Peak Performance & Potential

When you turn 30, you won’t be able to do that anymore. At 40, forget it; it’s all downhill from here. It’s too late to start that; you can’t be the best.

I’ve heard this throughout my life. It was never directed at me, almost always self-talk. As you age, your potential diminishes, in particular physically. That decay isn’t as evident with your intelligence until later in life. One massive assumption in this line of self-talk is that you’ve already reached your peak performance. That prized achievement you consider your peak might have used only some of your potential you could have done.

Now, I write this not to take away anyone’s accomplishments. Those should always be applauded. I write it to remind us that at any stage of life, we have potential we can reach. Keep learning. Keep moving. Keep finding ways to improve. It doesn’t matter what you could have done ten years ago.

Let Kathryn Martin serve as a source of inspiration. She ran a 6:31.25 mile at the age of 70.

Find your quest and go for it!