Awareness Quote by Matthew Syed
“World-class performance comes by striving for a target just out of reach, but with a vivid awareness of how the gap might be breached. Over time, through constant repetition and deep concentration, the gap will disappear, only for a new target to be created, just out of reach once again.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Black Box Thinking by Matthew Syed, 2015
Continuous improvement requires setting challenging goals, focused practice, and awareness of how to close performance gaps, leading to ever‑higher standards.
In simple terms: Push limits, practice intensely, close gaps, set new goals.
Key Takeaway
Aim higher through disciplined practice.
Themes
growth
performance
goal‑setting
deliberate practice
mastery
Mood
determined
optimistic
focused
Type
motivational
inspirational
When to use this quote
- sports training
- musical instrument mastery
- academic study
- professional development
- creative projects
Key Concepts
psychology
skill acquisition
feedback loops
Questions to Reflect On
- What current gap can you quantify?
- How will you measure closing it?
A Different Perspective
Progress stalls without clear metrics and sustained motivation.
![“Tony [Walters] was one of the first international world-class athlete I had ever dealt with and I was lucky enough to have him as a coach and he taught me a lot about the mental aspects of training and competition.” quote by Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/677/chris-algieri-15307_aspect_tony-walters-was-one-of-the-first-intern_119676.jpg)
![“In the worldly life, due to maadakta (intoxication of the ego of ‘I am Chandubhai’), one has completely lost awareness of everything about one’s self. Everything in the worldly life is nothing but intoxication. The food is intoxicating, the senses are intoxicating. [Therefore] Go to the one, who…” quote by Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2b3/dada-bhagwan-31_absolute_in-the-worldly-life-due-to-maadakta-into_3662.jpg)
