I started listening to podcasts.
For years I’ve known that plenty of people are putting out great content on podcasts, but, quite frankly, I haven’t made the time to listen.
It was my loss. I’m listening now.
This weekend I listened to The Unmistakable Creative podcast with Srini Rao interviewing author of The Talent Code, Dan Coyle.
He shared many fascinating insights on unlocking human performance, and there was one particular metaphor that deeply stuck with me.
Throughout the podcast, Dan talked about “filling your windshield,” meaning, what you are looking at, with the people and things that you want to be your reality.
In describing how people develop quickly in “talent hot beds,” Dan uses the example of a skateboard park.
Every day, kids are surrounded by better skaters, going for it, ripping new tricks. And, up and coming skaters can be constantly filling their windshield with these role models.
When they are in the park, they’re not just practicing on their own, or surrounded by people who allow them to coast, but they are constantly shown a successful role model of who they could be.
Those skaters who are serious about developing, not only watch, but learn to emulate their role models, then over time, become role models to others, and so on.
It is in this way that talent hot beds in Russia consistently produce top tennis players, kids riding around together all get better faster, and we can each challenge ourselves to new levels of performance.
Fascinating way to see it, right?
A question it inspired in me was: To keep getting more of what you want, how should you be filling your windshield?