Sustainable success isn’t always about being your best. From Dallas, let’s talk about making your off peak performance increasingly better.

“Always be at your best” seems like good advice until you realize it’s unachievable. By definition, your best is the anomaly. Your peak performance happen sometimes, and we should aim to summon and deliver our best when it matters the most.

But you don’t always recognize critical tests, or moments, or have time to fully prepare. So, what if we could make our average performance exceptional?  Perhaps even our worst offerings – when we’re tired or unprepared – can be measurably better. I’m advocating we strive to raise our bottoms.

Hold on. I know that sounds like a Pilates exercise. But before you get on the floor and squeeze, I’m talking about a different kind of core strength. The core of who you are as someone who always turns in a respectable performance, regardless of how you feel. It may not be your best, but it will be thoughtful, honest, and unproblematic. Here’s how.

1. Extra effort. Even when you’re not feeling it, you don’t stop where others might. You go a bit further, closing the loop, adding extra value, or confirming results are achieved.

2. Make it personal. Don’t make your work about you, attempting to elevate your ego or authority. Make it personal for the intended recipient. Think of them from the start and it will show all the way through.

3. Your signature mark. What can you do to ensure everything you contribute carries your essence? Think of the precise language you use or your attention to detail. Like an artist signing a painting, approach your work with a sense of personal craftsmanship.

When you increasingly raise your standards, adding effort, personal touch, and signature distinction, guess what? Your best continues to surprise you, and your bottom can be better than most. Until next week, stay Off Balance On Purpose.