Making The Commitment
It’s easy to say you’re going to run a marathon. It’s easy to say you want to do whatever it is that you want to do. Saying and doing are very different animals, to which I can attest.
I want to be a cowboy/police man/fireman/astronaut
I want to be the first garbage man on the moon.
I want to run a marathon
I want to be president
I want to be CEO/CIO/CTO
I want to make a million dollars.
No matter what you decide it is that you want to do, it is easy enough to make the statement but living up to that statement, putting in the legwork and effort is much different. No matter what you want to do, you need to have a very good reason for making the decision to go through with it. As I learned in Weight Watchers, your Why has to be bigger than your But (or in my head… your Butt). Why do I want to do this. Is the why close enough to my heart to make it stick. When the Buts come up will the why be bigger.
Why do I want to run a Marathon (literally). I want to say I can do it. I want to feel the feelings. I want to do it in honor of Bear (who will not be there to see it, but who has been behind me all the way).
But, the ice cream looks amazing. But it is cold outside. But I’m tired. But my infusion is late. But I have to wear a mask and it is a pain.
Why I want to write a book… I want to see my name on the cover… I want people to see me and make a fuss… I want to make money… But I’m busy…. but I like to sleep in… but I need to finish this project at work…
There are whys and there are buts to everything.
Many people make the comment (their why is big enough for them) but never make it even as far as the starting line (the buts in their head are bigger than the actual buts of life). If you want to make it to your goal, you need to internalize your decision, make the commitment to doing the work to get there.
Decide how much training you need
No matter what your goal is (CEO, trash man on the moon, photo-journalist, movie star) there is work that has to go into getting there. Along with that work, there is training of one kind or another than has to go into it too.
Set your goal and then figure out what all training (reading, formal training, what have you) you will need to get you to the first step in that goal. Don’t boil the ocean. Don’t look at what you need to do to get to the final step in the huge stairway that will lead you to your dream. Look at what it is going to take to get to the top of that first step.
Can you do it on your own? Reading a book, writing a page? Starting a walk? Researching on line?
Or do you need to start with formal training from the beginning? Look a online classes or in person classes. Find the first one that you can take and dedicate the time and money to taking that one class. College is expensive but there are alternatives that are less so, and when you start small, the expenses can be smaller as well.
Make clear why you are doing this
Build a training Plan
Find an accountability partner
Build in flexibility
Fuel your training
Have intermediary goals
Set your own pace
Get a support team
Dig Deep
A Figment Of Fitness 