Playing The Cards Right

Talent is Overrated. Hard work isn't. I believe people with lots of talent too often take it for granted and don't become the best they can be. Whereas people with little or no skills, but has a dedication for what they're doing, pursues the "impossible" (a word I rather not use), and in return, reaches the top. It's all about willingness, going beyond what you think is accessible. Your mind is the only stumbling block there is. You need to teach your mind to think life and not death and tear down the walls that are keeping you away from what's in your heart. And when that's accomplished, the only thing you need to do next is to stay focused on your goal. Staying focused on a goal simply means to sacrifice. It means to give up the hundred other things you enjoy doing and rather spend that time developing that one passion within you. You can't be the greatest at everything, but you can be awesome at one. You better figure out what that one thing is.

"Plan for the future, but live for today". John Wooden, one of the greatest basketball coaches of all times said something I'll never forget; “Make every day your masterpiece”. It doesn't matter what you did yesterday, or worry about what tomorrow's gonna look like. What matters is what you're making out of this moment. You can't change the past, and you sure can't do anything about tomorrow, because it has yet to come. So why waste your time regretting something or hoping for something that wont change anything? Planning is important, living in the future isn't. Make good choices today, and those choices will pay off tomorrow.

Keep your eyes on the goal and work with the end in mind. Whatever you do, don't let anything or anyone take your vision away from you. Learning how to say no to the good, and wait for the great will take you to new heights. But this is a challenge. Often it seems meaningless in that moment of time. Why wait for something you don't even know what is yet, right? Or maybe you do, but you want to play safe and settle 'cause you don't want to risk anything.

There is something about having a dream and knowing it will come to pass. When I close my eyes, I imagine my gym of excellence. Down to every detail. I know what my staff is going to be like, I can clearly see the main room; machine free with only the most essential equipment, such as TRX's, Dumbbells, Kettle bells, Prowlers, Tractor wheels, plyo boxes, medicine balls, bands and much more that I don't know the name of yet. I see people pushing one another, seeing the best in one another, not worrying that their partner might get better or faster results than themselves. I see hard work and satisfied clients. I see the best gym in the world yet. Did I mention machine free?

I haven't always been like this, but one day I decided to choose to believe it will happen. Not can, but will. Since that day there hasn't been one day I don't think about ways to get to my final destination. I can't help but to think new, and to not only see, but also grab a hold of the opportunities that's set before me. When I encounter new people, I screen them and evaluate them, thinking; “Can this person be a part of my team?” When I enter someones gym, I think of better ways to run it.

I know you wished that your dream job would one day fall into your lap from no where and “wops” there you are on top of the world. But (un)fortunately that's not reality. (Even though surprisingly many people seem to believe the opposite). I've learned to understand this; Just play your cards right and you will succeed. Hard work pays off. Every. Single.Time.


Train Hard and Make No Excuses,

-Charlotte

What's Your Awesomeness?

Today I once again got to listen to someone who didn't think she was good at anything. The conversation started out by me asking what she was doing next year and what she wanted to do with her life. "I want to become a nurse, a midwife", she responded. Didn't seem too excited about it. That's when I just had to ask her a few questions. "If you could do anything, what would it be?" She didn't know. "Alright let me put it this way - What is it that you're good at?" This time she seemed more sure about her answer. "Nothing". Wow..That's all she said! Honestly I wasn't surprised, because that's what most people think of themselves here in Norway, but I gotta tell you, it amazes me every time I hear it. I just don't get how some people can think so badly about who they are. It actually pisses me off how someone's got tons of potential but because of poor self esteem and negative thinking the world will never see the light of it. What would happen if everybody lived out their fullest potential?
I've come down to this conclusion;

You can't be human and not be good at something.

It's literally impossible to not have one single talent.

You see, when I ask people what they're good at, they immediately think of the great singers out there, dancing, playing an instrument, or a sport. Don't get me wrong, all those talents are really great, but it doesn't necessarily have to be any of those things that make you awesome. Let me ask you this, do you continually go out of your way to help people? When you and your friends are making plans for a trip to Las Vegas in the Spring, do you find yourself arranging the whole thing, putting all the pieces together? In your organization, do you always see new and better ways of doing things?

Yeah now you know where I'm getting at. The point is, the most visible talents and abilities aren't always the best ones. You got to figure out what your specialty is, what is it that you are good at? And don't lie to yourself and say "nothing" like that girl I talked to today (who btw changed her perception of herself by the end of our little conversation). If you honestly don't know, sit down for a moment and think about the past 24 hours. Did you pick up that trash even if you didn't have to? You will start seeing a pattern in your life, and that's what you're good at. (I'm not saying picking trash is your destiny, those little things like doing something for other people, something you're not obligated to do, reveals your character. Picking up somebody else's trash tells me you are good at serving) And by good I don't necessarily mean excellent. Don't worry, there is time for improvement! But how can you be the best if you don't even know that you're good?





Train Hard and Make No Excuses

-Charlotte