How To Level Up When You're Already Maxed Out

Steal the secret strategy I used to teach myself coding in 2 months

Feb 10, 2025

Image created by author using DALL-E (no affiliation to Nike lol)

Most of us go through each week focused on delivering our best work.

Some jobs even require us to be switched 'on' 100% of the time.

But this is the fast track to becoming redundant in our rapidly changing world of AI. Not to mention the quickest way to burnout.

I've wanted to write this article for a while, as it's a topic I'm really passionate about.

My question to you is: How are you going to keep up when AI comes knocking on your door to take your job?

How you structure your week will determine the answer – specifically how you build in the crucial concept of the learning zone and the performance zone. I cover this concept in my upcoming book, and here's a little excerpt:

What is it?

In his TEDx Manhattan Beach talk, Eduardo Briceño, Co-founder and CEO of Mindset Works, explores how to get better at the things you care about. He explains that we spend our time in one of two zones: the learning zone or the performance zone.

We use the learning zone when our goal is to improve. It's an opportunity to practice the things we need to get better at without any negative consequences.

This is what the late Swedish cognitive psychologist, K. Anders Ericsson, termed Deliberate Practice. It involves breaking down a process into smaller chunks and practicing the bits that you're not very good at until you become good at them.

According to Ericsson: "When most people practice, they focus on the things they already know how to do. Deliberate practice is different. It entails considerable, specific, and sustained efforts to do something you can't do well—or even at all. Research across domains shows that it is only by working at what you can't do that you turn into the expert you want to become."

The performance zone, on the other hand, is where you are expected to perform at your best at all times, minimizing mistakes and executing what you have already mastered.

Why do you need both in your week?

Have you noticed that when you learn a new skill or start a new job, the learning curve is always so steep at first?

Research has shown that after a couple of years in a job, we feel like our skills are adequate enough and don't invest the same level of time in getting better.

We spend almost all of our time in the performance zone, often saying that 'we don't have time' to learn and improve.

I've started to notice this distinction more and more lately as my six-year-old son, obsessed with football (soccer), is only ever interested in the performance zone – playing matches. I'm gently trying to guide him to practice particular skills (the learning zone) to work on the elements that often let his games down!

This probably all sounds like common sense. Because it is. The tricky part is how to incorporate it into your week.

How do you practically apply it?

Briceño highlights Beyoncé as a great example of this:

"When Beyoncé is on tour, during the concert, she's in her performance zone, but every night when she gets back to the hotel room, she goes right back into her learning zone. She watches a video of the show that just ended. She identifies opportunities for improvement, for herself, her dancers, and her camera staff. And the next morning, everyone receives pages of notes with what to adjust, which they then work on during the day before the next performance."

Here are 5 simple steps you can take to build more learning zones into your week:

Step 1: Identify what you want to improve

List the skills or areas where you want to improve (e.g., leadership, coding, writing, fitness).
Identify where you currently spend most of your time—Are you mostly performing or learning?

Step 2: Set clear learning goals

Be specific about what you want to improve (e.g., "Improve public speaking" instead of just "Get better at communication").
Choose 1-2 high-priority skills to work on each week.

Step 3: Allocate learning zone time blocks

Schedule dedicated Learning Zone sessions in your week—1 to 2 hours per skill or topic. In these sessions, you would:
- Practice new skills (e.g., writing a speech, doing coding exercises)
- Review mistakes and feedback
- Read, research, or study
- Get coaching or mentorship

Step 4: Balance with Performance Zone activities

Schedule your Performance Zone around key tasks. This includes work, presentations, meetings, or applying what you learned.
Think of it like a cycle: Learn, Apply, Reflect, Repeat

Step 5: Reflect & adjust weekly

On Friday afternoon or Monday morning, review your progress. Ask:
- What worked?
- What did I struggle with?
- Do I need more Learning Zone time?
Adjust your schedule based on what you need more of.

The Takeaway

Let me be direct: Growth isn't a passive process.

In a world driven by rapid technological change, particularly with AI transforming industries overnight, continuous learning isn't just an advantage—it's a survival strategy.

An ideal working week seamlessly blends learning and performance zones. By dedicating intentional time to skill development alongside your core responsibilities, you create a powerful personal growth engine.

This approach doesn't just incrementally improve your performance; it fundamentally transforms your potential.

Imagine treating your professional development like an elite athlete or a world-class performer. Not by working harder, but by working smarter.

By consciously alternating between learning and performing, you'll not only stay relevant but become genuinely exceptional in your field.

The choice is yours: remain static or become unstoppable.

What do you think? Are you ready to become unstoppable?