We’ve all done it: we’re listening to a lecture and we think to ourselves, “I know this,” or, “this is so obvious,” or, “this doesn’t apply to me.” Then we mentally check out.
This mindset is affectionately known as psychosclerosis, or a hardening of the mind. The mindset grows over time as we accumulate experience, success, and confidence. For a person trying to reach that next level of success, psychosclerosis sabotages one’s efforts by shutting down creative and critical thinking, and blocking the person off to new perspectives and incremental improvements.
You earn the Winning Edge by doing the little things a little bit better than your competitors. Sports contests are often decided by fractions of an inch or fractions of a second. Business is similar. Those who consistently win know it’s about relentless improvement, consistency, discipline, and passion.
Psychosclerosis is the bane of top achievers because it stymies our ability to recognize and seize the Winning Edge. Yes, you probably do “know that already”, and 99.9% of that topic may not apply to you, and that’s OK. You’re looking for that 0.01% that will give you the winning edge. So stay focused, be present, and keep digging for that nugget of gold.
And the next time you hear the little voice in your head saying “I know”, just remember Larry Bird, one of the greatest shooters in NBA history: after missing a critical free throw in a playoff game, Larry waited until everyone had left, then he went back on the court with his shooting coach and practiced 1000 free throws so he could get even better. If Larry Bird could strive to be even better at shooting a basketball, you can strive to improve your skills too.
May you dream bigger, reach higher, and achieve more,
Coach Alay
The Winning Edge 