#63: The Rule Of Thirds

Alexi Pappas was struggling in a training session as she prepared for the Rio 2016 Olympics. Her legs felt heavy, and she was a long way off the split times required. Alexi felt overwhelmed and a little defeated.

Her coach, Ian Dobson, an ex-Olympian himself sat Alexi down. He explained, don’t stress, it’s just the ‘rule of thirds’. 

‘When you’re chasing a dream or doing anything hard, you’re meant to feel good a third of the time, ok a third of the time and crappy a third of the time… If the ratio is roughly in that range, then you’re doing fine. Today was just the crappy day, along your dream chasing journey.’

If you're going after a big goal and feeling great after each training or learning session then this is a sign you need to challenge yourself a little more. Conversely, if you’re feeling bad for a few days in a row, then it's wise to back off and check your fatigue and recovery levels.

The rule of thirds is a great conceptualisation of the growth mindset. Here, you’re operating just outside your comfort zone and inconsistency and mistakes should be expected. Though, you’re not so far outside your comfort zone, that you experience constant fear and failure, leading to burnout or a freak out!

Dave Alred called it the ‘Ugly Zone’ for a reason – you can just about do it, but it’s not pretty. The rule of thirds, applies to all learning and development realms.

WISDOM 💎

‘Good thing I didn’t accomplish all my goals yet because then what would I do tomorrow?’

Alexi Pappas (check out her awesome book - ‘Bravery - Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain and other Big Ideas.’)

Tip 1 - A SMART PLAY ✅

Not every session should be all out. Bill Bowerman the co-founder of Nike was one of the first running coaches who truly appreciated the importance of proper rest and recovery for athletes. His Oregon athletes performed better and had less injuries. This sustainable approach is also wise for creative and analytical endeavours.

Tip 2 - AVOID 🚩

Giving up. Poor sessions and struggle are par for the course along your journey. Give it your best effort on these days and try to finish on a win. Remind yourself, that anyone can show up on the easy days, but these harder sessions often make the difference in the long run.

Tip 3 - ACTION 💪

Is your training aligning to the rule of thirds? Might you be cruising a little too often or are you having too many bad days in a row? Listening to your body and mind to know how far you can push it, is an important awareness skill to build as a performer.