Determined Practice: Four Steps

The journey to success requires a level of performance the likes of which dissuade most people, largely because of the time, sacrifice, and effort it takes to begin to see results.

Let's be honest, the journey to success requires certain things of us; determination, tenacity, and fortitude among them. Each of these aspects lends credence to our ability to perform. If we are determined to be the best, that performance has to be superior in order to set us apart from everyone else.

Superior performance requires determination, consistency, and hard work. In other words, it's not so much about what we are born with inasmuch as it is our resolve to do whatever it takes to achieve something. It is not an endeavor for the weak-minded, faint of heart, or impatient.

The development of the skills and habits of superior performance requires sacrifice, struggle, determination, and an honest self-assessment of what it is we truly desire in life. There are no shortcuts.

Your journey to success and superior performance will ask a lot of you, most often with grueling requirements that are beyond your current levels of expertise, stamina, or competency. Don't allow this to dissuade or frustrate you though because it is through determined practice that we learn and grow.

Success requires a sustained level of superior performance that requires practice...consistent, determined practice. This practice is not merely a repetitive practice, because let's face it, if your fundamental skills are inadequate and you consistently practice them, your skills will continue to be inadequate.

Determined practice is practice with a purpose. Determined practice is a meticulously structured and highly engaged practice designed to improve performance leading to the kind of success that only the most determined and dedicated ever truly achieve. This is not to say that most are unable to accomplish this level of success. It is to say, however, that most are unwilling.

Determined practice is deliberate and not always fun or enjoyable. Think about what it takes just to maintain an acceptable (not superior) healthy lifestyle - proper nutrition and consistent exercise...not always "fun" by any stretch of the imagination, but absolutely necessary to maintain a healthy balance. Look around you. How many people would you say display the kind of physique that represents a healthy lifestyle choice?

If we focus only on what it takes to achieve, then our state of mind will very often convince us the "work" is not worth the results we seek. However, if we want to acquire the skills of superior performance we must understand the principles of determined practice and learn how to make it a part of our daily lifestyle. We must shift our focus from what it costs to what it pays in terms of the results we seek. In other words, we must be willing to do what most others are not in order to attain something they never will.

I have discovered four steps that will not only propel you onto your objective of achievement but will also shape you into a superior performer - the kind of performer others aspire to but never truly achieve. Follow these steps and you'll begin to see changes take place you could never have imagined. Fair warning: these changes will come frustrating slow at first, but will each serve as an incremental step toward superior performance that will compound with consistency.

Four Steps

1. Motivation: We hear this term used so often that we almost turn a deaf ear when it is used. Despite that, however, it is an absolute essential element. You must be motivated to achieve an objective or, quite frankly, your plan will fail. Spend some time on this step. Take the time to understand your motivations. It is the essential "why" in your quest for achievement. Are you intimately familiar with why you want to achieve your goal? If not, get reacquainted with your motivations before moving on to the next step.

2. Accountability: We can have the best plan on the planet, but unless we're accountable to someone other than ourselves, we tend to find "reasons" (excuses) to stray from the rigid course we should be taking. One of the best sources to be accountable to is a mentor or coach. A mentor can not only hold us accountable but can provide an outside perspective and an unbiased analysis of our performance and progression. A mentor is also an excellent source of expertise if chosen wisely. Even the best among us have mentors or coaches. Who is your mentor or coach?

3. Tenacity: A focused determination is that trait that takes us into a zone of required effort (work) few dare to tread. Tenacity helps us look at a mountain and confidently convinces us with a nod and a wink that says, "We can do this!" It helps us ignore distractions, discomfort, and discontent. Tenacity propels us through temporary pain for permanent gain.

It is the psychological grit that carries us through the sweat and grime that keeps others on the couch, preferring instead to watch their favorite TV program or sportscast while they dream of "someday" or "luck." Finally, tenacity provides the last ounce of energy to follow through and cross the finish line of our plan.
 
4. Patience: It has long been said that patience is a virtue. The virtue of patience allows us to be tolerant of apparent slow progress, setbacks, failures, and learning opportunities. These things are inevitable and will cross the path of your intentions. However, patience allows us to see these things as temporary as we develop the skills it takes to overcome and perform superiorly. Patience imbues a quality that transforms our ability to see things others cannot. It changes us for the better and helps us to become rather than to be frustrated.

Patience pays dividends far beyond superior performance and helps us by revealing opportunities while helping us with timing. The insight and timing changes us physically, psychologically, and spiritually.

You too can have more, achieve more, and become more if you are willing to apply the steps of determined practice to your goals and aspirations. Keep in mind this is not something you try. Rather, it is something you embark upon with determination. So...be determined and get ready to enjoy the rewards of a superior performer!

Until next time...-G-


"In the private sanctuary of one's own conscience lies that spirit, that determination to cast off the old person, and to measure up to the stature of true potential."    
                                   
~ Thomas S. Monson


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