On Peak Performance, Part 2.
Here’s a link to Part 1.
In one of the later chapters in Peak Performance, Minimalist to be a Maximalist, the authors made a few points and examples that resonated with me, just as the Growth Equation section did. The difference being that, I understood the Growth Equation, they just helped me visualize it, on the other hand, the thought of being a minimalist to be a maximalist wasn’t necessarily foreign to me, but was an unique, insightful, and powerful interpretation of something that I’m striving to be, understand, and accept.
As I’ve mentioned before, in my early to mid-twenties, as I went from law school applications, opening a commercial gym, and finally handling multiple responsibilities there — I tried to do everything. I attempted to wake up early, go to bed late, work throughout the day, balance a social life, read, and train endlessly. Essentially, I wanted to do everything and be everywhere. No dice though, I failed. I burnt-out, and had lengthy recovery as a result.
The thing is that you can’t do it all. Ugh — I don’t even like writing that. You need to choose wisely. Furthermore, for those whom do do a lot, make shit happen, and have accomplished special things, they’re focused, experienced, and sometimes, outliers. In the past, that wasn’t me, however, this time, with better recovery tools in place, and further knowledge, experience, and support system, I hope and think I can do a better job.
In the chapter, the authors introduce a character, who I will use as an example as someone who has been successful using the strategy of being a minimalist to be a maximalist. Dr. Michael Joyner is a renowned physician at the Mayo Clinic, and is someone who is interested in the physical and mental fitness of individuals, and their response to stress in those states. Therefore, he is someone who practices what he preaches/studies. Furthermore, as to why the authors use him as their example, he has won numerous awards and published over 350 articles on the aforementioned subjects, and interestingly enough, he doesn’t work countless hours, nor torture himself with endless work. Instead, he has intention and discipline. He personally describes the major variable for his accomplishments as being,
“in order to be a maximalist, you have to be a minimalist,”
which essentially means that he cuts the bullshit from his life, and focuses on what he has dissected that he truly wants and longs for, which seems to be family, medical work, and rest.
Furthermore, the authors offer another example to close off the chapter, one that may resonate well with you. They share the often told stories of Mark Zuckerberg, and a few others — such as, Bill Gates, Albert Einstein, and Steve Jobs, all whom had the same taste in fashion —which was the same outfit every day. I don’t think they completely disregarded fashion, nor appearance, however, they chose to expend their energy elsewhere, especially considering, the amount of decisions they make throughout the day. Truthfully, this is something that has organically and unconsciously grown within me. I’m a blue jeans and white t-shirt, everyday, type of guy now.
They say you learn from your mistakes. That I have, and will always continue to do, however, the plan this time is to not only learn from myself, but from individuals like them too. I’ll never stop trying to be a maximalist, but first, let’s try and be a minimalist.
