEA