100% Effort

The Give Team is proud to announce three of its alumni are moving on to the next chapters of their lives. Jeff is attending Morehouse College. Paul is on a path to pursue a 4-year college degree DEBT FREE. Jean has enlisted in the US Marines, and will learn more about what's next in the weeks ahead.

Jeff wants to stay involved with The Give Team, even though he's six hours away. We've promised to keep him involved via a weekly letter that will be posted on The Give Team blog. The letter will include the mission each week for the fall season.

REFLECT!

Dear Jeff:

The team gathered Saturday morning at 9am at the Center, as usual. Before picking up Smith and Yovens, I dropped Roger at the Center (for those not on the team, Roger is the 60 pound log we carry on runs).  It was a small crew today with Smith, Yovens, Akim and AJ. Adam joined us for the warmup. Akim and I were trying to remember the last time we ran with Roger, and it was a long time ago. I’m not sure we’ve run with Roger since Ruck for Blue at the beginning of May.  And we felt it. Today we ran about three miles - to Lake Eola and back - with Roger, Cindy (our 50 pound cinder block with chains) and other weight. None of us are “game ready.” The good news? We don't need to be game ready today. Our next race is two weeks away with The Spartan Race City Sprint in Kissimmee, our first "home field race."

Before we put in The Give Team 15 on Saturday, we talked as a team about EFFORT, and the role it plays in achieving greatness. Everyone agreed EFFORT is important, which spurred a follow up question. Is 100% effort critical? Are there times when we don't shouldn't give 100% effort?

The reality? The difference between achieving greatness and failure is rarely between giving 95% effort and 100% effort. Most often, the difference is between giving 0% and ANY EFFORT at all.

​There are times when you want to dial it back and not push yourself to the brink. There are times to just get in the work because MOVING is critical, but pushing 100% could create a problem. When should we focus on less than 100%?

The two situations when we DON’T want to give 100% are (1) we gave 100% the day before and we need to recover. This DOESN’T mean take the day off (consistency is key). It means don’t go as hard. Give SOME effort, but be intentional with that effort; and (2) when you're trying to establish momentum with a new ritual.

Scenario #2 is why we will NOT GO 100% on THE GIVE TEAM 15 AGAIN this week. As above, our problem over the past two weeks hasn't been between 95% and 100% effort. It's been the difference between 0% effort and making any effort at all. THE GIVE TEAM 15  sucked during this week's workout. Why? NONE of us have established momentum on the path to greatness this fall. BECAUSE VERY FEW OF US DID ANY WORK this past week. Our mission is to BUILD STRENGTH, and building strength requires DISCIPLINE. Discipline is critical to build physical, emotional, mental and spiritual strength. Right now, our focus is on PHYSICAL STRENGTH - understanding the other three will follow. Developing strength in all four of those areas requires first ESTABLISHING MOMENTUM toward being in the best shape we can be.

Put another way, we have ZERO MOMENTUM with doing THE GIVE TEAM 15 daily because that SOFT, WEAK VOICE in your head has been winning. Everyone’s weak voice is telling them a story; the pillow feels nice, the bed is comfortable, it's ok to hit snooze one more time, you can always do it later, and it’s just too EARLY to get out of bed.

During Saturday's workout everyone responded that 100% effort is important, and 100% effort should be exerted all the time. If EFFORT is important, why hasn’t anyone done what we all agreed we’d do? Over breakfast two weeks ago everyone agreed to do two things: (1) write down FOUR WORDS that best describe the person they want to become; and (2) do The Give Team 15 every day. And nobody has been consistent. Including me. I’ve done my FOUR WORDS, and I’ve done The Give Team 15 MOST mornings, but I've missed a few days.

The good news is today begins A BRAND NEW MONTH. This week, everyone committed to do THREE THINGS:

1. Get their FOUR WORDS (this is important to align with your goals, your plan, and executing that plan - and so far, Smith, Akim and Yovens have sent theirs);
2. Do THE GIVE TEAM 15 every day for the month of September (ideally in the morning - and post via Instagram or text); and
3. Write down your TWO GOALS FOR THE SEASON - (a) a physical goal; and (b) an academic or financial goal.

Mid-week, everyone’s FOUR WORDS and their goals will be online.  

GIVE TEAM MOTTO 05: You gotta get up and go get it, ‘cuz it ain’t coming to get you. And if it IS coming to get you, best get off your ass and be ready for it.

This week convince your missoin is to convince your WEAK VOICE that The Give Team 15 is ONLY fifteen minutes. You won’t be PUSHING HARD. You’ll take it nice and easy. You’ll focus on FORM and IMPECCABLE EXECUTION so you can nail down your mechanics. Keep your core tight, stay balanced, and feel the muscles work that need to be working. Even taking it easy will make you sweat a bit. Since the intent is PERFECTING FORM, there should be NO CHEATING. If you get tired, don’t go to your knees or put your feet on the floor. Just go slower. BUT GET IN THE WORK.

It's still a BRAND NEW SCHOOL YEAR. MOVE UP A LEVEL and commit to doing the work BEFORE CLASS every day. Remember: IT’S ONLY 15 MINUTES! And if you get it done in the morning, it prepares you to take on the entire day. You’ll be more focused in class, you'll align with the person you strive to be, and you’ll PERFORM better. On top of all that, you’ll get STRONGER every day. You’ll feel better about doing the work because it'll get EASIER, and it’ll just be WHAT YOU DO.

Trust me. FIFTEEN MINUTES with CONSISTENCY will CHANGE YOUR LIFE. But these are only words. ACTION is what creates the results you want. Inaction will also create results, but not results you want. That means you have to DO THE WORK. That's on you.

Heading into Week 3, I commit to DOING THE WORK. I’m doing it to get STRONG and SET AN EXAMPLE to the team. Once everyone shares their words and their goals, I’ll share mine too.

Time is passing. Time to get moving.
​
Have a great week, bud.

---