excellence, actually The Optimization Trap — and How to Escape It
43 snips
Nov 6, 2025 The discussion kicks off with Yoshinobu Yamamoto's World Series heroics, illustrating the pitfalls of the optimization trap. Hosts explore how rigid routines can lead to fragility and choking under pressure. They emphasize the value of flexible pre-performance rituals and the importance of knowing when to abandon them. The episode dives into using safe-to-fail experiments to bolster self-efficacy and contrasts wisdom against fear in decision-making. Listeners learn that accepting failure can be a crucial part of achieving success in various fields.
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Yamamoto's Game 6–7 Heroics
- Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched in Game 6 (96 pitches) and then threw 34 bullpen pitches to close Game 7 in extra innings.
- He ignored analytics and recovery scores and trusted his training to secure the World Series for the Dodgers.
Rituals Should Be Flexible
- Routines anchor performance but can become crutches when over-controlled.
- Train principles, not tight rituals, so you can adapt when constraints change.
Rehearse Constrained Scenarios
- Build flexibility into your pre-performance process by rehearsing variations of constrained scenarios.
- Bake alternative warm-ups and short rituals into practice so you can perform when the script breaks.
