Thoughts on Becoming a Champion

After completing 11 consecutive 12-week BFL challenges -- reaping numerous benefits from each attempt and suffering from the frustration of occasionally falling short of my goals too -- I've begun to realize that there are certain truisms or fundamentals that may help us all and which cannot be ignored.

(1) "Will + Skill = Kill" ... Now this is not an original thought. In fact it is the essence of a book entitled: Small Unit Leadership by "Mike" Malone ... Being willing to change is necessary but not sufficient. One must be willing and able to make a transformation. The "killer" physique that results requires the commitment (will) and the effort (skill).

(2) George Leonard's book: Mastery contains even more insight. The five keys to mastery include (a) seek instruction, (b) practice, practice, practice, (c) Surrender to the discipline, (d) working the mental game [which he calls "intentionality"], and (e) pushing the edge of your best performance ... Again, nothing new here but packaged well and proven in many areas of sport, business, etc.

I've developed a workshop for facilitators using these two themes. On Friday of this week I'll present this workshop at the Mid-Atlantic Facilitators Network - Washington DC Workshop series.

Now I've gotta 'walk the walk' as well as 'talk the talk' if I'm to become a true champion. This truth cannot be avoided it must be embraced.

Measure Progress Not Perfection

"Since no one is perfect, it follows that all great deeds have been accomplished out of imperfection. Yet they were accomplished, somehow, all the same."
– Lois McMaster Bujold

I just notice that I hadn't posted on this BLOG-site since September. My first reaction was, 'Egads! ... What a slacker!' But then I realized that work has been exceptionally hectic with plenty of 10-12 hour days logged in over the past few weeks.

The workouts haven't been as intense or as regular as I'd like to report. But I've tried my best and know that there's relief in sight schedule-wise. So the quote above seems doubly appropriate. There are still GREAT DEEDS to be accomplished and this imperfect fellows determined to Get 'er Done!