"Don't Fail"

All coaches need coaches. Having an external view helps eliminate bias and quickly snuffs out weaknesses. It provides an opportunity to learn and develop a new sense of direction in one's training regardless of training tenure. Hence why I checked my ego and got a coach for myself.

If your aspirations are to take your skill to the next level, getting a coach awards you the opportunity to push your limits and receive a zero-BS opinion that will get the most out of your potential. While on the phone with my coach the other day I said "Well let's be realistic, what if I fail a rep and simply cannot do it" ... after a little radio silence my coach says "just don't fail", initially my mind drifts to "you're kidding right!?", but after a moment and a few chuckles I agree. He goes on to say "look, you're more than capable of doing it (it being 12 reps of paused back squats at 70%), you just have to tell yourself "you're fine just keep pushing". Your job is to know you can do it, my job is to tell you to smarten up and do it better, he says.

This idea of coaching a method of mentality is an approach that builds character, develops a strong working relationship, and both conquers any doubts and realizes all potential. "Don't fail" doesn't mean you're insufficient, weak, or incapable, it means you're capable of far more than you believe, that beyond what we are comfortable lies the success we crave.

Whilst listening to a podcast the other day (The Sevan Podcast), the host Sevan Motassian explains how his mind pondered the idea of educating our youth to be rewarded for hard work, that the typical approach of verbally rewarding children with the status of "you're so smart" or "you're so mature" leads our youth to fear failure and live a life seeking only acceptance for success and not failure. Though failure is the best teacher, our youth are sheltered from it and taught / molded to only accept success and to not fail. How does this connect to the idea of "Don't fail"? Wouldn't breeding youth to only accept success mean the same as don't fail? If one is to interpret is so shallowly, then yes. Once again, don't fail, embodies the idea of pushing oneself beyond what they thought possible, to work for every inch. Don't fail means, you won't fail if you face failure for what it is worth and learn from it.

My coach is known for his classic line "but did you die?". Lying on my back gasping for air post 12 reps, i felt like i'd just walked through the gates of heaven itself. I texted coach to tell him how much he kicked my butt, and it was then I quickly responded to myself, "but I didn't die!". He said "you wouldn't be able to text if you did, good job".

I stated my questions of worry for whether or not i'd be able to complete the task, my coach confronted said worries with a simple task "don't fail", I executed and extinguished any doubt of there being an impossibility. When you believe in yourself, and you have someone to back you, there's an endless supply of support and opportunity to maximize your potential. Through it all, it was one simple workout, not one rep was unfinished, and a new level of confidence was instilled in me. Was I doubtful and nervous through it all? Of course! Am I better for it now? Of course! Fearing failure is natural, accepting it should be.

Next time you think the task at hand is out of reach, take someone's hand and let them help you reach for it. Failure is the best teacher, but just don't fail :)

"Progression is built through consistency and tested by passion"

JB