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 Dr Buff
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| The Two "IT's" |
| 03.18.2010 14:10:11 | |
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"Excellence is not an act but a habit. The things you do the most are the things you will do the best." – Marva Collins
“In all that you do, be excellent.” Dave Patterson
America, the first quote was sent to me by Melissa, one of my workout partners. I have this in my “Quotes-N-Stuff” folder somewhere in my office. Anyway, we have this running joke comparing perfection to excellence. We’re both Type-A personalities, meaning we go after what we want, at ALMOST any cost. I gotta be honest, years ago I probably would’ve said “At any cost.” Not any more. She likes to joke about having the perfect day, whereas I’ll say, “My day was most excellent!” So what do I mean by that? Aren’t they the same? Nope. There are more days than not in which I’ll have an excellent day, but not a perfect day. I believe we toss out the word ‘perfect’ a little too freely and easily. How many times have you been watching a game, say football, and the announcer says, “He threw a perfect pass”, or “He was in perfect position.” How about in bodybuilding where you’ll hear the announcer say, “She’s got perfect symmetry, she simply can’t look any better,” yet next year she comes back with even more perfect symmetry? As the guys on NFL Primetime say, C’MON MAN! A saying I came up with a long time ago is this, we STRIVE for perfection; we achieve excellence. Where am I going with this? Simple…we’ve got less than 5 weeks to the EC. “In all that you do, strive for perfection, but do not settle for less than excellence!” Dang – ya’ll better write that down, cause I promise you I won’t remember what I said tomorrow…
My other workout partner, Steve, and I got into a ‘discussion’ yesterday on genetic potential vs. work ethic. The conversation went something like this…I started…
“Dude, I ran into someone at Costco the other day who said, “I wish I had your genetics.” I just looked at him. “Man, I got horrible genetics! I ain’t got no calves, my quads won’t grow, I got a crooked back, I’ve never been able to step onstage at more than 165 lbs…I wasn’t in line when they handed out genetics. But I do have a work ethic that I’m proud of. That’s how I built this physique, not being blessed with great genetics.”
Steve said, “Yea…some people just don’t have “IT”.
“What are you talking about? I got “IT”.
“No you don’t. You don’t have great genetics.”
Steve, I’m not talking about genetics as being “IT”…I’m talking about the mental discipline that separates the champions from everyone else. It’s what makes LeBron LeBron, what makes Kobe Kobe, and what made Michael Michael! Granted, they’ve got great genetics, but they’ve also got a work ethic, drive to win, and desire to excel that elevates them above everyone else. I mean, I’m not in their league by no means, but I’m willing to push myself literally as far as this body will allow me to push it. I’m willing to suffer. That’s the “IT” I’m talking about. There’s a lot of genetically gifted people in this world who will never fulfill their potential because they don’t have a work ethic.”
Well, the “IT” I’m talking about IS the physical. Face it Dave, without the genetic potential Tiger wouldn’t be Tiger. If you don’t have great genetics, nothing else matters.”
“Dude, how can you say that? I know from experience that I’ve ran into many a genetically gifted bodybuilder, but that individual didn’t come into the show prepared, and I took him out. In fact, back in 2000, David Patterson took first and David Patterson took second at the Evergreen State. Two weeks later David Patterson once again took first and second at the Ironman but the roles were reversed. At the Evergreen I beat the other Dave Patterson. But he actually had a better genetic package than me. He just wasn’t as hard, so I took out a guy who outweighed me by more than 50 lbs. I talked to him after the show and told him there was no way I should have beaten him. He asked for some advice on how he could lean out in a couple weeks. I told him what to do. He did it. Two weeks later he smoked me – 1’s straight across the board!”
“That’s my point, Dave. He had “IT” – that’s why he won.”
“Well he had “IT” two weeks earlier and lost! Explain that!!!”
From there it digressed to two guys trying to win…but I learned something. There are two “IT’s”. One is the genetic potential you’re born with – your God-given talents and abilities, looks, physique, etc. The other is your work ethic – that intrinsic ability to do when other won’t. The push when others quit. The pain of one more, one more, one more…No excuses, no compromise. You just do! Which one is better? That’s for you to decide. I believe they’re both important to make it to the pinnacle of any sporting event.
So here’s the deal America. If you take a genetic marvel OUT of shape and put him/her up against an individual with the mental “IT”, depending upon how far out of shape the genetic marvel is, and how much muscle/size/shape/symmetry/hardness the other person has, the “IT” person may win easily. But if you take a genetic marvel IN contest shape, I don’t care how much mental “IT” you have, if you don’t have the genetic potential, you don’t even have a snowball’s chance! Now understand one thing…we’re not talking ‘bout the dark side here because that’s another whole variable we have to factor in.
In closing, got a text from Guy Overby yesterday morning. I was gonna write exactly what he texted me but for some strange reason my phone blew up with texts the last couple days and his messages got deleted. N-E-Whoo…the gist of what he said is that he ain’t never readin’ my blog again ‘cause he kicked his own butt doin’ HIIT after reading the blog. I love it when a plan comes together…peace!
The Dr.
Personal Training Systems “There Are No Shortcuts!” www.personaltrainingsystems.net This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Mobile: 253.576.4859
In All that you do, be excellent!
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