Athletes and even non-athletes are always looking for ways to develop an EDGE!

Here are ten surefire ways to INCREASE performance… Guaranteed!

1.) Know your goals = It sounds obvious, but I can’t tell you how many people I’ve met and trained who just don’t know what they want. Usually they can only tell me what they don’t want. That’s not good enough. YOU need to know with crystal clarity that what you are chasing can be explained in vivid detail!

2.) Develop a sense of urgency = As I write this article, the Tampa Bay Bucs are beating the Seattle Seahawks 17-3. Seattle is facing a fourth and one yard situation… What do you think they decided to do? Yeah, you got it, they’re going for it! It’s not hard to understand: they have to try because they realize as a team that if they don’t take EVERY OPPORTUNITY they can, it’s over! Developing a sense of urgency is doing just that: Realizing that if you don’t use EVERY POSSIBILITY to prepare for performance the way you REALLY can… Eventually, your opportunity will be lost!

3.) Connect Emotionally = Not enough people connect emotionally with your targets! Sure they want to achieve them, BUT there isn’t always this BURNING DESIRE to see it achieved because “IT MEANS SO MUCH!” Well right? Do your goals and dreams have a burning desire behind them? What will it really mean if you don’t achieve them? Sure, it may not be fatal, BUT if there isn’t a substantial amount of PAIN associated with NOT achieving them, then I say they are not serious goals. Are you connected?

4.) Track Your Progress = Hey, you keep score during competition, why don’t you keep score in relation to how well you’re training and preparing? Makes sense? Tracking your progress is nothing more than looking for what you’re doing well and areas you may need to adjust. Try keeping a training journal – it will help you keep track and stay focused! It often helps build confidence in the things you’re doing right to get you ready to PERFORM!

5.) Make Adjustments = Throughout my childhood, as a young athlete, I would notice that if YOU didn’t get angry, kick your feet, and even throw a tantrum or two… He didn’t really care! That’s a load of rubbish! I certainly believe there should be a level of Healthy Dissatisfaction for work that is less than the best, however I don’t believe in “Beating Yourself!” I have a saying with my son (10-year-old wrestler and soccer player): “Don’t get frustrated… Don’t beat yourself up, just adjust!” The only thing YOU are good at when you hit yourself is… “Hitting yourself!” It breeds negativity, low self-esteem, and ultimately sabotages your best performances! Hey, “What adjustments are you making?”

6.) Seek Advice = Too often we hear behind the mega-successful people who were “self-made”. I have news for you… There is no such thing! Whether your inspiration comes from someone in history who wrote a book or from some mentor who told you one thing: we are constantly being shaped by others and their ideas. So, seek advice: sage advice from the “good people” who have “been there and done that.” Find some mentors you can keep in touch with and ask them questions about their struggles, attitudes, triumphs, disappointments, and the best takeaways from their experiences. Keep a pen and pad close at hand and write down whatever is potentially useful. You’ll find a “gold mine” of help and, who knows, it may be the one to help you become the next “self-made… Ooops… Strike that:” The next successful person to eventually become! in someone else’s mentor!

7.) Protect Your Mindset = Everyone Has an Opinion: Many people mean well and want to coach you and contribute to your success. Some, however, are simply not qualified to help. Keep your mind and thoughts PROTECTED! There are also people who are simply negative and will take away your passion to perform at the highest level! Stand back and remember this proverb… “The wise walk among the wise and fools with fools!” Choose which one makes the most sense for your success and your future!

8.) Enjoy the Process = It’s really simple! Enjoy the fact that YOU are truly unique in that very few people would choose to pursue what you are pursuing: your goals and dreams. Please do yourself, your mind and your body a favor… Allow yourself to experience the joy of hard work, sacrifice, exceptional focus, discipline and everything else that comes with “Chasing Your Goals and Dreams” . Like I said, “It’s really simple… It’s just not easy!”

9.) Develop routines that help YOU master performance = Creating pre-contest routines, warm-ups, performance cues, visualization exercises, etc. have been shown to increase the performance levels of people in the performance business. Take a look at my previous posts to better understand how some of these routines really help!

10.) Run = As Nike says; “Just do it!” After all the preparation with the best and most suitable equipment, training, training, recovery and even Mental Skills Training… The bottom line is that YOU will be called to “Step up and take action”. The most important key to being able to do this is to develop a sincere desire to “Want to act!” In other words, if you’re a fighter… Your favorite place to be is when it’s “Match Time”. If you’re a soccer player… Your favorite place to be is when it’s “Game Time.” Choose a sport or event – YOU have to learn to LOVE the moment that means the most… The moment when the result means something. Remember this… You are an Interpreter! PERFORMERS LOVE TO PERFORM!

Follow these 10 surefire ways to increase your PERFORMANCE and I promise…

YOU will be MORE SUCCESSFUL than ever!

Until next time…

Remember, “It’s just your life, go after it!”