Knowledge that is not applied is knowledge that is wasted, in most situations at least. It’s not just enough that we know; we have to capitalize on what we know by doing, by converting it into performance. In short, our performance is what tells us how good we are at what we do, and when it comes to shooting pool, we become better players when we prove we can through our performance. It’s not enough to just know what to do; you need to know how to convert that knowledge into performance. If you think you’re good at grasping facts and gaining knowledge but not as good at applying it and translating what you’ve learned into performance, here’s how you can turn knowledge into performance:
· Just Do It: We will never know if we are able to convert knowledge to performance if we never try. So, as Nike says, just do it. Give yourself 15 minutes when you’re shooting by yourself to learn the new shot. Maybe you could start out with an easier version, but commit to working up to the harder one you really want to learn. Come back to it for 15 more minutes the next day and for a day or two after, and you’ll be amazed at how much more comfortable that shot has become. Once you’ve learned the process of how to make a shot your own, you can apply the same knowledge to any shot.
· Practice Makes Perfect: If there’s one way to ensure that you perform according to the knowledge you possess, it’s to practice, practice and keep practice. There’s no substitute to practice if you want to achieve perfection in your performance. The more you practice, the better you become, and the better you become, the more confidence you have.
· Have No Fear: When there is no fear, your mind is free to put into practice the knowledge that it has. You are confident of yourself and so you find that you’re able to translate knowledge into performance without the fear of failure. When shooting pool, if you’ve practiced a new way to get into position in a particular situation but are unable to apply the same in a game situation, you are letting fear get the better of you. To overcome this obstacle, just imagine that you are still at the practice table and that there are no opponents. This removes some of the pressure and you’re able to perform with excellence.
· Strive for more: Now that you have experience under your belt in practicing new shots and techniques and in making them part of your game, you need to prevent complacence from taking over. And to this end, you must continue to keep an eye on your game to identify weaknesses that need "the treatment", and on your opponents’ game for new and interesting moves and shots that they use. Good performers make everyone their teachers, even their adversaries.
Performance is really all about utilizing opportunities that come our way, so make the best of your knowledge in tandem with windows of opportunities, and you’re well on your way to being a superior performer.