When Progress Stalls
Exploring the science and stories behind human performance plateaus—and what it really takes to break through.
See the latest insights
Hi, I'm Nate Waddoups
I’m a professor at the University of Denver with a PhD from the University of South Carolina. I study and publish research on human performance—specifically, what happens when driven people hit a plateau.
No one talks enough about that frustrating moment when you're doing everything right, but progress stalls. It leaves you wondering:
- “Am I the only one?”
- “Is something wrong with me?”
- “Do I push harder—or walk away?”
- “Is there a hidden key I'm missing?”
This site is where I share research, experiments, and stories that explore plateaus—and what people do to overcome them.
Latest
18
Jul
What it feels like being better than average, but not great.
I've felt for a long time that I'm pretty good, dare I say better than average,
4 min read
22
May
Breaking Out of a Plateau with Deliberate Practice
One potential solution for getting out of a plateau is deliberate practice. Research suggests that the world's best
3 min read
07
May
Anders Ericsson on Plateaus
A quote from Anders Ericsson on plateaus (this is from his book Peak):
💡"This is how the body'
3 min read
06
May
You Were Designed to Stay the Same—And to Grow
I’ve noticed something strange: I love making progress, but I also love doing nothing. Why does my brain cheer
3 min read
05
May
How do Plateaus Make us Feel?
I surveyed over 100 people and asked them to describe how they felt while experiencing a plateau. The most common
1 min read
05
May
How Common Are Plateaus?
📊Survey evidence suggests that over 90 percent of individuals have experienced a plateau in their lives.
I surveyed 101 individuals
22
Apr
Survey Results
Hitting a plateau is one of the most frustrating challenges in any pursuit. I set out to learn how common
4 min read
02
Apr
What Real Plateaus Look Like: Stories from 100 People
I asked 100 people to describe a plateau they’d experienced. Here are some of the stories that stood out.
4 min read
25
Mar
Why measuring too often slows you down
I used to think tracking everything would guarantee progress. Then I realized measurement was quietly holding me back.
2 min read