What Was Your First Experience with Peak Performance?

Imagine how you would feel if this happened to you. I had my first performance with the Boston Crusaders Drum & Bugle Corps at age seventeen. The crowd was thunderous and the stadium’s lights made it seem like I was playing in the final seconds of the Superbowl. I stood petrified in the opening formation of our show. My mind went blank! The drum major started the show and on the first move I forgot to stop marching and crashed into the player next to me. I choked! I wasn’t focusing on anything I was taught – I was mindlessly reacting to things after they had happened to me. I still have dreams about it.

         Now let’s fast-forward five years to my final performance. The 14-minute show became a mental script that I followed as it unfolded. I was completely in-the-moment and in control yet I performed with energy and emotion. I savored every moment because it was my last performance. It was as if I had a gentle dose of the right information streaming through me during the show. I’d think: watch the drum major for the starting tempo (speed of the music) – CHECK, watch the front of the drum line on this move, so it’s straight – CHECK, listen back to the bass drums for the tempo of the next section – CHECK, enjoy the crowd’s response – CHECK, move my feet fast so this section lines up with the brass section - CHECK, and so on.  Quite a difference, hah? What was your first peak performance moment?

Peak performance is an effortless expression supported by technical mastery.

This is an excerpt from the book “Think Like a Musician: The Time Management Skills You Need to Lead a More Joyful & Productive Life.”

Time Management is Malarkey!

Wait a minute! An expert in personal productivity is saying time management is nothing but malarkey? That’s right. When I tell people I offer coaching and workshops on time management, I often hear about challenges with backlogged emails and a lack of time to do what’s important. Although we need strategies for dealing with incoming demands, we can’t let it be the main target.

I’ve found that when you know your purpose and mission in life, the minor annoyances cease to be at the top of mind. When you know your vision and it’s inspirational, you’ll find yourself utilizing all the cracks of time available to you during the day and evening. You become immensely resourceful because you now have a lighthouse to steer towards.

We don’t lack time, we lack time spent thinking deeply. With even 2 minutes of focused thinking , we can make much more progress than we can from beating ourselves up about not getting enough done. Strategize, ask questions, evaluate, assess, plan, compare, contrast, and brainstorm. We’ve got to break out of surface level thinking.

The Benefits of Starting a Daily Journal

Inspires you to become more mindful 


Gives you a record of events that you can search 


When you vent about your day you can be 
in-the-moment with loved ones 


Increases self-awareness 


Captures your life’s highs and lows 


Increases your emotional intelligence 


Clarifies your thinking 


Serves as a powerful incubator for creativity 


You will become much more expressive and nuanced 


Encourages you to develop an attitude of positive expectation 


Causes you to try new experiences and take risks 


Improves your writing skills 


Helps you slow down and reflect on life 


Documents your life experiences for future reflection 


Enhances decision-making and leadership skills 


Connects you with your inner world and its resources 


Boosts problem-solving skills

The Benefits of Identifying Your Present and Future Roles

• Gives you permission to spend time in areas that are deeply important to you 


• You’ll see the big picture of your life 


• When you have a crisis, you’ll see it as one part of your life and not all of you 


• Gives you a vision for your future and helps you begin steering towards it 
today 


• Helps you realize the value of tiny steps of progress 


• Adds beauty and joy to your life as you begin to curate the roles you want and 
be more selective of what need in your life 


• Assists you in making purposeful transitions between the different areas of 
your life 


• Guides you through the changes of life year to year 


• Clarifies what you value most so you can share it with others 


• The self-awareness that results from knowing your present and future roles 
will help you shine in all areas of life

Read my All the Hats We Wear book to learn how to create your list of 16 roles - you’ll have a new way of looking at your busy life.

A Surprising Trait of Effective Leaders

While watching Monday night football, there was an interview with Bill Belichick’s boss at the Cleveland Browns. He said how impressed he was with the young Belichick. He described it as an understanding that Belichick had been preparing to be an NFL head coach since he was 10 years old. He compared the phenomenon to JFK - both had that special quality of appearing to be authentically prepared for the task. I wonder what needs to happen in all those years of development for someone to come out the other side so thoroughly prepared.

Also, I came across an interview of a past Patriots player who said Coach Belichick sat in coach on the team plane and gave the first-class seats to his veteran players - now that’s leadership! They put their team first.

