3 tips for getting a perfect ten
Peter Vidmar won a gymnastics Gold Medal at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Looking back at how his event was scored in those days, he describes the steps people took to score the ‘perfect10’, which was first achieved by Nadia Comaneci in Montreal. Firstly, they must achieve the Olympic standard of technical competence. This often took years of dedication and would give them the 9.4. They could then add 0.2 by taking a risk; 0.2 by demonstrating originality - something that had never been done before; and 0.2 by showing virtuosity - flair. Such a brilliant performance would produce the Perfect 10 and, hopefully, the Olympic Gold.
Peter is a ‘class act’ who now makes his living as an inspiring speaker. Many people leave his sessions fired up. Some say: "We can now believe in our dreams. All we have to do is to be original, take risks and demonstrate virtuosity." They only forget one thing. Peter's most important message is that people must first achieve the 9.4. That is the first step towards winning an Olympic Gold. Here are three tips for following these steps in your own way.
* You can start by choosing an activity in which you stand a chance of achieving the 9.4.
You will obviously start by playing to your strengths. Focus on a specific activity in which: a) You get positive energy; b) You stand a chance of delivering peak performance. What is your professional version of the Olympics? Which is the ‘event’ in which you can win a ‘gold medal’? On the other hand, you may not be interested in ‘competition’. You may be a pioneer who ‘invents’ a new event. Great performers are, by definition, extremists. They are extremely good at what they do. In the business world, for example, they are often brilliant niche suppliers. So focus on the activity in which you are in your element. You are at ease and yet excel. There is no point in going into an event where, at best, you can only get a 6/10. Try completing the following sentence.
The specific activity in which I stand a chance of achieving the 9.4 is:
*
* You can work hard to achieve the 9.4.
Class acts build on their strengths. They are also prepared to sweat. They pursue the right strategy, find solutions to problems and work hard to achieve success. How can you pursue this path in your own way? Clarify your picture of perfection – the ‘What’ – then clarify the ‘How’. Focus on: “The 3 key things I can do to give myself the greatest chance of success are: 1) ____ 2) ____ 3) ____” Settle on your road map – complete with milestones – then break it down into specific actions. Develop a daily disciplines. Start each day with an early success, encourage yourself on the journey and practice. ‘Practice until you can forget’. Keep doing the right things in the right way until they become second nature. Do everything possible to reach your equivalent of the 9.4. Try completing the following sentence.
The specific things I can do to work hard and reach my equivalent of the 9.4 are:
*
* You can add the risk, originality and virtuosity to achieve the perfect 10.
Class acts deliver the goods at vital moments. Providing the foundation is in place, they may take what appears to be a risk. But in their minds – or in their muscle memory - they have done it a thousand times. One person said: “People say that I take risks, but I have already rehearsed all the scenarios, explored the possible strategies and settled on the way forward. I feel comfortable with what I am doing. In fact, it would be a greater risk not to take what appears to be a risk.” Great performers also do something that appears original. But it is the result spending hours, days or months finding creative solutions to challenges. Then comes the final piece – virtuosity, flair or showmanship. Class acts add that ‘touch of class’. They do something magical that stays in people’s minds forever. How can you follow these steps in you own way? How can you build on the 9.4 and try to produce your equivalent of the ‘perfect 10’? Try completing the following sentence.
The specific things I can do to build on the 9.4 and try to produce my equivalent of the ‘perfect 10’ are:
*
Peter Vidmar’s approach is well worth exploring and you can read more about it in his book called Risk, Originality & Virtuosity.
* You can start by choosing an activity in which you stand a chance of achieving the 9.4.
You will obviously start by playing to your strengths. Focus on a specific activity in which: a) You get positive energy; b) You stand a chance of delivering peak performance. What is your professional version of the Olympics? Which is the ‘event’ in which you can win a ‘gold medal’? On the other hand, you may not be interested in ‘competition’. You may be a pioneer who ‘invents’ a new event. Great performers are, by definition, extremists. They are extremely good at what they do. In the business world, for example, they are often brilliant niche suppliers. So focus on the activity in which you are in your element. You are at ease and yet excel. There is no point in going into an event where, at best, you can only get a 6/10. Try completing the following sentence.
The specific activity in which I stand a chance of achieving the 9.4 is:
*
* You can work hard to achieve the 9.4.
Class acts build on their strengths. They are also prepared to sweat. They pursue the right strategy, find solutions to problems and work hard to achieve success. How can you pursue this path in your own way? Clarify your picture of perfection – the ‘What’ – then clarify the ‘How’. Focus on: “The 3 key things I can do to give myself the greatest chance of success are: 1) ____ 2) ____ 3) ____” Settle on your road map – complete with milestones – then break it down into specific actions. Develop a daily disciplines. Start each day with an early success, encourage yourself on the journey and practice. ‘Practice until you can forget’. Keep doing the right things in the right way until they become second nature. Do everything possible to reach your equivalent of the 9.4. Try completing the following sentence.
The specific things I can do to work hard and reach my equivalent of the 9.4 are:
*
* You can add the risk, originality and virtuosity to achieve the perfect 10.
Class acts deliver the goods at vital moments. Providing the foundation is in place, they may take what appears to be a risk. But in their minds – or in their muscle memory - they have done it a thousand times. One person said: “People say that I take risks, but I have already rehearsed all the scenarios, explored the possible strategies and settled on the way forward. I feel comfortable with what I am doing. In fact, it would be a greater risk not to take what appears to be a risk.” Great performers also do something that appears original. But it is the result spending hours, days or months finding creative solutions to challenges. Then comes the final piece – virtuosity, flair or showmanship. Class acts add that ‘touch of class’. They do something magical that stays in people’s minds forever. How can you follow these steps in you own way? How can you build on the 9.4 and try to produce your equivalent of the ‘perfect 10’? Try completing the following sentence.
The specific things I can do to build on the 9.4 and try to produce my equivalent of the ‘perfect 10’ are:
*
Peter Vidmar’s approach is well worth exploring and you can read more about it in his book called Risk, Originality & Virtuosity.
You can also find many tools for building on your strengths at:
Labels: peak performance, strengths, talent
posted by Mike Pegg at
09:46
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