Standardization before Optimization

I love this phrase. “Standardization before Optimization”. What this means to me is to do things correctly, consistently, and functionally before you move on to doing it perfectly. What does this look like in practice? In my personal life it means exercising consistently first before adding in a routine and supplements. It means meditating consistently first before exploring different variations and teachings of meditation. It means studying consistently first before looking at more optimal techniques. I fall into this optimization trap a lot. Optimize my workout routine whilst I haven’t worked out even semi-routinely in months. Spend time trying to learn different time management techniques when I don’t even have the simplest one set up that I use regularly.

It’s easy to fall into this trap, that’s because its the ego talking. Telling you that you’re too good. You don’t need to waste your time with the little leagues. That you’re good for the pros. You are not. If you jump to optimizing first then you won’t stick with it. I have never once succeed at something when I did it the optimized and perfect way. That shoddy way that barley counts, that’s what matters. That’s what’s going to push the needle. Why? Because you’ll do it for years, and slowly you’ll do it better.

Standardize first then optimize.