Last week I was doing a TV interview which was meant to be a bit bragadocious. The producers wanted me to talk all about the fancy, impressive things I’ve done with a lot of swagger.
When you do an interview like this, the producer sits or stands behind and just to the side of the camera and asks a series of questions that you’re supposed to answer in complete sentences. If you think about the last time you watched something like Top Chef, the characters say things like, “My pork belly tacos are the best in the country!”
I can promise you that took several attempts because the producer asked, “Are your pork belly tacos the best in the country?” to which the contestant responded, “Yes.”
“Ok,” inevitably replied the producer. “Let’s do that again, but this time try to answer in a complete sentence. Like, ‘My pork belly tacos are the best in the country!’ Can you do that?”
Anyway, I was being asked a series of questions in a similar fashion, one of which was, “Are you at the top of your game?” to which the good folks behind the lens assumed I would answer, “I’m at the top of my game.”
What they got instead was, “I’m nowhere near the top of my game.”
Everyone behind the camera looked up and kind of cocked their heads in silence for a few beats (felt like a lot longer) before the producer chimed in with, “Could you elaborate on that, please?”
I did.
The simple fact of the matter is, if you’re smart, you’re NEVER at the top of your game. I don’t care if you’re LeBron James or Luke Skywalker. Everyone has more to learn and further to grow. The minute you think you’re at the top of your game, I promise you’ll soon lose that game.
The greatest minds of all time share many traits. If you can steal one principle from them, I would make it this: never stop learning and growing.
That might be in a literal classroom or the rough and tumble classroom of life where I’ve spent thousands upon thousands of hours. If you want to become and remain successful, never stop learning. Stay humble and learn from absolutely everyone you encounter.
That may actually mean learning what NOT to do, but that in and of itself is a powerful lesson. The key is to approach every moment of your life with an open mind, understanding that the people and places you encounter and the experiences you go through all have something to teach you.
Let them all raise your game.
Speaking of which, here’s a 5-minute workout that will leave you gasping for breath. Crush it and then go blend yourself a recovery smoothie. Your body will thank you!
INSTRUCTIONS:
Perform each move back-to-back for 1-minute each, resting only as absolutely needed.
1. Tuck Jumps
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart. Keep chest lifted as you press hips back to lower into a squat. Go as low as you can without losing the curve in your lower back. Pause briefly at the bottom and explosively jump up driving knees up to at least hip level. Land softly and repeat.
2. Clap Ups
Start in a push-up position with wrists directly below shoulders. Lower chest to floor and press back up, extending your right arm out in front of you up to shoulder-level (as if trying to clap someone’s hand). Place hand back on floor and repeat, this time clapping with your other hand. Continue alternating.
3. Power Kicks
Stand with feet hip-width apart. Kick out with your right foot to hip-height. Explosively switch feet to kick out with the left foot and land back down on your right. Alternate kicks explosively.
4. Bear Crawls
Start on all fours with your wrists under your shoulders and knees under your hips. Tuck your toes and raise hips up so that they’re higher than your shoulders. Walk forward as far as your space with allow with opposite hands and feet (right hand goes forward at same time as left foot, etc.), then turn and come back to where you started. Continue the walk for the full minute.
5. 100 Meter Dash
Sprint in place, all out as fast as you can for 60-seconds. Keep your chest lifted and arms pumping, raising your thumb to chin height and opposite thumb to the top of your butt in height. I see people over-swinging their arms all the time. It’s too rough on your shoulder joints and an ineffective use of your energy. Keep it tight and contained.
Enjoy!
A
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