The secret to elite performance comes down to this one word.

“If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done.” – Thomas Jefferson

?All of us have goals and dreams to go where we’ve never gone before... To do what we’ve never done before... And achieve incredible things.?

To go from “good” to “great.”

?The obvious question becomes… HOW do we actually get there?

?After working with thousands top performers, I can say without question that the difference between high performers and elite performers comes down to one word: Consistency?

?Consistent habits sustained over a period of time WILL improve your results…?

But all of us (including yours truly) who pledge to become more consistent with good habits will sometimes fall short. Just look at New Year’s resolutions…?

Of the 41% of Americans who make New Year's resolutions, only 9% were successful in keeping them. Research even predicts which day you will quit your New Year's goals.

Yikes!??

So, what actually holds us back, when so many of us clearly want to excel?

Most professional development trainings focus on two things: Behaviors and Results

?Training in these areas can be helpful.?

But those trainings tend to ignore our mindset.?

?It is our thoughts, feelings, emotions – and even our physiology – that influences our mindsets. And these factors are the ACTUAL things that have the biggest impact on how well we perform the behaviors that get us our results.

To go where you've never gone before and do what you've never done before, you've got to look at the things below the surface...?your thoughts, feelings, emotions, and physiology.

When we address these aspects of our mindset, it is suddenly much easier to develop consistent habits that support our goals.

If you actually want to excel – in your career, in your sport, at school, or at home – you’re going to have to show up day after day and put in your best effort… consistently.?

Not every day is going to be fun, but those these days are when it’s most important to practice consistent mental performance habits.?

We experience the most personal growth when when we target habits in these six areas:

• Drive
• Discipline
• Focus
• Resilience
• Confidence
• Vitality

You grow in these areas when you're consistent. It's those hard days when we prove to ourselves what we are capable of. It's showing up on the bad days that elevates us to become our best selves.?

Aside from being the best husband and father I can be, this is why I get up every day and do what I do... To give you tools to perform your best mentally even on an “off” day… And over time, help you transform your mind to a place where you don’t even mind challenging days.

?The goal is to show up each day and actually enjoy the challenges ahead, knowing that those challenges are making you stronger. Better. And are giving you the lessons that you need to achieve your biggest goals.

Here’s an exercise to help you assess your habits and develop more discipline. (You’ll want to grab a journal.)

1. List your current habits… why are they successful?
2. Next, pick two NEW habits that you want to form: One work-related and one related to mindset.
3. Lastly, create two columns (one for each habit) and write down how you will make each habit:

• Enticing
• Apparent
• Rewarding
• And Simple

For example, if you’re starting a gratitude journaling practice, you can make it Enticing by planning to journal with your favorite morning coffee. You can make it Apparent or obvious by putting your journal right next to your coffee maker. You can make it Rewarding by sending some notes of gratitude from your journaling to people you care about. And you can make it Simple by only journaling for a couple minutes to get the habit started.

Be sure to put your notes somewhere where you can see them so you are reminded to follow through on your new habits.

Weekly Wins

We had some milestones start to come to fruition this week, which provided some nice boosts of dopamine. I hope you did too.

• Dreamfuel’s INTRINSIC technology platform to track and optimize mindset has officially launched. ??
• Dreamfuel's webinar had incredible attendance. Thank you to those who attended or watched the replay! You can watch the replay here.
• Had several more executives sign up for our Q3 MindFIT180 program.
• Participated in two really fun podcasts.
• A client got choked up when talking to his team about the impact Dreamfuel’s mindset coaching has had on his performance at work.

?Be sure to celebrate your wins, especially on the hard days… this will help you lower the hormones of stress – cortisol and adrenaline (fuels of burnout) – and shift you back into a place of focus.

Now, your turn!

What are YOU celebrating this week? Drop me a note and let me know.??

P.S. There’s a lot going on in the world. If you are looking for a new breathing technique for you or your family, check out this breath work video from my daughter, Mia.

New Years Resolution Source: https://www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/studies-show-91-percent-of-us-wont-achieve-our-new-years-resolutions-how-to-be-9-percent-that-do.html