Develop a Tolerance for Ambiguity
I did something yesterday at swim practice that I’ve NEVER done before!
Since August I’ve been going hard in the pool.
You see, I knew the first swim meet of the Minnesota Masters Swimming season was on October 12.
I had 9 weeks to get in really good shape — and make a go at a goal that I’ve held for 15 years: break 5 minutes in the 500-yard freestyle.
So, I created a plan around the following mindset:
The nuts and bolts of the plan:
3 week build followed by a recovery week
4 week build followed by a taper week
And then within the plan, I started pushing my boundaries.
To push my boundaries, all I did was focus on habits.
I got to the pool earlier.
Instead of standing around, stretching and talking, I immediately dove in.
These two small changes alone created a space for me to get in 1000-1500 yards of swimming before practice even started.
When I dove in, instead of slowly building into things, I started pushing earlier.
Here’s an example of what it looked like when I first started in August:
15 X 100 with paddles and pull buoy @ 1:15
Over 7 weeks I started playing with that structure — making small incremental changes overtime.
Here’s what it looked like 2 weeks ago:
5 X 100 with paddles and pull buoy @ 1:12
5 X 100 with paddles and pull buoy @ 1:08
5 X 100 with paddles and pull buoy @ 1:06
In essence, by making successive tiny adjustments physically, I was shifting my mindset around what’s possible.
And, I was getting the added benefit of starting the main workout in a depleted state.
I also lengthened my cool down.
This not only allowed me to bump up my daily yardage, but also forced a habit around more intentional recovery.
As a result of all of these little shifts, there was a huge impact in my overall swimming volume:
Daily, I went from ~3000 yards of swimming to ~4500-5000 yards.
Weekly, I went from ~14,000 yards to consistently hitting over 22,000 yards.
Small changes.
Tiny adjustments
Big impact.
Here’s the challenging part of everything above — way harder than the actual work.
I didn’t know if any of this was doing anything.
I had few — if any — indicators that this work was pushing me toward my goal.
The BIG UNKNOWN: if I do this, will it actually do anything?
Ever been there?
I recently went to a conference where I got to hear Alex Rodriguez speak.
He had a ton of great stuff to share — about baseball and about business — but one thing stuck with me.
And I think it is key to so many pursuits:
“You have to build up your tolerance for ambiguity.”
Tolerance for ambiguity.
As you push toward things, you’re not fully going to know.
As you show up day after day, you’re never going to be certain.
As you put in the work — and push your boundaries — you won’t get the answers.
There very rarely is a 1:1 connection between input and output.
To achieve things, you have to get comfortable with the unknown.
You have to build up your muscle for the unknowable.
“You have to build up your tolerance for ambiguity.”
The risk of not building up your tolerance for ambiguity?
You throw in the towel.
You give up.
You quit.
I’ve been there many times in my life.
Because I hadn’t built up that mental muscle.
But, if yesterday’s swim practice is any indicator — for me and for you — don’t throw in the towel.
Focus on habits.
Make small adjustments.
Push your edges.
Lean into the process.
Build up the muscle.
Yesterday morning, after a challenging lead up, I swam the fastest 200-yard freestyle that I have ever done in practice.
2:00.
Exactly the pace I need to go on Sunday — and I felt great doing it.
At 45-years old, at least in practice, I’m swimming faster than I ever have before.
What will happen this coming Sunday?
I have no clue.
It’s unknown.
But I do know that by focusing on habits, pushing my edges, and leaning into ambiguity the signs are pointing in the right direction.
Whatever you’re working toward, keep pushing.
Sure, there may be a lot of unknowns.
The better you can tolerate those, my guess, the better the reward on the other side.
Onward.