In my small, rural town of 900 people in Upstate NY, the neighbors were literally throwing away money.
So 10 years old, I'd wake up at 4:30 AM every Thursday and head out with two 50 gallon trash bags.
House by house, bin by bin, I'd make as much as $30 a week, five cents at a time (600 bottles and cans).
This was my first lesson in the hustle of business and the necessity of persistence, grit and early mornings.
Fast forward 30 years, I've...
The accolades and money that come from success are fun.
However, it's the failures along the way (including being fired and starting over three times) in which we experience life's lessons.
Mike McDermott (Matt Damon) said it best in Rounders,
"In 'Confessions of a Winning Poker Player,' Jack King said, "Few players recall big pots they have won, strange as it seems, but every player can remember with remarkable accuracy the outstanding tough beats of his career."
Experience is not enough.
For the last 15 years, I've traveled North America speaking to business, entrepreneurial and personal development audiences on leadership, growth and peak performance.
These are not lectures on how someone should live or what they should do with their business.
We use stories, stats and case studies to teach tools your audience can use to make their own decisions.
Decades of experience have earned me the hard-fought, albeit cliche insight that, "There is no silver bullet."
Anyone who implies otherwise is selling you something.
My work performances are filled with actionable filters, frameworks and models your audience can implement immediately.
Together we build an experience where...
Because the only other option is mediocrity...
...and a long time ago I decided that mediocrity was not an option.
Growing up my world was very small.
As far back as I can remember I wanted out of my home town and to never go back.
There was no inheritance. No family business. No door-opening connections or angel investor.
The only way out was as Steve Martin says, "Be so good they can't ignore you."
The pursuit of peak performance wasn't simply a nice-to-have goal, it was my only way out.
To pursue peak performance we must commit to operating with P.A.C.E:
These are core four elements of peak performance.
There are many tangential and derivative concepts and philosophies associated with peak performance.
Without mastering the core four we'll continue to find ourselves frustrated and disappointed.
Let's break down my PACE model...
At the heart of peak performance is Purpose.
It's the driving force that motivates and directs us.
Purpose is not just about setting goals, but about finding a deep, personal connection to the work we do and the life we lead.
It's the 'why' behind our actions, providing a sense of direction and meaning.
With a clear purpose, every effort becomes more focused and intentional, propelling us toward our highest potential.
This is the way.
Awareness is the foundation of self-mastery.
It involves a keen understanding of our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
Being aware allows us to recognize our strengths, weaknesses, and the habits that either propel us forward or hold us back.
It's about being present in the moment and responsive to our changing environment.
Awareness empowers us to make choices that align with our purpose and goals, ensuring that we are always moving in the right direction.
This is the way.
We must have a clear vision of what we want to achieve and understand the steps necessary to get there.
Clarity simplifies decision-making, as it becomes easier to identify which opportunities to pursue and which distractions to avoid.
With clarity, we can focus our efforts on what truly matters, making our path to peak performance direct and unobstructed.
This is the way.
Effectiveness is the measure of our ability to achieve desired results with the least amount of wasted time and effort.
It’s about doing the right things, in the right way, at the right time.
Effectiveness combines productivity with strategic thinking, ensuring that our actions not only bring us closer to our goals but do so in an efficient and sustainable manner.
By focusing on effectiveness, we ensure that our journey to peak performance is not only successful but also enjoyable and fulfilling.
This is the way.
From professional athletes to NYT bestselling authors, entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 CEOs, physicists to philosophers, join host Ryan Hanley as he explores peak performance in business and life.
Each episode uncovers how top performers become the best version of themselves.