The Direction of Performance – ElPropósito3 min de lectura

Lessons are also part of the effort and the road

Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash

In our everyday lives, we all want to achieve something through the energy we put into our actions. We hope those actions are in tune with something much deeper inside us, usually a longing that points toward our passions. Yet it’s identifying the meaning behind our actions and the direction of our course that leads us to live in tune with our purpose.

When we want to achieve something and it doesn’t happen, frustration can set in if there’s no learning in the picture. Becoming aware of what we’ve learned along the way is rare, but when it happens, it produces new strategies and new ways of doing things. Lessons are also fruits we gather as we move along the path of a vision, a strategy or a set of goals.

When we set a vision, we usually don’t know what shape the road will take, though we may have a more or less clear idea of it. What we do know clearly is where to aim our efforts. As we move forward, we get results that show how well the effort is paying off. That’s when the learning arrives and gives us the chance to make the changes we need to stay on the right road. That’s when we make slight course corrections, always keeping our eyes on the vision.

A fundamental key on the way to results lies in habits and strategies that have either served us in the past or can be built through constant repetition. Any effort, big or small, takes time and energy, two scarce resources we’re very reluctant to spend. So the more lessons we gather, the more likely we are to reach the results we expect.

When we channel our energy in the right direction, it has the power to achieve any result. Any effort we invest is then measured and fair, and the return on our actions shows up as a sense of wellbeing, fed either by the results we’ve achieved or by the lessons we’ve learned. The key is recognizing that even when we miss the result we wanted, there is always a lesson and a chance to fine-tune our course toward the vision.

What does your record of lessons look like every time you set out to achieve something? How do you use this powerful resource to your advantage?

Warm regards

This week’s VELA:

• What I was Watching: Smart Home in 1989. A short video, but I found it very interesting, especially the research and the progress made back then compared with what we’re living today. It caught my attention because it ties in with a book I recommended (The Future Is Faster Than You Think) for understanding what is taking shape today in science and technology and is only a few years away from going mainstream.
• What I was Reading: Atomic Habits. I’m still on the same book as a couple of weeks ago. I’ve resisted the temptation to read two other books at the same time, and I’ve committed to applying every one of its strategies, especially the ones that call for incremental effort. It’s a book everyone should read at some point. (I admit I’m biased toward reading and think EVERYTHING I read is good, but this one is VERY good.) I also recommend subscribing to the author’s newsletter, which arrives every Thursday.
• What I was Listening to: Sunday Coffee: December Jazz Cafe Music. A great YouTube channel that inspires me to write. I recommend it.
• What I was Learning: Math for life. An inspiring video I really enjoyed that has given me a much better understanding of math. One line stands out: "Whatever the subject, the more you know about it, the better prepared you are for life"

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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