Critical Mass

Many chase achievement. Recall the "Achievement Equation."

Achievement = Performance x Time 

Elevating achievement works best by raising both performance and time. 

1 x 1 = 1

2 x 2 = 4

4 x 3 = 12

Of course, it's not easy to quadruple your performance or to put in three times the work. 

Critical mass usually conjures up ideas of nuclear fusion, creating enough nuclear fuel and energy to initiate a 'chain reaction'. "In physics critical mass is the mass of nuclear material needed to create a nuclear chain reaction, where the by-products of one reaction are used as the inputs for the next, chaining them together in a self-perpetuating fashion." Super Thinking: The Big Book of Mental Models by Weinberg, Gabriel; McCann, Lauren 

Critical mass extends beyond physics to politics (e.g. fascism), to musical trends (e.g. the Beatles), and products (e.g. fax machines or cellphones). 

How does it apply to volleyball or sports? 

Analytics - what to track, does it work, how much impact?

Talent - how much is enough 'critical mass'? 

Strategy - what creates 'sustainable competitive advantage'? Or what 'losses' create subcritical mass? 

Coaching - what coaches have the skill, will, and resources to assemble critical mass? 

Skill set - what combination of serving, attacking, blocking, setting, digging, and passing creates the exceptional player?  

"Too much of a good thing can also be a bad thing." - from Super Thinking

If you tripled your volleyball time investment, it would come at the expense of family, school, and a well-rounded life.

The 'art' of self-development seeks the right blend to achieve critical mass. Along the journey, use "Dot b." Stop, take a breath, and reflect on where your feet are. 

Lagniappe. The 2012 team wasn't extraordinarily tall and wasn't profoundly more athletic than you are. They were more experienced and developed "closers" who finished plays and defenders who kept plays alive. 

I invite your attention to three elements: 

1. Melrose attackers get ON TOP OF the ball. This limits attacks soaring long. 

2. Melrose blockers "press the block" over the net, not just getting hands up. 

3. Melrose attackers leverage geometry with attack angles.