The Achievement Journal

Blindness to one's own success

In the constant quest for improvement, the athlete tends to develop a "selective blindness" to his own progress. They focus so much on what remains to be achieved that they ignore what they have already accomplished.

The Achievement Journal is a tool designed to correct this cognitive bias.

It consists of a systematic and periodic record of successes, no matter how small they may seem. The objective is to make the coachee aware of his or her real evolution.

It is essential that it is the client himself who initiates the contribution of achievements; the coach only accompanies or facilitates if the athlete is unable to see anything positive, but avoids falling into easy flattery or false achievement.

Structure and argumentation

To be effective, the log should not be a simple list of facts. It should include columns for the date, the description of the achievement, "how you achieved it" (to reinforce personal agency), the learning extracted and "how it helps you" for the future.

The coach should have each achievement perfectly argued and observed to validate it with authority if doubts arise.

This practice trains the brain to scan reality for evidence of competence, counteracting the brain's natural tendency to focus on danger or error.

Building self-esteem based on effort

As John Whitmore points out, to develop strong self-esteem, it is not enough to accumulate successes; the athlete needs to know that those successes are due to his or her own effort.

The Achievement Journal serves this function by linking the outcome to one's action.

By reviewing the journal after a period of time, the athlete has empirical proof of his or her ability to excel.

This defines success not only as the final victory, but as the accumulation of small battles won day by day. This tool provides an internal indicator

Summary

The diary corrects the athlete's tendency to focus only on what remains to be achieved. It is a systematic record of successes that makes the individual aware of his or her evolution.

It should include detailed descriptions of how successes were achieved to reinforce personal agency. This practice trains the brain to scan for evidence of competence and success.

Linking the outcome to one's own effort builds solid and lasting self-esteem. It defines success as the accumulation of small battles won day after day.