Good Enough is Good Enough

In today's results-driven culture, we often find ourselves caught up in the pursuit of perfection. Social media and the media in general bombard us with images of flawless individuals—fitness models with perfect bodies, sports figures adorned with championship rings, and entrepreneurs basking in unimaginable wealth and fame. This constant exposure to perfection creates an insatiable desire within us, making us believe that perfection is the ultimate answer. We start believing that without achieving perfection, we are complete failures. However, I'm here to share a truth that couldn't be further from this misconception. The most effective path to reaching our desired definition of success isn't through the pursuit of perfection. It's about consistently showing up and being good enough. Over time, being consistently good enough yields more progress and results than tirelessly chasing an unattainable ideal of perfection.

Shoot for 80 over 80?

A helpful way to approach this mindset is striving to be "80% good, 80% of the time." Let's draw an analogy from dieting to illustrate this concept. While aiming for perfection may be our initial instinct, it's neither realistic nor necessary to achieve all our goals flawlessly. What truly matters is consistency. Instead of criticizing ourselves for occasional slips, imagine embracing them as integral parts of the journey. Some days, we may be flawless; other days, we may fall short. Ultimately, our aim is to hit that 80% mark. By adopting this perspective, we can find balance and sustainable progress toward our objectives.

Sailing Off Course?

Inevitably, there will be times when we sail slightly off course, and it's important to recognize that it's completely okay. Another crucial aspect to remember is that while it's okay to deviate from our intended path, we should ensure that we don't jump off the boat and abandon ship altogether. Veering off course is acceptable, but quitting entirely is not. When we apply this perspective to our daily lives, we should strive to avoid those days where we completely give up. Let's consider a dieting scenario as an example. Suppose you have a momentary lapse and indulge in an Oreo. The Oreo itself isn't the problem; the issue arises when you say, "Well, if I'm having one Oreo, I might as well have ten." This mindset leads to a cascade of unhealthy choices, such as consuming ice cream, pasta, pizza, beer, and so on. Remember, its ok to sail off course a bit, just make sure you stay in the boat.?

Build Sustainable Habits

We want to ensure that we don't constantly rely on willpower alone to maintain consistency. This approach is prone to failure since willpower fluctuates based on various factors. Instead, it's better to rely on habits that we are confident we can sustain over time. The key to building these habits is starting small and gradually adding to them as we become more comfortable. Habits are all around us, waiting to be noticed, and adopting them is crucial because they provide a reliable strategy that works. Taking the diet analogy, it's important to adopt eating habits that we can maintain for one year or longer. While hardcore diets may yield short-term results, they often fail in the long run as they are unsustainable, leading to weight gain once we deviate from the diet. Thinking long term and starting with small steps are the keys to establishing lasting habits.

Take Action

Now, let's break this down into actionable items that we can start implementing in our day-to-day lives.

1. Aim for 80%:?Set a goal to be "80% good, 80% of the time" in your daily tasks or habits. Focus on consistent effort rather than aiming for perfection. Each day, assess your progress and aim to hit that 80% mark in your key activities. Reward yourself for showing up and giving a solid effort vs a specific outcome.?
2. Embrace occasional slips:?Instead of criticizing yourself for occasional mistakes or lapses, embrace them as part of the journey. When you make a minor deviation from your intended path, acknowledge it, learn from it, and continue moving forward without giving up entirely.
3. Stay in the boat:?When faced with a setback or momentary lapse, resist the temptation to completely abandon your goals or habits. Instead, remind yourself to stay in the boat. Even if you veer off course, commit to getting back on track and continuing the journey towards your objectives.?James Clear has a great way of thinking about this, which is to never miss two in a row. One miss is okay, but strive to avoid consecutive misses.
4. Start small with sustainable habits:?Identify one small habit that aligns with your goals and start incorporating it into your daily routine. Whether it's drinking a glass of water in the morning or spending 10 minutes on a specific task, focus on building sustainable habits that you can maintain over time.?Pro Tip: If this feels difficult, make the goal even smaller to ensure success.
5. Gradually add to your habits:?Once you've established a consistent small habit, gradually add to it by increasing the time, complexity, or frequency. The key is to start with manageable steps and progressively build upon them as you become more comfortable and confident in maintaining the habits.
6. Think long-term:?When adopting habits or making lifestyle changes, think about their sustainability in the long run. Avoid extreme or restrictive approaches that may yield short-term results but are difficult to maintain over time. Focus on habits that you can envision yourself sustaining for a year or longer, promoting lasting progress and well-being.?It helps to focus on the "why" behind accomplishing this goal and how it aligns with your personal values.

Remember, the journey towards your goals is built on consistent daily actions. By implementing these small steps, embracing occasional setbacks, and cultivating sustainable habits, you can create a path of progress and growth over time.

About Me

My name is Anthony Delonardo, and I've been passionate about high performance for as long as I can remember. Over the past 10+ years, I've immersed myself in the world of personal improvement, constantly seeking out tools and techniques that are backed by science and actually work.

Through my journey, I've gained a deep understanding of what makes the best performers tick and how they think about getting better.

Now, my goal is to share my insights and actionable steps with others, so they don't have to sift through the noise and trial and error that I did.

I believe that by building a like-minded community of individuals striving to improve themselves, we can create a better, more high-performing world.

In my professional life, I've held multiple senior management positions in sales, leading teams of professional sellers in a highly competitive industry. Through my experiences, I've honed techniques that work in high-pressure situations, leaving no room for anything that doesn't get results.

I'm thrilled to share my thoughts and ideas with you and thank you for joining our community.

Let's strive for greatness together.