Pressure

"Under pressure you don't rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training"

-Anonymous US Navy SEAL

Train above the level you need to execute, and you will execute the way you need. This US Navy SEAL mantra summarizes what happens when operating under intense pressure. In this episode, we will explore trends in pressure & performance in life, business, and financial markets.

OPTIMAL STRESS (Life): Jocko Willink, a master of productivity & discipline, evaluates optimal stress level in this episode. Tune in to Jocko Underground learn the following from the best:

  1. Why it is important to work with stress, not fight against it

  2. The Yerkes-Dodson Law; a stress & performance experiment first conducted with rats

  3. Team member development through challenges

  4. Simple vs. Complex activities under stress

Jocko modifies regular activities, like surfing without a board leash, to create his area of optimal stress. Can you recreate this?

UNDER THE ARMOUR (Business): Kip Fulks, one of the founders of Under Armour, applies pressure on himself because he needs pressure. This pressure gives him appreciation and makes him grateful for the life he has. From teaching himself how to sew and apply heat labels on the first 200,000 apparel items to leading Under Armour to $4B+ in sales, his approach has worked. Listen to this interview on Hands and Daylight to learn more.

COMPLEX (Financial Markets): "When you put a lot of pressure in the pipe, something is going to crack somewhere, but it's always not what you expect and not what cracked the last time"

This late November 2022 podcast from Goldman Sachs contemplates the impact of central bank monetary policy tightening. Few things are as complex as the global financial markets, listen in to explore variable pressures & market responses, interdependencies between central bank activities, and a preview of the long and variable lags we may experience ahead.

TOOL: Struggle, Pressure, and Overwhelm.

Are you seeking to improve in an area? Struggle in that area. Put yourself in situations of pressure (on purpose) and overwhelm your prior capacity. This is the fastest way to grow.

Stay Productive.

Joe House