I came to this conclusion after observing my own life and the life of others. You see, there is a gap between where we are and where we could be. In order to close this gap, the best metaphor that I could find is the life of an athlete.
Why is that the case?
Because the life of an athlete is optimized for performance. They live in such a way that they can achieve peak performance in what they do. They live by design, not by default. They live an optimized life. We can learn a lot from them on how to achieve peak performance in our lives.
What should we do then?
To live like an athlete, you need to have six things. Here are the six things.
- A Goal
Athletes know exactly what they are aiming for. They have a goal and work toward achieving it. Similarly, you need to have a goal. You need to have a purpose in your life. In fact, I believe that this is the starting point. Your why will drive the other parts of your life.
- A Plan
Athletes don’t just know what they are aiming for; they also have a plan on how to achieve it. Similarly, you need to have a plan on how to achieve your goals. You can refine your plan along the way, but you need something to start with.
- A Routine
Based your plan, you should derive some routines to do daily, weekly, or monthly. In the case of athletes, they have their training regiments. In your case, you need to have some habits that help you get closer to your goals.
- A Discipline
Athletes are disciplined in their training. They have to do certain things whether they feel like it or not. Similarly, you need discipline in doing your routines. Discipline will make you do what you need to do.
- A Coach
An athlete needs a coach to reach her potential. The coach will help them know what to do and get them back on track if necessary. Also, if the situation changed, the coach would devise a new plan for them.
Similarly, having a mentor will help you reach your goals faster. It might not be easy to find a mentor in real life, but you can learn from virtual mentors. Read their books and watch their interviews. By understanding their mental models, you will know what advice they would give to you.
- Supporters
Just like an athlete needs supporters, you also need supporters. These are people who give you the motivation to keep going in difficult times. These are people who believe in you no matter what. Having supporters can make a big difference.
Live like an athlete, and you will be on your way to reaching your full potential.