Deep Wells of Inspiration

Judith Krantz sold 80 million books. She passed away this summer at the age of 91. While reading her obituary, I was struck by her personal story. She wanted to write a novel but was afraid because she received a mediocre B in creative writing at college. Then she piloted a small plane her husband bought and overcame her fear of flying. It had a profound effect on her. She said she became “overcome by a rage of ambition.” I love that! A rage of ambition! Now, that’ll last.

This also makes me think of movies where a spark of massive inspiration strikes and the antagonist of the story stays up all night working on an inspired project. We desperately need inspiration that is long-lasting. One of my lasting inspirations is my fascination in identifying life role. It causes me to be fascinated in people. It affects how I read the newspaper, watch movies, write in my journal, etc…

What are your deep wells for inspiration and ambition? What makes you rage - in a productive way?

Start Your Own Incubator for Creative Ideas

Scrapbooking the News

My life‘s purpose is helping others become more productive and joyful. I love reading the paper each morning. I currently read the Boston Globe, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times. I prefer reading an actual paper. I enjoy underlining and scribbling on an actual paper. What can I say - I was born in 1971. I call the system I use now news scrapbooking. Here is the equipment needed to start:

Scissors (or electric paper cutter), scotch tape, blank paper, three ring binder, and plastic sheets. I cut out any articles that pique my interest and tape them into my scrapbook. I enjoy the tactile feel of leafing through my binder to kind kernels of ideas for my blog.

Meditating at the Campground

My family went camping Columbus Day weekend. I was the first to awaken one morning so I sat up, set my timer for 20 minutes, and meditated. One thing I love about Transcendental Meditation is how random background sounds become the essential backdrop for the deep delve into a transcendental state. So, the extraneous sound I heard: incessant dogs barking, family members stirring, and the RVs heat turning on and off were all welcome.

Later, during bingo, we had a meditation moment-believe it or not. One of us was getting close to getting a bingo. A grocery bag full of candy bars was on the line. Someone in our party struck a meditation pose as a joke hoping to win. As I thought about it later, meditation wouldn’t really help us win. Instead, it may help us detach from the desire to win it all!

Sometimes, I imagine what a yogi would act like if he or she was on the Price is Right. Can you feel the stress of a contestant in the climactic showcase showdown? All that amazing stuff: a new car, trip to Cabo Wabo, or a new hot tub. I’d like to think the Yogi– being an enlightened person – would be detached from the emotions of winning the prize. There wouldn’t be any discomfort or stress. The Yogi would simply guess for the game’s sake but not be emotionally involved with the outcome. That’s what I’d like to be like.

Over-confidence Comes and Goes

Our campground had activities planned throughout the day. I watched a dart throwing contest for kids. I noticed a kid acting with bravado. He was very convincing! I figured he’d win for sure. But by the semi-finals - the overconfident kid went packing. All it took to beat him was a moderate degree of proficiency -despite all of his bluster.

It reminded me of my middle school years. I was one of a dozen drummers in the band. The top drummers were the popular jocks of the school. They talked a good game in the drum section. However, I had become a very studious drummer – kind of an oxymoron, I know. I consistency practiced at least 30 minutes a day. It turned out, the other drummers weren’t. If you keep your nose to the grind stone things can change. One day during band rehearsal, we came upon a drum part that was a little tricky. When the band director asked if anybody could play it, I raised my hand. By the next day, I was known by everyone to be the top drummer and it was a role I held through high school!

Poker’s Soft Skills

I played Texas Holdem poker for the first time at the campground this weekend. It was fun! I’ve never been much of a card player. However, I’m crazy about backgammon. I played in the teen/adult poker tournament and found it fascinating to watch teens make a point of making eye contact to get as many clues as possible as the game intensified.

Share an example of how the tides changed for you. When did you move to the top of the pack?

Gaslighting vs. Visioning

Gaslighting vs. Visioning
I was reading an “Ask Amy” article and the issue of gaslighting came up. It seems the term originated with the 1944 film, Gaslight. Gaslighting is when one person drives another mad by creating a false reality - then the gaslighter eventually convinces the gaslightee that the false reality is the truth. It dawned on me that gaslighting is a little bit like visioning - but with a positive outcome. If I create an amazing vision for what something can be and I reinforce goals that I don’t have yet - it’s sort of like a false reality that I’m attempting to make true. (Boston Globe, 5/9/19)

A Listening Bar - That’s What I Need!
Listening bars are forming in the USA. They are styled after the Japanese listening bars that go back to 1950. You sit and listen to the music a DJ plays. It seems they use vinyl.

