That's the whole essay right there. Mike's answer is better than anything I could add.
I'm 66. I lift three times a week. Not for the beach — for the bones. So I can carry firewood, hike, travel hard, get out of a low chair without groaning.
I spent 30 years as a consultant. In that world, a failure is a headwind. A disaster is a learning. Nothing lands on you.
The bar lands on you.
From my book: "No one gives you a trophy for that kind of discipline. But that's not why you do it. You do it so you can stand at your bathroom mirror, lock eyes with yourself, and nod. Not out of ego. Out of respect."
I don't think the weights make you humble. I think they just make lying pointless.
What a well-written article and a clear insight into your way of thinking, Brad. I agree with your argument. At times, academia feels like my world, and I find myself spending minutes on end figuring out the right justification for all this work I do. What I’ve found to be helpful is to change the metric of my “world”, or in other words, my mastery. I’ve thought more about the end target no matter how far it is away from what I’m doing. For me, that’s athletes. My target is for athletes to flourish with their best effort and feel like they’re supported. What I want is to help them get even 1% closer, as determined through performance or some other relevant assessment. That’s my building, my car, and my light switch.
Great message here - that also helps to explain “why we want to do hard things.” I’ve been a desk jockey for over 20 years and competing and racing in triathlon has certainly keep me grounded and humble.
I sent this to my 2 adult boys, who are also big practitioners of “doing real things”; partly as a way of managing the noise of modern living and for self fulfillment.
I’ve been an avid reader of your work since I picked up Peak Performance when you released it! (Many years ago!) Thanks for all the great work!
I like this a lot. Not becoming an asshole should be everyone’s A-goal anyway, but doing simple things with your arms, legs, body is definitely the most humbling way to stay grounded and in touch with reality.
Man it's refreshing to hear plain talk about assholes from someone who very clearly is not. Assholes are by far the loudest per capita and we as a society can to be frustratingly good at first, handing them the mic, and then, being angered by them using said mic to, surprise surprise, be an asshole.
Well said, Chris. (And thanks for the kind words! It's a low bar, but I try not to be an asshole. It's one of my 3 rules: do good work; love good people; don't be an asshole.)
I am curious then how what this article argues applies to athletes-enthusiasts who are doing “real things” but also happen to be egotistical jerks (e.g., Connor McGregor - civil r@pe case).
You can still be a jerk and do hobbies that are grounding. Plenty of women can speak to this with dating men in the outdoors world (rock climbers, snow sports) or “gym bros.”
I think it’s more of a matter of men understanding what toxic versus healthy masculinity is, and how the patriarchy harms everyone involved.
As the article listed above, the people are men and it may not be all men, but it’s always a man when this type of news of this “asshole” behavior comes to light.
"Make no mistake, nothing I’ve written above is a cure-all. Some people do real things in the world and yet are still miserable, egotistical jerks. But it seems increasingly likely that one powerful way to stay in touch with reality, especially as you rise, is to stay in touch—quite literally—with reality."
So I think it's necessary but not sufficient! Also, it's not just men: see, Elizabeth Holmes! But agree re: healthy masculinity. Many factors at play here, I just think this is one of them, and one that isn't discussed enough!
"I am getting more weight equipment."
That's the whole essay right there. Mike's answer is better than anything I could add.
I'm 66. I lift three times a week. Not for the beach — for the bones. So I can carry firewood, hike, travel hard, get out of a low chair without groaning.
I spent 30 years as a consultant. In that world, a failure is a headwind. A disaster is a learning. Nothing lands on you.
The bar lands on you.
From my book: "No one gives you a trophy for that kind of discipline. But that's not why you do it. You do it so you can stand at your bathroom mirror, lock eyes with yourself, and nod. Not out of ego. Out of respect."
I don't think the weights make you humble. I think they just make lying pointless.
Thanks for sharing, Terry. "I am getting more weight equipment" has become a bit of a mantra for me.
What a well-written article and a clear insight into your way of thinking, Brad. I agree with your argument. At times, academia feels like my world, and I find myself spending minutes on end figuring out the right justification for all this work I do. What I’ve found to be helpful is to change the metric of my “world”, or in other words, my mastery. I’ve thought more about the end target no matter how far it is away from what I’m doing. For me, that’s athletes. My target is for athletes to flourish with their best effort and feel like they’re supported. What I want is to help them get even 1% closer, as determined through performance or some other relevant assessment. That’s my building, my car, and my light switch.
Thank you Seth, and for sharing. I think how you (and all of us) frame what we are pointed toward is very important!
Good essay. I recommend Naseem Taleb’s book Skin in the game, that covers similar ideas.
Love this message ! Be the better yourself but to be the best with others
Great message here - that also helps to explain “why we want to do hard things.” I’ve been a desk jockey for over 20 years and competing and racing in triathlon has certainly keep me grounded and humble.
I sent this to my 2 adult boys, who are also big practitioners of “doing real things”; partly as a way of managing the noise of modern living and for self fulfillment.
I’ve been an avid reader of your work since I picked up Peak Performance when you released it! (Many years ago!) Thanks for all the great work!
Thanks, John!
I like this a lot. Not becoming an asshole should be everyone’s A-goal anyway, but doing simple things with your arms, legs, body is definitely the most humbling way to stay grounded and in touch with reality.
Cool story 👍
Man it's refreshing to hear plain talk about assholes from someone who very clearly is not. Assholes are by far the loudest per capita and we as a society can to be frustratingly good at first, handing them the mic, and then, being angered by them using said mic to, surprise surprise, be an asshole.
Well said, Chris. (And thanks for the kind words! It's a low bar, but I try not to be an asshole. It's one of my 3 rules: do good work; love good people; don't be an asshole.)
I am curious then how what this article argues applies to athletes-enthusiasts who are doing “real things” but also happen to be egotistical jerks (e.g., Connor McGregor - civil r@pe case).
You can still be a jerk and do hobbies that are grounding. Plenty of women can speak to this with dating men in the outdoors world (rock climbers, snow sports) or “gym bros.”
I think it’s more of a matter of men understanding what toxic versus healthy masculinity is, and how the patriarchy harms everyone involved.
As the article listed above, the people are men and it may not be all men, but it’s always a man when this type of news of this “asshole” behavior comes to light.
Connor McGregor seems like a real piece of shit!
Quoting the piece:
"Make no mistake, nothing I’ve written above is a cure-all. Some people do real things in the world and yet are still miserable, egotistical jerks. But it seems increasingly likely that one powerful way to stay in touch with reality, especially as you rise, is to stay in touch—quite literally—with reality."
So I think it's necessary but not sufficient! Also, it's not just men: see, Elizabeth Holmes! But agree re: healthy masculinity. Many factors at play here, I just think this is one of them, and one that isn't discussed enough!