This is a very simple concept I have listened to from almost every manager I have had. It was said to me so many times that I think of it as common sense now. So much so that it feel to me as if I should even repeat myself because you as readers will say, “No shit Sherlock.”
But… there may be someone out there who doesn’t know. So here it goes.
At times in life each one of us is going to hit a plateau. It could be in your job, your family duties, relationships, sports, school, what ever it is that you try to perform and improve upon.
Those plateaus are a red flag. They signal to you that a change is needed. One way to identify a plateau is to set goals. Pretty elementary but you would be surprised at how many people don’t actually write short, medium and long-term goals. I create goals monthly for personal, financial, career and development. That way I can analyze if I am producing the results I want or if I am not (plateauing). You can get more or less detailed than I do but if you don’t write your goals, they aren’t goals. They are thoughts.
So you check your goals and activities and notice that you are not heading in the right direction or at the right pace. What now?
You need to ADAPT. You need to change,
Albert Einstein’s definition of insanity is this: “Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
Insanity Is Simple
You can complicate this and beat it to death or you can approach it simple, which I will for the sake of clear communication. This is how I approach a plateau.
- Goal: Win Gold At Competition 2012
- Hours Trained: 15 per week for 8 weeks
- Result: Silver
Now I Adapt!
- Goal: Win Gold At Competition 2013
- Hours Trained: 20 per week for 10 weeks
- Result: Gold
Of course there may be other factors that play into the scenario than hours worked or trained but that is your job to analyze what you did, what the result was and how you can adapt in order over come a plateau and improve.
Who wants silver every year?
The Art Of Adaptation:
- Set goals
- Measure progress
- Analyze results and process
- Adapt by adjusting earlier process
Note: Sometimes the hardest thing to do is identify your own plateau. Especially if you don’t set goals and monitor your progress. In this case it may be very helpful to get an outside perspective. Talk to someone who is going to give you constructive criticism. Friends and family members are great but often in the same boat as you are on so many levels. Looks for a coach. There are many resources out there such as business, life, sport, mental and spiritual coaches. Reach out.
