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
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