+1: #480 Put Your Name on a Sheet

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Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another Optimize plus one. Now, since our time with George Leonard exploring his ideas on mastery, I've been thinking about him a lot. And I realized that I forgot to share another one of my favorite ideas from his great little book that has most changed my life. It's super simple, but equally powerful.

First, the context.

In his section on getting energy for mastery, George tells us a human being is the kind of machine that wears out from lack of use. There are limits, of course, and we do need healthful rest and relaxation. But for the most part, he says, we gain energy by using energy. It might well be that all of us possess enormous stores of potential energy, more than we could ever hope to use. Of course, we discuss this often, that we need to remember to oscillate and train our recovery. But we've also got to know that human beings gain energy by using energy. We're the kind of machine, as George Leonard says, that wears out from lack of use. Which reminds me of super energized Leonardo da Vinci's wisdom. He says, quote, iron rusts from disuse. Stagnant water loses its purity in cold weather, becomes frozen. Even so does inaction SAP the vigor of the mind. He says, so we must stretch ourselves to the very limits of human possibility. Anything less is a sin against both God and man. We can cue some choir of angels on this one as well. So we must stretch ourselves to the very limits of human possibility. Anything less is a sin against both God and man. So George offers a few tips on how to optimize our energy for mastery. One of them is to set priorities and make decisions. He tells us indecision leads to inaction, which leads to low energy, depression and despair. Another tip is to get on the path of mastery and stay on it. He says much of the world's depression and discontent can ultimately be traced to our unused energy, our untapped potential. All of which leads us to two questions and then the point of today's one question Number one, do you have any decisions you need to make? Are you using your full potential? And now to the main event. As an aikido master, George tells us it's instructive to watch the immediate surge of clarity and energy during training that comes from the simplest act of writing one's name on a notice. He's talking about his black belt getting to the next level. I don't know about you, but after I've put my name on a notice, AKA signed up for a Spartan trifecta for the year, including a 13 plus mile race up and down ski slopes at elevation with bonus energy points for racing with the elite age group guys, my energy and clarity and intensity of and consistency of training immediately shifts. How about you? Has it ever happened to you in the past? And most importantly, do you have any signup forms waiting for you? Yeah. What makes you smile and maybe makes your heart skip a beat just imagining doing it? Maybe it's a 5k or a triathlon or a Spartan race or getting your black belt or whatever. What'll it be? That's today's plus one. If you're feeling so inspired, go put your name on a notice. Watch the immediate surge of clarity and energy during your training.

Hey, this is Brian with a quick question for you. Do you know what the word optimize literally means? It's from the Latin optimus, which means the best. In our case, we're talking about helping.

You create the best version of you.

So another quick question.

What's the best version of you look like?

How does that version of you show up in the world?

Helping you be that version of yourself.

All day, every day is what our Optimize membership program is all about. Now, we obviously give away a ton of content for free and we give our 10,000 plus premium members a ton. More members get hundreds of philosopher's notes which are 20 minute book summaries that help you apply the best big ideas from the best optimal living books to your life today. Plus members get dozens of hour long optimal living 101 masterclasses. More wisdom in less time for your busy life on everything from the science of setting and achieving goals, how to optimize your energy via the fundamentals of nutrition, movement, sleep and meditation, and how to be super productive day in and day out. While of course enjoying the whole process, every facet of your life optimized equals you at your absolute best.