Can Raising Your Floor Unlock Your True Potential?

Let's embark on a mental experiment.

Picture those peak days when everything aligns perfectly – you jump out of bed before the alarm goes off, power through an ass-kicker of a workout, and by 11 am, you've conquered what typically would be a full day's work. On these days, your decision-making is sharp, you’re highly focused, you’re in flow. This is you operating at your ceiling.

Now, visualize the opposite.

Those mornings when the snooze button wins, the workout is rationalized away, and office donuts become irresistible. Meetings get postponed, you have that extra cocktail and you chalk it up to a bad day, pushing tasks to Monday. Discipline takes a backseat, and one poor decision leads to another. This is you at your floor.

Your average day falls somewhere between these extremes.

But let's pause and consider that, for many, this "average" tends to be closer to the floor than the ceiling.

It's akin to your golf drive – out of ten attempts, one might fly 280 yards, but the others? They're a slice or a hook (or a possible whiff). Yet, when recalling your drive, it's the 280-yard success that comes to mind.

Raising Your Floor to Reach Your Ceiling

So how do we improve our average day so it looks more like our peak days…the days when we approach our potential, our ceiling? And how might we raise our ceiling?

Here lies a fundamental truth: it's easier to raise your floor than your ceiling.

You're already standing on the floor, familiar with every inch, making it a known entity.

The ceiling, while not unknown, is not nearly as familiar as our floor. The most effective way to touch your ceiling—and, over time, raise it—is by elevating the floor beneath you. This strategy turns the journey of self-improvement into a step-by-step climb, where each small advancement lifts you closer to those out-of-reach heights.

How To Raise Your Floor

Incorporating mindfulness and reflection can be a powerful tool in recognizing where your current floor lies and envisioning the steps to elevate it. Taking time for self-reflection can help identify habits that hold you back, allowing for targeted improvements.

Moreover, resilience building plays a crucial role in this process. Life will inevitably present challenges, but viewing these as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks can significantly impact your ability to raise your floor. This perspective is particularly valuable as we mature, drawing on a lifetime of experiences to navigate new challenges with wisdom and resilience.

Adapting to change is another vital aspect of raising your floor. Embracing new habits, technologies, and ideas can lead to significant improvements in daily efficiency and well-being, especially for those of us over 50. It's about enhancing our adaptability, ensuring we continue to grow and evolve in ways that enrich our lives.

NBA Examples: Understanding Floors and Ceilings

Ever since I stumbled upon the idea of personal floors and ceilings, it's had me hooked. "How can I push my ceiling higher?" I wondered. It's the kind of question that keeps you up at night, especially if you're all about hitting those peak performances, much like professional athletes.

Take the NBA, for example. You've got Zach LaVine, the embodiment of a "high ceiling" player. This guy can light up the court with his sheer athleticism—those highlight-reel dunks, slick no-look passes, and shots from way downtown. But, just like that high-flying tech stock, he's got his ups and downs, thrilling one moment and leaving fans scratching their heads the next.

Then there's Mike Conley, who's like the backbone of any team he's on, now showing his leadership with the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's your go-to guy for consistency, the kind of player who doesn't always make the flashiest plays but delivers solid performance night after night. He's like that steady utility stock—no dramatic spikes or drops, just reliable performance over time.

Seeing these guys in action, LaVine with his sky-high potential and Conley with his rock-solid reliability, really drives home the point. It's not just about aiming for those occasional bursts of brilliance. Elevating your floor, focusing on being better at your baseline, can lead to more consistent and ultimately more satisfying success. It's a lesson that's as valuable in life as it is in basketball.

The Cycle of Personal Growth

So, what lessons can we draw from the concepts of floors and ceilings for our personal growth? The key isn't solely in striving to raise the ceiling. When we focus solely on raising our ceiling, here’s the typical cycle:

• Initial Enthusiasm: Fired up, you set ambitious goals.

• Early Wins: Initial success fuels your drive.

• The Hurdle: Then, life intervenes, momentum wanes.

• Increased Pressure: Doubts emerge, new habits falter, progress stalls.

• Rationalization: Goals get downscaled, or dropped altogether.

• The Loop: Back to square one, perhaps even a step back.

This narrative mirrors the all-too-familiar fate of many New Year's resolutions come March.

Because our foundation isn't adequately strengthened to support our aspirations, we struggle in our attempts to elevate our ceiling.

Strengthening our floor—the base level of our performance, resilience, and consistency—is a more sustainable approach, delivering small wins that accumulate over time.

This approach ensures that when life’s hurdles emerge (as they always do), we have a strong foundation to sustain our efforts, bounce back more effectively, and continue on our upward trajectory. It’s this solid foundation that ultimately enables us to push our ceilings ever higher, transforming ambitious goals into tangible achievements.

