#25: Performing at Your Best

Stuart Anderson played pro football in the NFL, but it’s his mindset growing up playing high-school basketball that we can all learn something from…

Stuart is the star player, but tonight he’s having a shocker in the biggest game of the season. He’s missed 20 shots in a row and the team are down a point late in the game. The coach calls a time out and builds a play for another shooter. 

Stuart stops him, “I want the shot coach.” It turned out the younger player didn’t really fancy it, so the coach, against his better judgement changed the play back to Stuart. With seconds remaining, Stuart turned on a dime, jumped, and let go confidently. He buried it and was carried off the court as a hero.

Dr Bob Rotella the foremost sports psychologist was teaching Stuart at college and asked him to explain his thinking for the class. Stuart explained that he was a great shooter, so with every shot missed he reasoned that he was more likely to get the next one due to the law of averages. 

One fellow student asked, “What if you’ve made your first 7 shots then?” Stuart replied – “Oh that’s different, then I’m hot and I’m going to make them all.”

“That’s ridiculous,” the student said. “You can’t have it both ways.”

“Of course, you can,” Stuart said.

Stuart's story illustrates a fundamental element of how many great performers think – they create their own realities. As Dr Bob explained, Stuart had what’s known as a ‘shooters mentality.’

So, whether you’re an athlete yourself or have sales to make, or face an interview, audition or even a first date, you can decide how you’re going to think. You can decide your reality – and can choose a ‘shooters mentality’ that gives you confidence, poise and the highest chance of success, even if slightly irrational.

This also applies if you’re creating a start-up or trying to achieve anything difficult. Be prepared for the worst, but you can’t go around thinking about the true odds as you’ll be beaten from the start.

WISDOM 💎

In decision making it often pays to be uber rational, when performing sometimes it pays to be slightly irrational.

'I have this irrational confidence in the shots that I take.'

Steph Curry (best basketball shooter ever)

Tip 1 - A SMART PLAY ✅

Improving performance is a paradox. We analyse our mistakes; we work on our skills and technique and we prepare for the worst case. Then we look to forget all of that and go out and perform as if we can’t miss. Being receptive to this paradox is very helpful for both improving and performing effectively.

Tip 2 - AVOID 🚩

Wishful thinking – building your shooter’s mentality can allow you to perform effectively. It isn’t an antidote for not doing the hard and smart work in the first place.

Tip 3 - ACTION 💪

Which area of your life could benefit from having a shooter’s mentality? Take a little audit of a few areas in your life and ponder how a top performer might think.

"I always have confidence, whether I miss four in a row or make four in a row... the next one's going in."

Steph Curry