High Performance Habits: How Extraordinary People Become That Way

by Brendon Burchard

A high performer in any field isn’t just good at a singular task or skill—she or he has learned adjacent competencies to complement a particular expertise.

Specifically, focus on prolific quality output (PQO) in the area in which you want to be known and to drive impact.

Demonstrate courage by expressing your ideas, taking bold action, and standing up for yourself and others, even in the face of fear, uncertainty, threat, or changing conditions.

By seeking clarity, you develop a habit of asking questions, looking within, observing your behaviors, assessing whether you’re on track.

I had simply looked to the future, identified what it would take to win in the industry in coming years, and then realigned my activities to develop the skills I needed to succeed.

It turns out that joy, more than anything else, is what gives them capital “E” Energy. If you feel joy, your mind, body, and emotional reality all get a lift.

What positive phrase or sentence could you say to yourself every time you walk through a doorway?

There’s perhaps no better way to increase ongoing happiness than to start a gratitude practice.

If you don’t put intention and set up reminders to generate joy in your life, then you’re not experiencing the full range of life’s zest.

“If your butt lands in a chair, then set a fifty-minute timer on your phone or computer. At fifty minutes, no matter what you’re working on, stand up, move, breathe, set an intention, and then return to your work.”

To become more productive, become more competent. You have to master the primary skills needed to win in your primary fields of interest.

“There are two kinds of pride, both good and bad. ‘Good pride’ represents our dignity and self-respect. ‘Bad pride’ is the deadly sin of superiority that reeks of conceit and arrogance.” —John Maxwell

You can’t maximize your potential while minimizing others. What you have attained in life isn’t because you’re all that special, but because you’re all that blessed.

This isn’t just my opinion. In almost all studies on expert performance, the major thing that made the difference was not a person’s innate talents, but the hours of exposure and deliberate practice.

If you could improve on my idea, how would you go about it?

Researchers have noted how sometimes tenacity and grit, held for too long, can actually undermine well-being and good health, make us miss alternative paths to a goal, and even cause us to neglect opportunities for collaboration.

Slow down, be more strategic, and say no more often.

The main things moving the needle toward my success that I should be focused on right now, despite all the other exciting interests and opportunities I could chase, are . . .

High performers tell me it’s because when you are more confident, you are more willing to say no and more sure of what to focus on, which makes you more efficient and less prone to distraction.

But just because you can’t keep up doesn’t mean you can’t show up. Only by showing up consistently, even when you’re the greenest novice, will you ever get that experience and confidence.

High performers ponder the lessons from their wins. They give credit to themselves, and they allow those wins to integrate into their psyche and give them greater strength.

Underperformers rarely reflect on their lessons learned, and if they do, they are too hard on themselves.

I feel that I can handle a big challenge in my life right now because I am good at learning how to . . .

“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.” —Dale Carnegie

So the next time you want to increase your performance necessity, declare—to yourself and others—what you want and why you want it.

“If there were only five major moves to make that goal happen, what would they be?”

“How can I handle this situation in a way that will inspire others to believe in themselves, be their best, and serve others with integrity, heart, and excellence?”

Don’t bemoan the inevitable hardships of self-improvement and chasing your dreams; have reverence for challenge.

Do not play small to placate others. Live your truth.