Why Overachievers Underperform
Struggling entrepreneurs often self-sabotage through extreme internal pressure. Learn why amplifying pressures usually backfires and how to shift focus toward actions over outcomes.
Summary
Entrepreneurs strive for big goals but get stuck in procrastination loops fueled by internal pressure. Unhealthy pressure typically stems from overemphasizing outcomes paired with the fear of failure. This causes hesitation, rushed decisions, missed opportunities, reduced enjoyment, and demoralization.
The root issue is tying self-worth too closely to goal achievement. Failing equates to personal failure, so the pressure compounds. Champions win frequently because they reduce perceived pressure while upholding standards. Steps include recognizing exaggerated importance due to focus illusions, lowering outcome expectations, developing immunity to failure before starting, taking action through repetitions, conditioning over time, and ultimately enjoying the hard work.
Place emphasis on controllable actions, not results. Adopt a “just another shot” mentality like Michael Jordan, where pressure moments feel familiar through practice. Progress requires attempts without self-judgment. Trust the process, reduce paralysis by analysis, and achieve visions through purposeful progress.
Top 3 Growth Tips
- [2:55] Focus On Actions Over Outcomes - "Focusing on the outcome right in your emphasis on the outcome, the focusing illusion will make you over emphasize that."
- [8:22] Repetition Reduces Pressure - "The reason Michael Jordan is able to take that game winning shot and it go in most of the time and also it be another just another shot is because he's gone through hundreds of 1000s of repetitions of that shot."
- [15:44] Redefine Failure As Inaction - "Somehow, you must make it a win win. Right? And failure must only be not taking action, right. And that's something you can control. So failure is lack of attempts, lack of repetition, lack of practice, lack of process."
For more tips, discussion, and behind the scenes:
About Ken Ott:
Kenneth Ott is an owner of multiple businesses, entrepreneur, husband, father, and Christian leader. Ken is the co-Founder of Metacake, an Ecommerce Growth Team and Dough Capital. Ken is an author, speaker, and business coach. To connect or learn more, visit:
- KenOtt.com
- Ken on LinkedIn
- Ken on Twitter/X
- Ken on Instagram
- Ken on Facebook
- Metacake - An Ecommerce Growth Team
- Dough - We own amazing DTC brands
Show Highlights
[00:00] Struggling to progress on big goals and ideas? Learn how to create momentum.
[1:38] Entrepreneurs self-sabotage through extreme internal pressure tied to results.
[2:55] Overemphasizing outcomes over actions causes hesitation and poor decisions.
[4:12] Champions like Michael Jordan reduce pressure by repetitions.
[8:22] Jordan takes clutch shots as just another shot through sufficient practice.
[15:44] Redefine failure as lack of attempts, not results. Focus on actions.
[17:11] Tying self-worth too closely with goals increases harmful pressure.
[20:23] Recognize exaggerated importance due to focus illusions.
[23:02] Adopt a “just another shot” mentality; lower outcome importance expectations.
[28:33] Develop immunity to failure beforehand through mental framing.
[29:44] Take action through repetitions without self-judgment.
[31:13] Condition confidence and enjoyment of hard work over time.
[36:12] Ultimately enjoy the process over tying identity to outcomes.
[41:32] Entrepreneurial success requires mental discipline to reduce pressure.
