Some thoughts on the hidden cost of winging it
An Excellent Wknd [25.14]
Hello, hi, 👋
Happy Sunday & a big welcome to the 32 fresh faces who have joined us in the last week.
Let's get into it.
🗓️ THIS WEEK
From Autopilot to Crash Landing: The 7 Habits of Highly Ineffective People
Exploring seven habits that hold people back from reaching their full potential.
Your Social Circle Matters More Than You Think
Discover how your relationships impact your health and success more than diet, exercise, or sleep.
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🤔 SOME THOUGHTS
We all do it. We wing it. We squint & tilt our head & hope. We assume we're doing the things that matter most.
But when we actually measure our performance or consistency in areas we care about, we often discover we're not doing nearly as well as we thought.
Think about the last time you were "pretty sure" you were:
Getting enough sleep
Eating well most days
Staying in touch with good friends
Making progress on meaningful goals
But what would happen if you tracked those things?
If you're like most people, the data would tell a different story.
The Observer Effect
There's a fascinating phenomenon in behavioral science called the Hawthorne Effect, or the Observer Effect. When people know they're being watched, they tend to perform better.
But here's what's interesting: this effect works even when observing ourselves.
The simple act of paying attention to our actions changes those actions. We naturally align our behavior with our intentions when we track what matters.
The Problem with "Having a Plan"
Mike Tyson's trainer famously said, "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face."
While true, there's a deeper problem: most people don't even have a plan. So when life throws its inevitable punches, they don't just deviate from their plan – they're entirely adrift.
The cost of winging it isn't just about missing our targets. It's about missing them while believing we're on track. It's about waking up months or years later & realizing we've been fooling ourselves about our progress toward what matters most.
The Solution: Intentional Attention
The answer isn't complicated, but it is challenging: we need a system to help us pay attention to what matters. A simple, consistent way to track & reflect on the actions that move us toward our goals.
If you’ve struggled to build such a system, here's an invitation: Consider jumping into the ChaseTracker, a tool I’m building to help myself & others stay focused on what matters. I’m taking a handful of folks through it starting in a week or two.
Regardless of how you do it, though, it’s important to remember that excellence isn't accidental. It's the result of paying attention to the right things, day after day, until progress becomes inevitable.
🙋🏽♀️ QUESTIONS
Do you have a question you'd like us to address in a future episode? We'd love to hear it!
Friend-of-the-show Mark England (head coach at Enlifted) returns this week to talk with us about atelophobia, scoptophobia, & why too many people power their training sessions with the wrong pre-workout.
It’s a good one, so be sure to tune in.
Until then, keep chasing.
🤙🏼 Patrick