No Starving Artists
The New York Times had an article describing a gorgeous residency program for artist in Dakar, Senegal. It sounds amazing! However, I believe that simple settings are just as effective in getting quality work done. I say - don’t wait for divine inspiration. Carpenter and surgeons have to be at 100% at the start of their shifts and so can we! We don’t need floor-to-ceiling windows, waterfalls, and licorice-colored rocks atop the beach to get things done. (New York Times, 6-5-19)

Word salad (new/uncommon vocabulary word exercise): Beatrice refused to be mollified in negotiations to buy the cigar company in Cuba. After she signed the contract, her acolytes followed her out of the conference room. One staffer called Beatrice the consummate deal maker. Later that evening, Beatrice and Tabitha, the CFO, met at a quaint cafe in Havana. Tabitha accused Beatrice of not asking for her input on the deal then left in a tizzy. Beatrice sat alone pondering whether she used too much machismo when securing the purchase of the company. In terms of the big picture, the deal was ill-timed, given the poor economy. Beatrice considered whether her staff was sincere when they said she made a good deal or if they served up some claptrap.

Why Did the Dandy Lion Date the Mushroom?

Because he was a fun-gi.

Telling Jokes Makes You a Better Speaker
Anyone who knows me, knows I love telling and hearing jokes. What they don’t know is I tell jokes all day long to cashiers, waitstaff, and anyone else I come across. Besides bringing joy to someone’s day (hopefully), I’m practicing my delivery, experimenting with vocal tonality, changing up my rhythm, and refining jokes so only essential words remain. I especially enjoy telling folks who speak English as a second language. I am forced to be extremely clear and exaggerated at times.

A Little Bit Everyday
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the past few months is the extraordinary value of small to moderate levels of action done consistently. Don’t underestimate the effect of cumulative action. When I create a habit of dedicating time to a specific type of work, I begin doing very concentrated, quality work in very short amounts of time.

Examples:
* Scribbling down creative snippets throughout the day in my one-subject notebook. I take my creative snippets and talk about them into my digital audio recorder and that is my audio journal.
* Writing my top 12 goals in goal notebooks each morning and night.
* Taking the approach that I will commit 100% to a new document template and as soon as I start treating it like it’s the absolute new way, I begin seeing ways it can be improved.
* I make good use of my driving time by having audio books going all the time. Those 20 minute errands add up to whole books pretty quickly!

Creativity Needs to Breathe
My sons begin school tomorrow so we went fishing today. Fishing is one of our favorite things to do and I love seeing what innovations the boys will bring. The first creative idea they came up with was to have a large bin to contain the fish we caught. We only do catch and release but they love the fish so much they wanted to hang onto them a bit longer. So we fill a plastic tub half with lake water and whenever the kids get a catch, we all yell, “Throw him in the pot!” Today, they caught minnows in the lake and used them for bait. Last month, they cracked open clams and used them for bait. It would’ve been easier to tell them, “No - I don’t want to drag around a big bin.” However, letting them do it brought a whole new level of engagement for them. Pregnant ideas need space and freedom to develop - allow your creative ideas to breathe and you’ll arrive at places you couldn’t possibly predict.

Mel Robbins and Exercise
Mel Robbins had an excellent point about our connection to exercise. We don’t have to like exercise - it’s ok if you hate it! But do it. She compares the discipline of exercising to brushing her teeth, washing dishes, and picking up dog poo - they are simply things that need to get done. You don’t need an emotional relationship with these actions. I need to get this through my head. I’m not a physical, in-my-body type of person. If I could sit and read while chomping eat sesame bagels all day, I would!

Sunsets and Cell Phones
While driving home, I drive past a glorious sunset atop a large hill. One day, I was impressed with the long line of cars parked on the side of the road - presumably to watch the sunset. I realized 9 out of 10 people had their heads buried in their cell phones. It was confusing because they made the effort to pull over with the intention of watching the sunset. Odd, hah?

Lack of Insight
Personalized marketing is the future - says Thomas O’Toole, executive director of Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Reward memberships are very popular and they yield a massive amount of data about you, the buyer. Emily Collins, analyst with Forrester Research said it best: “They’ve got oceans of data and puddles of insight.” I agree with that - a ton of info is gathered but they need to interpret it to make it effective in selling. I believe there is reams of info if you are patient enough to let it say something to you. I’ve always thought restaurants should take note of food left on plates before dumping the scraps into trash bins.