A few years ago, I noticed my daughters had suddenly become…how do I put this bluntly—saucy.
The Herman Definition of ‘Saucy’ – Being disrespectful and talking back.
Being ‘saucy’ isn’t something my wife and I nurture. It’s not encouraged or rewarded.
So, when this new attitude showed up, it was a bit jarring. It didn’t help that it came with a high-pitched, annoying whine.
So…what the heck was going on?
Well, on a Saturday morning, I heard the ‘SAUCY VOICE.’ Except it was ten times worse than my girls had given us.
The culprit?
Luna Girl. A cartoon character from a Disney show, PJ Masks.
{Source: Good ol’ Google.}
Well, that was the last PJ Masks episode they ever watched. (Luckily, they liked Paw Patrol better, but they still put up a fight.)
Surprise, surprise…after we took the show away, the attitude stopped. And this little trip down Herman family past brings us to the 6th sports performance principle, TRANSFER.
What is the Principle of Transfer?
Pretty simple: Anything affects everything.
Nothing ever lives in isolation. When you think you’re changing something tiny in a process, it will 100% affect the entire system.
If you add/increase/decrease/delete/shift a tool, process, thought, behavior, or input—like a TV Show (grrrr)—it will ABSOLUTELY affect the performance of the entire system.
NOTHING ever exists in isolation.
This is why the quality of your decisions for where you invest…
- Time
- Money
- Effort
- Attention or
- Resources
…can produce dramatic results in the quality of your life. AND, you have no idea all the ways your life will be affected.
Let’s head back to the example of growing your bicep.
You know all that hard work, focus, and energy you’ve been devoting to strengthening your bicep…well, Champion…it’s also impacted other areas of your life you didn’t expect.
That difficulty you once had going to sleep at night has shifted. You’re able to fall asleep and stay asleep easier.
That challenge you had at saying no to raiding the pantry and snacking too much has become easier to avoid.
And because you’ve seen progress with that toned-up bicep, you also had the confidence to tackle those glutes. #SirMixALot approved. (If you don’t get that reference, 😔)
The principle of Transfer is one of life’s great reminders to audit your world for unseen influences constantly. And when you become highly intentional in choosing quality inputs in your world, your world HAS TO change. It’s unavoidable.
Real-Life Test
Want a quick win? Here’s a free pass to open up all your socials. Scroll through who you follow, and categorize them into these categories of WHY you follow them.
- Education
- Inspiration
- Connection
- Entertainment
Then ask yourself a few questions.
Education:
With Transfer in mind, who you learn from will affect how you learn and what you believe to be true.
So ask yourself:
- Is this person a practitioner of what they teach, with real-world experience? I’ve encountered many researchers who teach mindset but are unable to distinguish nuance without having ever actually been between the ears of elite performers. And that can lead to toxic ideas that create mind viruses.
- Are they just regurgitating other people/books? E.g. are all their posts just a copy/paste version of others’ ideas, a la “Harvard Douche” in Good Will Hunting.
Inspiration
- What inspires you about their posts?
- Have you taken action on the inspiration?
- Does their content help you move toward the vision of your own life?
Connection
- Does this account bring positivity or toxicity?
- Does this connection still work for me? Is this still someone I want to be connected to?
- Will staying connected to them help me create the opportunity for more ‘relationship luck’ in my world? (Tip: good connections have opened more doors to luck than brute force and effort over the millennia.)
Entertainment
- Does their content make me laugh, chuckle, or smile?
- What kind of mood am I in when I consume content from this account?
- Does this content help me to become a better storyteller or communicator? (Tip: Being entertaining NEVER hurts anyone’s life or career.)
The Key to Start Applying Transfer in Your Life
Remember: Anything affects Everything.
So, with that in mind…treat your life like you’re a mad scientist in a lab. Become more intentional and aware of making changes in your life and tracking your progress.
For example:
Many people struggle every day with what to wear. They waste so much mental energy staring blankly at their closets.
Well, I decided long ago to create a uniform for myself. It’s the classic cape in the closet that I usually wear. (It doesn’t hurt if you read about this in my ‘Alter Ego Effect’ book—nudge nudge.)
How does that ‘Transfer’?
I never have to think about packing, worry, or concern myself with whether things are going to match, and I don’t exert mental energy in the morning. I almost always wear blues.
It also makes it easier for my wife or family to buy gifts for me.
There’s never an awkward…” Hmmm…what am I going to wear this with?”
And it’s reinforced the muscle of being a good decision-maker. I love how much freedom making decisions provides.
I hope this gives you something to chew on, and some action to take immediately! I’ll see you next week with the 7th Sports Performance Principle.
Be Bold. Take Action. Leave a Mark.
Todd Herman
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