How can you systematically improve your performance?  Create your own feedback system.  The key is to focus on the quality of your work and the quality of your thinking.  Another key is to use qualitative feedback over quantitative feedback.  In Overachievement: The New Model for Exceptional Performance, John Eliot, Ph.D., writes about how to use qualitative feedback to improve your performance.
Shift from Quantitative to Qualitative
Eliot writes that you should shift to qualitative feedback:
It is difficult to find a mathematical description of attitude.  While we have a sense of what it …

Where does real and durable self-confidence come from?  Lasting confidence doesn’t come from your track record.  It doesn’t come from outside factors.  Real and durable confidence comes from the inside out.  In Overachievement: The New Science of Working Less to Accomplish More, John Eliot, Ph.D. writes about real confidence.
First Comes Confidence Then Comes Success
Eliot writes:
You make a big sale, close a deal, or hit one out of the park, and you feel great.  But that delight is not to be confused with real and durable confidence.  But that delight is …

Do you wait for inspiration before taking action? Don’t. Imagine if athletes only practiced when they were inspired. Inspiration is a gift, but not something you count on every day. Put your focus on mastering your craft and let inspiration happen. When it does, you’ll be ready for it. In The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles, Steven Pressfield writes about how professionals don’t wait for inspiration.
Concentrate on Technique
Pressfield writes about focusing on your technique over waiting for inspiration:
A pro views her work …