99. Elite Isn’t an Accident

Sidney Crosby set the all time record for most point per game seasons in the NHL last season when he did it for the 20th time. Not only was it the 20th time, it was the 20th time in a row. If you’re wondering, achieving a point per game as a professional hockey player in the NHL solidifies you as one of the best players in the league. Point per game players are a hot commodity for every NHL general manager, and Pittsburgh has been lucky enough to keep one for at least 20 seasons in a row.

Crosby has been an absolute staple in the list of best players in the world for 20 years. His consistency has literally broken records. No one has ever been as good as he has for as long as he has.

The expectation around the league is that Crosby will be good because he always has been. The expectation inside his own team is that he will be the best player, the best teammate, the best leader, the hardest worker and the most valuable player. Even during the playoffs and at the international level, games that tend to be more intense, Crosby has never not been a career point per game player.

Again, nobody in the history of the game has ever been this good for this long. What’s the secret? Well that’s up for debate, but if you ask me, the evidence shows that it’s the fact that Sidney Crosby has never taken a day off.

Of course I don’t mean this literally. Rest and recovery is important for athletes so I’m sure he’s found a good balance, but that doesn’t mean there’s ever been a game he wasn’t prepared to play in.

The preparation it takes to perform at an elite level is extensive, and not just in sports. As an athlete, Sidney Crosby has always valued the work it takes to perform. From what I can tell, and what I consider the reason for his 20 consecutive point per game season record, there just aren’t games he’s a part of that he isn’t prepared to deliver an elite performance.

That’s the secret.

If you want to be great, you don’t get to take days off.

Before you roll your eyes and stop reading, again, I don’t mean this literally. I am not a contributor to “hustle culture”. In fact, I think this deep dive on that topic with my podcast pals Jordan and Gabe is great, and I think you should listen to it, so let’s refocus.

If you watch a Pittsburgh Penguins game, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll watch and deem Sidney Crosby the guy who hustles the most. At the same time, you will notice that he’s the one on the ice in every big moment in the game. It’s not about hustle and grind. It’s about situational awareness and being prepared to deliver a big play at any given moment.

The tricky part is that those big play moments are few and far between. In hockey, maybe there’s one or two per game. In life, maybe one or two per month. But every single one is important if you want to stay elite year in and year out.

Unfortunately, we don’t get to choose when our best is required. Sometimes big moments, life altering moments, are sprung upon us. Hopefully you don’t wake up that day thinking you’ll just take it easy. It’s not our choice when we have to stay true to our values, practice what we preach and utilize the skills we’ve developed so far in life. Therefore, we don’t get to take days off.

The what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas attitude doesn’t work in real life. The food you ate yesterday comes with you today. The person you yell at today remembers tomorrow. The money you meant to save for tomorrow is gone forever if you spend it today.

Who we are in any given moment matters, so lock it in and become someone who can sustain elite performance. How? Define what elite performance means to you. Write it down. The things that are non-negotiable regardless of who, where and when. Get clear on it.

What does it mean to you to be an elite parent, boss, friend, athlete, business person, employee, etc.?

Whatever your answer, that’s who you need to be every day. Elite hockey players take days off and go on vacation in the off season, but they’re never not prepared to perform when the puck drops.

This is what I tell myself when I show up every morning for my 5am clients. They might be tired, but I can’t be. They might sleep in, but I can’t. They might forget their shoes, but I can’t. They might be unprepared, but I can’t be. Not today or any other day can I fail to deliver. I sell customers on the expectation that their trainer will be ready to deliver an elite plan for them every time they show up. It’s up to me to live up to the expectation I set not just for myself, but for those relying on me. That said, it’s important to set realistic expectations.

Know yourself and the life you have. Know your future self and the life you’re striving for. Make sure what you do aligns with where you are and where you’re going. I can stay up past midnight, get up at 4 in the morning and deliver elite personal training, but I can’t every day. Sidney Crosby can put his team on his back and score a hat trick and win the game 3-2, but he can’t every game. It would be unreasonable to set that expectation.

Maybe it’s unreasonable for you to win employee/mother/player of the month every month, but it’s within reason to keep your promises, show up early and get a decent nights sleep, at least most of the time. Just remember that this is subjective. Do an audit on your life compared to what you’d like it to be. What values need to be non negotiable day in and day out in order for you to progress closer to your ideals?

An intentional break by design now and again? Sure! Built in vacation to the Bahamas? Sounds rejuvenating!

Days off when all the things that have brought you success are neglected completely? Only if you don’t care about performing well for yourself and those who rely on you.

— Cody

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See you next Thursday.

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