Peak Performance: Elevate Your Game, Avoid Burnout, and Thrive with the New Science of Success

by Brad Stulberg

Purpose fosters motivation; motivation lets us endure a greater perception of effort; and enduring a greater perception of effort often results in better performance.

“grit,” or the tendency to sustain interest in and effort toward very long-term goals.

While there is no single way to develop grit, the trait is often accompanied by a strong sense of purpose. Especially when the going gets tough, gritty people draw upon a greater cause for inspiration and stick-to-itiveness.

In his book, Man’s Search for Meaning, Frankl wrote, “A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life.”

The basic premise of “give back to get back” is that instead of moving away from your work when burnout strikes, you may actually need to move closer to it, albeit in a different manner. That different manner is “giving back” to your field. This can take many forms, including volunteering and mentoring, but the basic gist is that you should focus on helping others. Helping others activates reward and pleasure centers in the brain. Not only does this make you feel better, but it also helps you re-associate positive emotions with your pursuit.

•Commitment

•Consistency

•Courage

•Honesty

•Self-control

Take note: None of the great performers that you heard from in this book followed an exact prescription. Rather, they took the performance principles and related practices and made them their own, adapting them to fit their unique styles and the specific demands of their activities. We encourage you to do the same.

SYSTEMATICALLY GROW BY ALTERNATING BETWEEN STRESS AND REST

•Consistency is king. The best routine means nothing if you don’t regularly practice it.