Figuring out how to prioritize in any sort of complex system is really, really difficult.

We see this all the time in working with athletes.

A simple, linear mindset results in athletes trying to do more, more, more training — and expecting to get more, more, more results.

In reality, there are trade-offs involved in any sort of training plan.

These are not just the trade-offs between the zero sum competition between training time and ability to adapt, but fundamental trade-offs between constraints being imposed on the system.

If only there were some sort of lens through which we could view the process of making trade-offs between competing priorities in complex systems…

Fortunately, Courtney Kelly is a coach and a copywriter, and she has a background in psycholinguistics.

In linguistics, there is an understanding of the way that humans generate grammar and speech based upon trade-offs between different constraints.

This theory is called “optimality theory,” and Courtney wrote a fantastic article on its application to training here.

Check out more from Courtney, Ethos Alchemy, and Strength Ratio here:

• Article: Performance optimization? How ’bout optimality theory?
• Website: www.strengthratiohq.com | www.ethosalchemy.co
• Instagram: @strengthratio | @ethos_alchemy

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Show Notes:

• [01:01] A background on psycholinguistics and universal grammar — and why grammar is a lot more interesting than “just punctuation”
• [14:24] So, what is optimality theory? What does the way that humans generate speech have to tell us about trade-offs in complex systems — particularly in fitness?
• [28:10] A tangible example of the trade-offs involved in training for a triathlon vs building muscle for aesthetics
• [34:00] Optimality theory treats constraints as “binary” — not on a sliding scale
• [40:15] An grammatical example of optimality theory in action
• [49:02] The importance of having a robust theory of mind for effective communication
• [59:09] The practical applications of understanding theory of mind for copywriting and sales — how to understand clients’ hopes, fears, and dreasm
• [01:13:32] How to know when it’s ok to “exclude” someone with your copy who isn’t a good fit for your business
• [01:18:02] Learn more from Courtney, Ethos Alchemy, and Strength Ratio

Links and Resources Mentioned

• Slipknot “Psychosocial”
• Generative grammar
• Noam Chomsky
• B. F. Skinner
• Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization
• “Let’s face it: reading acquisition, face and word processing” from Frontiers in Psychology
• Reading Rehabilitation | American Stroke Association
• Optimality Theory
• “Optimality Theory – Constraint Interaction in Generative Grammar” by Alan Prince and Paul Smolensky
• Zach Greenwald
• Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns
• Markedness and Faithfulness Constraints
• Ruble sign
• Géraldine Legendre
• Theory of mind
• Kurt Vonnegut
• James Joyce