The Upstream Equation

Ten years ago, I weighed 30-plus pounds more than I do now, constantly allowed myself to be put under unwanted pressure, and owned a life that was stretched to the gills. 

As much and as quickly as I wanted to change, here is what I did not do:

Plan out actions to quit my CEO job in Olympic sport, run marathons, move overseas, and launch a coaching practice. 

As desirable as that scenario would have sounded at the time, such thoughts would have been nothing more than feel-good band-aids that temporarily distracted from poor life choices that I was making every day and digging my rut a little deeper. 

“Big plans” would have just added more pressure to do more actions on top of actions that already exhausted me. 

In other words, I would have been using a bad equation comprised of bad variables.

Many people want to do something better. 

Or to perform better.

Maybe to choose better responses. 

As we put a goal or challenge in front of us, conventional thinking leads us to directly address what are the critical actions that attempt to move us from not doing to doing… which facilitate questions like, "What are the logical steps?” or "What kind of environment needs to be set?” 

Our attention naturally gravitates to the straightest line to the production of the desired outcome. 

To address points of pain can be a part of the process that creates better outcomes. But what about the process of creating a better process? 

Here, the challenge is to go upstream. I seek to better understand the pre-existing circumstances and critical factors that affect the flow of life before it arrives to where I am. What are the barriers and obstacles that not only find their way into our performance path but when and how do they arrive?

In my own pursuits, instead of setting goals for a life that appeared perfect, a small step to move upstream led me to a simple and overlooked variable —> Rest. 

Sleep is a critical part of rest. When my health bottomed out and I was ready to change, sleep became one of my “Day 1” priorities. 

And better sleep led to a desire to improve upon other elements of rest. Purposeful and planned disconnecting moments throughout the day - from small to large - practiced consistently grew a healthier root system that enabled stronger and purposeful actions resulting in growth.

While I have always felt this as a truth in my journey, I never sought out the research that confirmed what seemed to work for me.

Then last year, the company for which I work, Valor Performance, offered its coaches an opportunity to participate in a session with Brad Stulberg, who co-authored a book I love called Peak Performance. This book dives deeply into the performance equation:

Stress + Rest = Growth

This variable of "stress" is good stress - like when we stress a muscle lifting a weight at the gym. 

At this formula's essence, Stress + Rest = Growth guides us upstream where we can closely examine the variables of expending and replenishing energy… that ultimately better affect growth.

Brad and co-author, Steve Magness, use illuminating stories and practical research that bring this equation to life and facilitate better methods for improving performance. 

Stress + Rest = Growth is a key part of conversations with my coaching clients. And today, I am excited to invite the Sunday Morning Joe community to a live virtual event and conversation featuring our Valor Performance President, Sarah Milby, and Brad Stulberg. This event takes place this Wednesday, October, 28th, at 12 noon eastern time. 

Please click HERE to learn more about this event and to register for free. 

Between where we are and our desired steps to change is a counterintuitive step to shift our efforts further upstream. Here, closer to our source, we identify the true variables that build a better performance equation. 

Whether you use this post, our virtual event, or your own conviction, Stress + Rest = Growth is a powerful and accessible re-direct of how we can experience change and improvement further downstream on the river of life.

With gratitude, Joe

With Olympic Gold Medalist, Joe Jacobi

Perform your best at what matters most without compromising your life. Let’s design your simple and clear plan to get you and your team outside of the day-to-day rush of life and bring focus to what truly matters most.

I coach established and experienced professionals, who feel stuck in place, to thrive in transition and bring focus to what matters most without compromising their lives.

My personal experiences winning an Olympic Gold Medal, serving as CEO of a national sports organization, and my current “Simple, Slower, and Less” lifestyle in the Catalan Pyrenees help to form accountable and transformative collaborations that see my clients create their next and most impactful chapter.