CHICAGO–Why are some people such effective game changers? There is actually science behind what makes those people as successful as they are, according to author Dave Asprey, whose new book is called just that, “Game Changers.” The book includes what the author says are 46 science-backed, high performance "laws" that are a virtual playbook for how to get better at life.
Asprey recently participated in a Q&A with Laura Garnett, a performance strategist, that was published on Inc.com. Here’s some of what Asprey had to say:
Garnett: Out of all of the game changing ideas, which ones are the hardest in your opinion, to incorporate into your life and why?
Asprey: Different laws from Game Changers are hard to implement because of your own internal roadblocks. For instance, some people are really good at Law #1, "Use the Power of No," and these are people who are really OK with saying, "I'm not going to do that today because it's not in alignment with my larger goals." For a lot of people this law is the hardest one of all, because they're so eager to please other people or they feel emotionally responsible for other people.
One of the other laws that's particularly hard to follow is Law #8, which is "Get out of Your Head." It's really scary to get outside of your own head and to see what you're really doing or hiding from yourself. This makes it perhaps the hardest of all the laws to follow. But the people who do big things in the world almost universally have found a way to do this.
Garnett: Knowing what you know about human performance and incorporating so many behaviors that ensure you're at your best, what road blocks or fears do you experience now? Do you have any at all?
Asprey: I do have roadblocks, but I don't have fearsabout any of it. The reason I don't have fears is because I've spent four months of my life with electrodes on my head, going through and figuring every pattern in my nervous system that triggers a fear that I know of, and resetting the pattern. This deep commitment to personal development has gotten me to the point where if I do feel fear that isn't based on a real and present threat, I recognize that it's usually my ego, and that it's probably something I haven't dealt with. I ruthlessly get it out of my system, not by suppressing it, but by figuring out the root cause and turning it
Garnett: What do you think is the number one reason most people struggle NOT to be at their best, and how can they even begin to fix it?
Asprey: The word 'struggling' is at the root of the problem here. What I've observed from interviewing these 500 experts that were the data set for Game Changers, is that these people are not struggling. They might work hard, but they're actually creating pull instead of pushing against something. Struggling is what a puppy does. If you hold a puppy, it'll wiggle around while you hold it. And then it finally just surrenders. The people who are changing the game, they're generally not 'struggling' to change the game. They're working hard with passion, they deal with their internal resistance and fear, and actually begin to enjoy. Most of the time, they're not struggling through the day. So, I think it's about re-framing how we characterize what a 'struggle' means.
Garnett: You are clearly a type A person who is obsessed with being the best at all aspects of life. Why is this, and what do you say to people who are type B or just not that interested in being the best they can be?
Asprey: I'm not obsessed with being the best in all aspects of life, but I believe that life is precious. You only have so much time that you're here. And if what you're doing matters, then wouldn't you want to show up all the way? Wouldn't you want to do the stuff that matters the most, especially when what matters is fun? When you're doing what you're supposed to be doing to make the world a better place, it feels good. If you're doing something that's important, and you do it with excellence and see the impact that is one of the most rewarding things there is to being human. The pleasure and joy that comes from this kind of fulfillment is really important.