THE ART AND SCIENCE OF WINNING
We are all constantly working to clarify the formula for success in the important areas of life. As an athlete or a professional, at school, at work or at home, we should all be asking...what does it take from us? If we want to accomplish something big and meaningful, who are we required to be? I believe there is both an art and a science to winning, and reaching our potential - becoming people worthy of winning in the important areas of life - requires a little bit of both from us. Today I’m asking you: are you an artist or a scientist? And what does that mean for your pursuit of success?
I would describe the science of winning as the knowledge, the training, and the technical skill that success requires. It’s the disciplined, logical part of high performance. Scientists are committed to the process. They're committed to studying, to learning, and to putting in the necessary reps that validate the hypotheses they've formed. They pay close attention to how things are done, they gain feedback from their failed experiments, and then they formulate a better plan moving forward. The science of winning is built on the knowledge that if you do the work, you'll get the results. It's just the facts. You can't be your best if your head's not in it.
The art of winning, on the other hand, is different. Science requires more of your mind, but art requires more of your spirit and your soul. Artists have a unique style and flair - an artistry - that sets them apart from everyone else. The art of winning isn't rigid or robotic. It’s about performing with feel, reading and responding to new opportunities as they emerge, and taking the risks that those straight-laced scientists avoid at all costs. Artists have cultivated the courage and creativity it takes to trust their gut, try something new, and play from the heart - even when it doesn’t necessarily make sense to everyone else. You need that, too. You can't be your best if your heart's not in it.
There is both an art and a science to winning, and reaching our potential - becoming people worthy of winning in the important areas of life - requires a little bit of both from us.
I want to challenge you to stop and consider today which type of performer you’re naturally hard-wired to be, and where it is you need to stretch yourself in order to reach your potential. Remember, there’s both an art and a science to winning. If you're a scientist, you’ll likely have all the answers you need. You’ll do the work, put in the reps, and demonstrate your discipline. But in the complex world of winning, too much science can make you rigid and robotic. It can make you incapable of adapting to the the fluid circumstances that accompany working with others and really, truly competing. Too much science can rob you of your joy and make you less relatable than you need to be.
But that pendulum can’t swing too far the other way, either. As an artist, you’ll likely have the courage and creativity you need. You’ll play with passion and trust your gut. But too much art can make you flighty, and even careless. It can discourage or diminish your discipline and your attention to detail. Too much art can rob you of your focus and make you less reliable than you need to be.
If you recognize yourself as a scientist, then winning probably requires that you loosen your collar, let your hair down, and just let it rip once in a while. I want to encourage you to cultivate your creativity, play with passion, and take some risks. If you recognize yourself as an artist, then winning probably requires that you get your stuff together, develop some discipline, and think with more logic and clarity. Whoever you are and however you're wired, just remember, there’s both an art and a science to winning. The champion is committed to building both as part of their identity, and you should be, too.