This idea came to me when reading this Trizle article. I suggest you read it first. Besides just being plain cool, it’s very useful.
A subject related to Trizle’s article, but not exactly the same, is something I’ve been studying for a long time, searching for peak performance.
We have the tendency to grow when we face stimuli. However, what happens when we reach the top? There’s nothing challenging us. So we don’t train our capabilities. We let them die.
Now, the thing is, we can create imaginary stimuli to challenge ourselves.
Let’s say you’re the best at what you do.
However, there was a time when you were just “one of the others”.
When you were not superior to anyone, when you were just the plain same and had to fight for your piece of the game.
When you had to give your all.
Imagine that, starting today, it’s going to be like that all over again.
Imagine suddenly a new competitor hidden until now shows up, that’s as good as you.
Imagine that you’re not superior anymore. That someone, somehow, has managed to attain your level and is now threatening your position.
How will you react?
You’ll probably try your hardest again. You won’t let your growth die anymore, and you’ll force yourself to become better and better.
Or imagine that for some reason your business, your capabilities can disappear just like this.
You snap your fingers and they’re gone. Imagine all the securities you have are actually not secure at all, and can vanish.
How will you fight to maintain your security?
This is something I’ve noticed in people who succeed. When there are no external stimuli, they create them.
This is valid not just for competition, but for anything.
You were motivated to read a new book. Now you’re done with it and you’re not motivated anymore.
Can you, just like that, imagine you’re motivated again, feel exactly the same things, feel that heat inside, that happiness, that motivation?
You can. It’s a matter of effort.
You can do anything you want to. Stimuli present or not.
Try it!
