I want to give you one idea this week that I think will actually help.
Here it is. Skill plus Behavior equals Result.
Your skill is what you can do. You've trained it. On a calm day, with no pressure, you've got it. Your behavior is whether that skill shows up when things get hard. Tired, stressed, everyone watching. The result is just what comes out the other end.
Here's what took me too long to learn. When my results were off, I'd go back and work on the skill. More reps of the thing I already knew how to do. It almost never helped, because the skill was never the problem. The behavior was.
I felt this on a soccer field first. In practice I could cross a ball as well as anyone out there. Then the game got tight and I'd rush it. Same skill, different behavior. I watched a lot of games from the bench, and it had nothing to do with what I could do.
So, here's something small to try this week.
Think of one place you keep falling short. Then ask yourself honestly. Is this really a skill gap? Or do you already know what to do, and something gets in the way when the moment comes?
If it's the second one, don't study harder. Watch the moment right before it slips. Notice the pressure, the rush, the story running in your head. That's the thing to work on. And you fix it one small rep at a time, not all at once.
That's the whole idea. Skill gets you on the field. Behavior is what actually shows up. Give the behavior a little attention this week and see what moves.
If you want, hit reply and tell me the one spot where your behavior isn't matching your skill yet. I read every one, and I'll write back.
Talk soon,
Jon