A Sustainable Approach to Growth

The path to personal growth isn't about sudden, dramatic changes. It's about taking consistent, incremental steps that build a sturdy foundation for growth. Here is a more sustainable approach that focuses on raising your floor.

Acknowledge Your Lowest Point

Start by confronting the habits that hinder your progress. Take a moment for honest reflection:

• Which habits hold me back?

• What actions lead to feelings of regret or disappointment?

• How do my behaviors align with my long-term goals?

Jot down these habits, actions and behaviors. It's not just about acknowledging them; it's about taking the first step towards regaining control and making positive changes.

Aim for Incremental Improvement

Shift your focus towards small, manageable improvements. The goal isn't to revolutionize your life overnight but to make steady progress. For example, if excessive screen time before bed affects your sleep, try replacing it with a calming activity like reading or meditation. The key is to implement changes that feel achievable, gradually leading to significant shifts in behavior.

Iterate and Enhance

Continuously evaluate and refine your actions as you progress. It's not about perfection but about making progress. Ask yourself:

• What worked well, and what didn't?

• How did these changes impact my daily life and long-term goals?

• Can I tweak these adjustments for even better results?

This cycle of small, manageable changes gradually leads to significant transformation. It's about creating a positive feedback loop where each success motivates the next step forward, making the journey of personal growth not just sustainable but also fulfilling.

By focusing on raising your floor through these steps, you're not only avoiding the pitfalls of overambition and burnout but also building a resilient foundation for growth. This foundation will support you through life's inevitable challenges and propel you towards reaching—and ultimately raising—your ceiling, transforming your aspirations into tangible achievements.

Why This Strategy Works

Elevating your ceiling demands venturing into the unknown, often accompanied by uncertainty and discomfort. On the other hand, raising your floor begins with familiar territory, making adjustments more manageable and less intimidating. But why does this strategy yield such promising results?

1. Familiarity Breeds Consistency

When you focus on raising your floor, you're building upon existing habits and routines. This familiarity breeds consistency, making it easier to sustain your efforts over the long term. Unlike lofty goals that can feel overwhelming, small adjustments to familiar behaviors are more likely to stick, leading to lasting change.

2. Momentum Through Small Wins

Achieving small victories creates a ripple effect of momentum. Each minor improvement, such as waking up a few minutes earlier or choosing a healthier snack, reinforces your commitment to positive change. These small wins provide a sense of accomplishment, fueling your motivation to continue making progress.

3. Incremental Progress Leads to Lasting Results

The power of incremental progress should not be underestimated. While individual changes may seem minor, their cumulative impact over time is profound. What starts as a brief morning walk or a healthier food choice can snowball into significant lifestyle improvements. By focusing on small, manageable changes, you're laying the foundation for long-term success.

Applying the Strategy: Enhancing Your Health

Let's apply these principles to enhancing your health with actionable examples:

• Wake up 10 minutes earlier: Use this time to set intentions for the day, fostering a sense of purpose and direction.

• Replace sedentary time with a brief walk: Incorporating movement into your day boosts energy levels and improves overall well-being.

• Opt for a protein smoothie over cereal or oatmeal: Fuel your body with nutrient-rich foods that support sustained energy and vitality.

• Choose sparkling water instead of soda or beer: Hydration is key to optimal health, and making smarter beverage choices can have a significant impact.

• Swap fries for a side salad: Opting for nutrient-dense options over empty calories contributes to better nutrition and overall health.

• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator: Sneak in extra physical activity whenever possible to promote cardiovascular health and maintain mobility.

• Disconnect from electronics before bedtime: Establishing a bedtime routine that includes unplugging from screens promotes better sleep quality and overall mental well-being.

These small adjustments may seem inconsequential at first, but their collective effect is transformative. As you embrace these changes and witness their positive impact, you'll find yourself on a journey of continuous growth and improvement.

Setting and Achieving Goals

Does this mean goals are obsolete?

Far from it. Goals are crucial but become more attainable when you've mastered the art of raising your floor. This newfound confidence not only makes reaching for higher goals less daunting but also naturally elevates your ceiling.

Think of your floor as your foundation. As it rises, so does the strength and scope of your base, providing a solid platform during tough times and supporting your journey to greater heights.

Taking the First Step Today

Today, take the first step: choose one small change to elevate your daily routine. This could be waking up earlier, swapping a snack for a healthier option, or taking a short walk. Such steps lay the groundwork for a stronger foundation, propelling you towards raising your ceiling. What single improvement can you make right now?

Men in Argent Alpha are raising their floor every day. Our process and community has transformed how they think, move and perform.

This program isn’t for everyone. It’s for Men over 50 with a growth mindset who believe they can live their best life now. You are invited to apply.