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Setting the Compass for Peak Performance

Written by: Raymond Perras

Article Overview: The first in a series of articles to lay a path for the reader toward peak performance, the right stuff, in the right amount at the right time. The aim is to provide a simple yet powerful recipe to engage a focused individual into a journey to the top of his or her game.

Setting the Compass for Peak Performance

When I was offered the opportunity to contribute to this website, I was excited by the idea of sharing my perspective on peak performance.I feel that my first message should initiate a new thinking process for the reader. You see, as a peak performance coach, I encounter numerous organizations and individuals seeking to re-invent themselves, to re-align their effort and recharge to create optimal results. I believe I should share ideas in that direction.

A DEFINITION FOR PEAK PERFORMANCE

So here is my first shot at setting a new course on their compass for those who will read this article. It is rooted in the concept of peak performance, the right stuff, in the right amount, at the right time^TM. I want to help you raise your awareness to the fact that life is not about having "the pedal to the metal" all the time. On the contrary, life is about living fully and making the journey last as suggested by Denis Waitley. He is a world renowned high-performance consultant described by the Washington Post as " ... Vince Lombardi power in a Bob Newhart personality."

BUILDING AWARENESS

I have a question for you. Have you ever asked yourself how an Olympic athlete trains for four years before he or she gets to compete for the prize? How can these people stay focused, train every day, do what it takes, and sustain the drive that enables them to perform when the time comes?

One thing is for sure. It takes dedication, tenacity, energy, courage, motivation, perseverance, or all these qualifiers we usually assign to an athlete when we observe an outstanding performance. Most of the time however, we don't usually stop very long to think about context. We make abstraction and forget the reality each and every one of us lives every day.

The fact is, every human being, in some small way, is an Olympic athlete. Every day, we all have to face challenges, evaluate situations, make decisions, and often without awareness, accept the responsibility for them. We tend to discount the enormity of the events that mark our life every day. The main reason is that we have not learned to be aware, to be conscious of our context, to realize the process (mental, emotional, psychological) that we experience every time.

NOW HEAR THIS!

Therefore, in line with suggesting a new bearing on your compass, and my continued contribution to this site for the near term, I want to draw your attention to the possibilities staring you in the face. Over the next few months, I will share with you ideas, concepts, techniques, and simple tricks to enable you to become peak performers in your own life. It is simple. Ask any Olympic athlete. But it takes focus and hard work. I will be your guide as you integrate a new compass bearing in your daily routine.

Stay tuned for a series of articles which will provide insight into the world of peak performance, and a systematic and structured approach to hit a homerun in your quest for excellence.

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Article Tags: abstraction, bob newhart, compass, courage, dedication, denis waitley, high performance, motivation, new thinking, olympic athlete, optimal results, peak performance coach, pedal to the metal, performance consultant, perseverance, right stuff, right time, tenacity, vince lombardi, washington post



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