34: Real Lasting Change

So often, we like to move on to the next thing after accomplishing a goal.Like, okay, my goal was to bench press 300 lbs — all right did it, now let’s set 350 lbs for bench press.    I’ve seen macho guys in the gym do this all the time.   Instead, though, what if before moving to your next goal, you stop and reflected on what’s worked and what didn’t work?    That way, you can become more efficient and also, as you get better at something, the more advanced your goal the more technical and specific your actions need to be.   To win a marathon is a whole different type of training then completing a marathon.   To complete a marathon, it’s actually pretty simple. You just need to start running consistently about 12-16 weeks before the marathon, running 3-5 miles every other day with one day on Sunday being your long run where you build up to a 20 mile run 2-3 weeks before race day. Then you taper down to peak.    To win a marathon, you bump up the number of runs, you diversity aerobic and anaerobic workouts to increase aerobic ability and muscular endurance ability, you focus on form with ninja-like awareness, and the list goes on.    Point is: As you get better and your goals get higher, you need to adjust your game plan.   Here are 3 tips to bump up your game plan, reflect, and grow stronger:   1. Take the Time to Assess Your Wins   You’re not taught how to do this in school. In school, teachers do this for you. Which is good when you’re in elementary school. Not so much when you are in high school and need to think on your own.    The simplest way to assess your win is to take at least 5 minutes to look at it and make a list.   Write a plus, a minus, and a triangle and make a T-chart thing. Underneath the plus, write down what worked the best, under the minus what didn’t help, and under the triangle, write down what you could change to make your training better.    2. Talk to Your Accountability Partners About Your Process   Maybe you have a morning routine that’s not serving you. Like you get up and just mozie around all morning before finally getting to work. If that’s your style and you’re happy with it, fine, but if you find yourself late at night trying to get work done and stressing about it, then maybe you should.   Whenever something goes well for me, I often talk through the process with my wife or my accountability partners. Just by talking with them, they ask me questions that I wouldn’t have thought about beforehand and help me dive deeper.   To really get better at something, it’s not so much about looking outwards, but having help to look inward.   3.Teach   Honestly, the best way to get better at something is to teach it. There’s over an 80% retention rate when you teach something. Meaning that by teaching something to others, you actually learn the most.   Why?   Because again it forced you to look in and really reflect on what has worked for you and what hasn’t. It forces you to pay attention.    This is the perfect time for you to help mentor someone. You don’t have to be an expert, but your own journey has allowed you to help guide someone down a similar path.    That’s why many call teaching a vocation.   The original buddha, Prince Siddhartha Guatama, for instance, learned this the hard way. After reaching enlightenment, he was like, okay…I’ve learned this. i’m done. He didn’t want to teach it to anyone.    Then he was convinced that teaching is a person’s duty and he shared his journey to enlightenment.