8 Steps to High Performance

INTRODUCTION

How to Be a High Performer

Some people begin their careers with a clear performance advantage. They may be smarter than you, come from a better socioeconomic background, be physically attractive, or have helpful personality characteristics. Each of those factors is scientifically proven to help someone perform better than you. Those combined items predict up to 50 percent of anyone’s individual performance, according to academic research.¹ Let’s call those things the “fixed 50 percent” because they’re largely unchangeable once we become adults.

Of course, there’s no guarantee that someone with more fixed 50 percent qualities will be a high performer, but it means that some people begin with a clear head start. A great-looking, highly ...