dream big
High school wrestling is one of the toughest things I have ever done in my life. I remember coming from practice feeling like I had been run over by a freight train. For whatever reason, I loved it. The harder they would work us at practice, the harder I would run, push, dive, jump.
But then life got busy and keeping in shape was something that just fell by the wayside. I graduated from college, got married, and then the weight piled on. For a time I was over 210 lbs, and though I carried it well, I still felt tired, clumsy, and nothing like the agile grappler I had been in high school. I trimmed a little off and felt better at 198, but that was still not enough to make a big difference.
Then, about 7 years ago, I was channel surfing one Sunday and came across The Ironman Triathlon from Hawaii. I was so amazed at the fitness, power, and dedication of those athletes that it just lit me up. I knew then and there that I would have to do something because suddenly, I could not stand feeling like a bloated pig anymore. It gave me that proverbial kick in the shorts that I needed to get off my lazy ass and change my evil ways.
That spring I began running and cycling. I wasn’t very fast and didn’t go very far, but I was doing it. Once fall came around, I joined the gym and added swimming to my training, and started going to spinning classes, which kicked my training into high gear. Soon I was losing 5-6 lbs a month, and was feeling amazing. The next spring I bought my first bike, and a year later did my first sprint triathlon. Due to some knee issues I decided to focus only on cycling, but I still plan on doing a full triathlon one day.
If you’ve never seen the Ironman, I would recommend that you watch it sometime. These people push themselves to the edge, and find out what they’re really made of. Some are professionals, others just want to do it for bragging rights, some are just plain crazy. But regardless of why they choose to push their limits, they are utterly inspiring.
Now even if I never do a full Ironman, just having the goal of something so big was what I needed to jump-start my goal of getting back in shape. If I had simply had the nebulous goal of “getting back in shape” rather than something awesome and inspiring, I may never have trimmed of that 55 lbs. Dreaming big kept that spark I needed to keep me on that path that has forever changed my life. What’s your big dream?
cops vs clowns
While most of my posts deal with success and leadership, I found this awesome video that I simply had to share. Cops vs. Clowns:
being a superstar does not make you a leader
It was interesting watching the Tour de France this morning as Alberto Contador surged up the mountain at the crucial moment to not only take the stage win, but to cinch the yellow jersey. But while the commentators were singing Contador’s praises there was one comment that really struck me wrong. I’m not sure who it was, but as Contador was taking the stage, one of them said, “Contador is now the leader of Team Astana”.
I couldn’t disagree more.
Contador is a great rider, probably one the best to come along in years. The way the he can excelerate up a hill, then do again and again is almost magical. In the years to come, Contador will most certainly find himself in the yellow jersey many more times. He is a superstar for sure. But the true leader of Astana is Lance Armstrong. Not because he deserves it, although 7 wins of the Tour should make him the clear leader, but because he’s earned the respect of his fellow riders and he knows how to lead. If Contador wins, it will be because of the tactical ability of Lance. As the different teams jockeyed for position today, hoping to set things up for their prospective finishers, Lance was right up front with the other Astana riders helping keep tempo and attack when the time was right. Even at the last 10 km it was still not clear whether Lance or Contador was going to attack to take the win. When Contador surged up the, Lance did not chase, but held the tempo that kept others in the peleton from chasing Contador. Knowing how good Lance is on the hills, it looked as though Lance was holding back to help Contador the win. Lance has been contentious and brash in the past, but certainly had the talent to back it up. The older Lance has learned the art of discretion and is a little wiser before shooting his mouth off – all signs of a good leader – but he also knows that sometimes you have to think of the team first. That is true leadership.
seizing opportunities
Sometimes opportunities fall at our feet. Sometimes we have to work until they appear. Either way, when they show themselves, strike decisively to maximize your chance of success.
In this years Tour de France, we have seen some pretty amazing examples of seizing opportunities when they show themselves. On Friday the Australian born German Heinrich Haussler pulled off an amazing stage win that shows a great example of how to act descisively when an opportunity presents itself. Known mainly as an up and coming sprinter, Haussler latched on to a breakaway group in a grueling climb in near freezing temperatures. By the time they reached the summit, the group had fractured and he found himself with one other rider, Sylvain Chavanel. But it was on the way down that Haussler seized the opportunity to win the day. Descending like a man possesed, by the time he reached the bottom of the longest climb of the day, Haussler’s bike handling skills and sheer verve helped him put such a distance between himself and all the other riders that, barring a crash, he was virtually guaranteed a spot on the podium. Chavanel on the other hand, was extremely cautious, was afraid to descend at the speed it would take to keep up with Haussler, and seemed to lose his form and barely hung onto fourth place. Overcome with emotion, Haussler crossed the finish line with a stage win that will go down as one of the best in the history of the tour.
Now don’t get me wrong, Chavanel is a great rider and I would love to be as good as he is. There had been talk that he might be the first French hopeful for winning the tour in almost 30 years. But after that stage, I’d put my money on the German. Ja wohl!
not enough
Do you ever have those times when you look in the mirror and think, “Hey, my life is pretty good”? I have. In fact, I was just thinking about it this morning. But lately I’ve had this nagging feeling that there’s more than just a “good” life. Now, I’m not saying that I have bad life, because really, besides not having a secure job (does anyone?), it is a pretty good life. My consulting is opening doors, I’m in pretty good shape, I have two amazing kids, and while dating has been a bit on the back burner for a while, I have a decent social life.
But honestly, I feel like I’m only running at about 80%. Sometimes more, sometimes less, but basically somewhat better than average. And I’m tired of it. I mean, why do something only most of the way? Lately I’ve come to believe that what separates a great life from an average life is only that 20%. You put in those extra miles on the bike. Make that one extra sales call. Sit down and read that book with your kids. Talk to that cute girl that smiled at you, even if you think she’ll shoot you down. You go the distance, not just most of the way. I’ve heard it said that the perfect solution is the enemy of a good solution. Maybe. But I think the mediocre life is the enemy of the great life. Could have been a contender. Complacency kills.
It’s certainly not a lack of talent or ability. I have that in spades.
I think it’s just comes down to the belief that it’s okay to have an average life.
Not anymore.
Richard Branson, Lance Armstrong, John Mayer. They are constantly striving to live that exceptional life. To challenge themselves to live their best lives. That’s the sphere I want to be in.
Think of this as my manifesto to live fearlessly, a declaration of war on the mediocre life. This life goes to 11.
Life, you’re on notice.
