"Put your shoes on" for high performance

In my work with leaders and teams, I use a simple, three-part framework: the Performance Mindset Tool. It splits our state into Blue (unmotivated), Purple (flow), and Red (angry or reactive). The reality is we’ll never eliminate Blue or Red; that’s just human nature. The real win is learning to spot which state you’re in and having a system to influence your way back to Purple by taking control of the controllable.

My personal biggest challenge is always the Blue state; the low energy, the procrastination, the thought of “I’ll just do it later”. The truth I’ve learned is that the idea of doing the thing is often worse than the actual doing.

My running routine is the perfect example.

Some days, I have zero desire to go. My brain immediately argues: “You’re tired… big day… skip it”. Instead of fighting that voice, I bypass it by dropping the goal entirely. I don’t say “run.” I just say: just put on the shoes and walk.

That’s the entire trigger.

Once the shoes are on, and I’ve started walking I’ll normally get to a point where I’ll say, “Okay, I might jog to the end of the street”. By the time I hit that first marker, everything shifts. My body loosens up, my mind clears, and I’m cruising.

I didn't need motivation; I needed momentum. I just needed to influence that tiny first step.

Red is a different challenge, when frustration, pressure, or anger spikes. When that happens, I force myself to pause. I take deep breaths, maybe walk away for five minutes, or grab a quick, grounding chat with a colleague. Then, I immediately recenter on my core why. That question pulls me out of the chaos and back to focusing on what I can control.

To stay anchored in Purple, I rely on routine. Flow state isn't a gift; it's engineered. Simple micro-habits such as going to bed on time, prepping clothes and making a quick smoothie in the morning, remove friction points. They build clarity, energy, and control, day after day.

The lesson is this: You don't rise to the level of your motivation; you fall to the level of your systems, your triggers, and the things you’ve chosen to put within your control.

So, what is your "put your shoes on" moment?