Diamyn Hall | The One Day Contract Mentality (O.D.C.M.) | Principle 2: Pressure is a Privilege

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🏆 Unlocking The Winner Within, at 5:55am.

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Before we dive in...HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Welcome to 20 24 = "THE KOBE YEAR"

This year there is a special opportunity...

A special opportunity for you to have

The best year of your life

&

The best year of your career.

...As a Leader

&

...As a Human Being.

By design, not by accident!

You have my word on one thing...

I'll do everything in my power to support you on the journey of:

• BECOMING more
• DOING more
• HAVING more
• GIVING more

Let's dive in...

PRINCIPLE 2 - PRESSURE IS A PRIVILEGE

In the last article, we focused on the power of perspective - Thanks for all of the direct messages full of positive feedback, stories, & questions. If I haven't gotten back to yet, I'll do my best over these next few weeks.

In this article & the next, we'll dial in on number 24 from the last article - Pressure.

A common question I receive from executives, coaches, & athletes is:

"Diamyn, what's your take on pressure?"

• Is pressure negative? or positive?
• Does pressure hurt you? or help you? 
• Is pressure unproductive? or productive?
• Does pressure stunt growth? or accelerate growth?
• Is pressure a problem? or is pressure a privilege?

A long time ago, I was having a conversation with one of my mentors about the concept of pressure and how important it is in the game of baseball and life.

I remember him saying:

"Diamyn, too much anything isn't good for you...that's a given.

But the problem is that most people are taught to believe that:

• Pressure is something to be avoided.
• Stress isn't good for you.
• Discomfort means something is wrong.

Society has trained most of the human population to long for a life without pressure, without stress, without difficulties, without struggles, & without adversity..."

He went on to say:

"...But when you study stories of greatness, you'll find multiple data points that reinforce the fact that pressure is the birthplace of excellence.

This means that pressure is actually a positive thing.

Even research shows that pressure, stress, & discomfort can provide so much value to your life, your career, & your craft."

I said:

"Tell me more about the research..."

He said:

"Research tells us that when you experience pressure, it typically means:

1. You are doing something of significance.
2. You are outside of your comfort zone. 
3. You are growing in some way shape, form, or fashion."

I remember asking:

"What if the real problem is that most people simply have a poor relationship with pressure, stress, and discomfort?"

He said:

"Bingo! You're exactly right - But in order for pressure to provide value to someone's life, they have to shift their perspective and relationship with it...

Think about it...

What if people were taught to look at pressure differently?

What if people we taught that pressure is positive?

What if people were taught that pressure is a privilege?"

The he said something that I'll never forget and always remember:

"Consider the possibility that pressure is one of the most valuable tools for growing into who you want to become.

It's vital for growth, expansion, & high achievement. Especially when you know how to use it to your advantage."

I could feel new wiring and connections being made in my brain...

My whole belief system about pressure shifted...

I started thinking aloud:

• "Pressure is positive."
• "Pressure is essential for growth."
• "You need pressure to evolve."
• "You need pressure to expand."
• "Pressure is essential for success."

Then my brain started imagining examples of this in nature…

1. Diamonds are developed under pressure.
2. Caterpillars need cocoons to evolve into butterflies.
3. Muscles need stress to grow.
4. Grapes are crushed to make wine.
5. Oak trees grow stronger because of rough winds.
6. The strongest steel is forged under fire.
7. Rough winds strengthen an eagle's wings.
8. Water must be broken in order for a baby to be born.

Then I started to reflect on my life...

Growing up, my mom was a psychologist & teacher. As far back as I can remember, she leveraged the foundations of positive psychology to raise me.

She taught me that the game of life is all about perspective.

As I reflected, I realized that

• Every piece of pressure produced positive outcomes.
• Every piece of stress were signals to self-opitimize.
• Every piece of discomfort is where development happened.

In fact, every form of success, growth, & expansion that I've ever experienced has come from some form of pressure or adversity.

• Childhood
• High School
• College
• Professional Career

💡 In that moment, I had an epiphany moment...

"Tremendous Pressure = Tremendous Opportunity"

• Meaning - Where there is tremendous pressure, there is tremendous opportunity for growth.

From that point forward I embedded this belief into:

1) My Life - With every skill I set out to build

2) My Coaching Philosophy - With every individual & team I work with

Since then, I've discovered four perspectives to be true about pressure:

(all of which I'll expand on next week)

PERSPECTIVE 1: PRESSURE IS A PRIVILEGE

Pressure is a privilege. Research shows that pressure can serve as one of the most positive accelerators to success. In fact, if you want to make massive progress, then pressure, stress, and uncomfortability are necessary. Especially when you proactively use it to your strategic advantage.

• It means great things are expected of you internally
• It means great things are expected of you externally
• It comes only to those who earn it.

PERSPECTIVE 2: PRESSURE AMPLIFIES WHAT'S THERE

When you experience pressure, stress, or uncomfortability, everything rises to the surface.

• Pressure simply amplifies you who you are (currently).
• Pressure amplifies who you are not (yet).
• Pressure shows you who you have the potential to become.

PERSPECTIVE 3: GROWTH REQUIRES COMFORT ZONE EXPANSION

Pressure only exists outside of the comfort zone. Therefore, pressure is not something to be avoided - but rather something to be pursued.

1. Seek ways to step out of your comfort zone with curiosity
2. Embrace the inevitable discomfort
3. Crystalize your new comfort zone
4. Prepare to expand your comfort zone again
5. Repeat steps 1-4

PERSPECTIVE 4: FOCUS ON GROWING YOUR PRESSURE THRESHOLD

Focus on growing your pressure threshold. It's one on the most powerful things that you can do as a high performer.

1. Shift your relationship with stress and pressure
2. Develop a pressure response to remain calm during the chaos of consistent comfort zone expansion.

🔜 NEXT WEEK - I'll share with you the practical keys on how to use pressure to your strategic advantage. We'll start the process of diving into perspective number 3 above.

💡 REFLECT - Take a moment to reflect on the insights in this article...

💬 COMMENT - What resonated with you most?

Until next time,

- Coach Diamyn ♦️