Sunday Story…Optimized vs. Maximized

We often work at a maximized level. Going as hard as possible, as long as possible, trying to extract the very last morsel until everything fails. That is certainly one strategy. It will get a lot done. It will produce amazing results…short term.

Once we have hit maximized performance there isn’t anything left…the wheels have fallen off the bus, you are laying on the ground exhausted, and your organization has stopped producing anything at all. This maximal effort is necessary from time to time. Often time it is necessary just to demonstrate how unnecessary it is. The time it is going to take to rest up, replenish and rejuvenate the systems, is time we aren’t spending on polishing our craft or producing more or doing creative brain work. We are all in and spent.

Better to hit your optimized performance. Optimum is that speed where everything runs smoothly and consistently and constantly. The engine isn’t in danger of blowing up. The tires aren’t going to blow and I’m not going to need an hour to recover from the effort. I can keep going hard and fast but just under the red line where the wheels start falling off.

I often say: slow is smooth and smooth is fast. We need to have consistent mechanics, learn the proper way to perform, and be disciplined throughout. Discipline is what is going to make our performance optimum.

Make a plan to perform at an optimum level, eat an optimum diet; do things as well as they can be done in that moment. You may find the results far exceed doing things at the maximized level. I guarantee you will feel better t the end!

John Mariotti
www.crossfitodyssey@gmail.com
www.sunday-stories.blogspot.com
775-338-2412