Whether athletes, celebrities or great business people, the concept of working at peak performance is very fascinating to me. Indeed a surprising number of CEOs and entrepreneurs are also marathon runners and triathletes, which is another pause for thought. What are the correlations of peak performance between olympic athletes and entrepreneurs?Are there things that we can learn from people who achieve the pinnacle of physical fitness and beauty that can help us in our business ventures?Here are just some of the practices of elite athletes that can be applied to our business life.Have a clear goal clarity precedes mastery. In order to have a remarkable company we should have a very clear, refined 24-month blueprint as to what our companies will look like two years from now, in terms of culture, branding, revenues, costs and, of course, profitability. We must write the vision; all athletes have goals that they are working towards whether it’s the Olympics or the May 24 half-marathon, they train towards it.To get the energy, do the work. It’s amazing how prolific and hardworking so many of our “heroes” of today are. As effortless and carefree as they make it look, whether on the red carpet or on the cover of a magazine, there are hours and hours of “productive, deliberate, focused” work. Every time a task is completed, there is a corresponding release of energy and confidence. It’s called Completion Energy and who doesn’t wish that they had more energy to do great things.Interval training the sprinter’s model. To operate at peak performance, athletes train then rest. We are most energetic and marshal our best intellectual resources, when we work in 90 minute cycles of high performance. The interesting thing is that athletes actually go to the next level during the recovery period. Similarly the best entrepreneurs do not work in a linear cycle. They take time off, daily, weekly and monthly for maximum productivity and achievement.Stay motivated Use your most valuable hours to do your very best work and don’t worry about what anyone else has to say. Rituals at the beginning and end of the day enclose your best efforts during the day. Many successful athletes and business people rise very early to spend time investing in themselves with inspirational reading, gratitude journaling, yoga, goal setting and quiet time to become centred. I call this the Sanctuary Hour because it anchors your energy, focus, sanity and calmness for the day. Rituals at the end of the day such as a simple walk or quiet dinner close the day with all its troubles and calamity to prepare for another. It is so important to know that we are training for the long term and must maintain our stamina and well-being.Simplify. Robin Sharma says “we live in the age of grand distraction” which most of us deluged by e-mail and text cell phones would say is a “grand” understatement. It’s a constant battle to focus on the important things. Peak performance for anyone means eliminating or at least compartmentalising anything that does not push us closer to our goals. Charlie Wittmack, who recently completed the Ultimate Triathlon, (English channel swim, 7,000 mile bike ride to Everest and then climbed Everest) said he is “unsociable” when it comes to returning calls and e-mail. Not to say that we should be unsociable but decluttering physically and mentally is essential to peak performance.Business coach. Entrepreneurs are athletes on the great playing field of business. No athlete would dream of showing up at the Olympics without a coach, without a strategy and without having trained. A good business coach is invaluable.Million dollar vacation ritual. I love this idea. The Japanese say “Mind like Water”. When you switch off and rest, the mind becomes free to create new ideas for your business. Therefore the money you spend on vacation is actually an investment not only in yourself but in your business and one that you might just get a million dollar return on! That works for me!Productivity isn’t about getting more materially and superficially but rather a means to express the talent you were born with and to leave a meaningful legacy.Something to read: “The Art of Non-Conformity Set Your Own Rules and Live the Life You Want” by Chris Guillebeau.Something to watch: www.zenhabits.com (Leo Babauta) The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential in Business and in Life.This article was written by Lois Wilson with use of material by Robin Sharma and other business coaches. It does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Royal Gazette.