Strike the Match

Recharging the Batteries

I am in recharge mode.  This weekend took a lot out of me.  I had my Muay Thai fight this weekend and from cutting weight, to the 8 hour car ride to Richmond VA, to the fight itself, to the celebration afterwards, to the 8 hour car ride home.... I'm drained.  I'm taking the night to recharge my batteries. 

That's my tip for today.  Take time to recharge your batteries.  In America we celebrate going 100 miles per hour every hour of every day, but it's actually ok to pause and take time to relax.  Sometimes it's exactly what we need to continue living our extraordinary life.

Strike the Match. Take Action, Relax.

Healthy Competition

Since I have a Muay Thai tournament this weekend a post on competition seems appropriate.  Many people ask why I fight, maybe this will help shed some light on the subject.

My thoughts on competition can be summed up in two simple statements:

1. Competition is healthy when used to improve yourself
2. Competition is harmful when used to put someone else down.

Many people think of competition, especially fighting, as a way to assert dominance over another person.  Both competitors and spectators get caught in the action and lose sight of the spirit of competition.  This is not why I fight.

I fight because it challenges me to raise my game.  The competition brings focus to my efforts.  I make my biggest leaps in progress in the months before a fight.  Without this competition, I would not be where I am today. 

The actual fight is not the point.  It's the growth that it inspires.  Sure, I can practice Muay Thai without fighting.  But, as much I'd like to think that I can motivate myself,  whenever there's some healthy competition I seem to find an extra gear.

Find some healthy competition of your own and see where it takes you.  Win or lose, you'll be on another level.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Say It Out Loud

Is there a goal you want to accomplish?   Perhaps a business you want to start, something new you want to learn, or maybe a country you want to visit? 

If you have a goal, say it out loud.  Say it to yourself,  say it to everyone who will listen.

Once you speak it, it becomes real.  You have given it a voice and once the world hears your ambitions it often offers help.

It's amazing what has happened since I stated my interest in learning the piano.  I've had at least 10 conversations on that topic.  I don't think most people remembered the title of the post, but they remembered the part about the piano. 

Those conversations have shot my progress into high gear.  In 6 days I've found a couple of teachers to interview and may have even found a piano.  (A friend is looking to get rid of hers and she sent me a note after reading my post, how's that for serendipity).

So say your goal out loud but be ready, things may start happening before you know it!

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Eradicate SSP

Are you familiar with the epidemic of "Solutions Searching for a Problem," also known as SSP?  I find myself commonly inflicted with this infection.

I most often feel the onset of SSP around new technology but it can be associated with other products and services.  Here's when I know I've been inflicted.

I see a shiny new product called X that does Y.  WOW I think, that's AWESOME!  I need X!  It's cool and new and hip.  Right after the word "hip" I know I'm in trouble.

It should be obvious that I only need X if I'm having trouble with Y, yet it's not always so clear.

If the product is called the TissueSorter and it folds and sorts used tissues, then it's pretty easy for me to walk away. That's just gross.  It's a lot harder when the product is called the iPhone.

There's no reason why I need an iPhone.  While my Motorola Q is a bit beat up, it still does it's job well.  Yet Apple released the new model and I find myself with SSP, just begging to give them money so I can add "stuff" to my life.

SSP inflicts millions of people world-wide and unfortunately the gross majority are Americans.  With a bit of caution and common sense we can avoid this dangerous epidemic. 

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Balance

Many of you have provided feedback on my blog, thank you.  A request I've received from a couple people is for longer posts.

In Muay Thai, unnecessary movement wastes energy and provides opportunity for your opponent.  People spend a lifetime honing their technique to the simplest, most powerful movements possible.

I'm striving to apply the same discipline to my writing.  The task may appear easy but I've found it quite challenging.  While some posts necessitate more words, others can be short.  I need your feedback to know when I've hit the correct balance.

Please, keep it coming. 

Strike the Match. Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

What would it look like if you did know?

Last night I had a great conversation with Sam, a fellow SNMT student.  Sam is one of a kind and I love chatting with him.

A book he recommended was Fierce Conversations by Susan Scott.  I've not read it but Sam mentioned his favorite part was one simple phrase.

"What would it look like if you did know?" 

How powerful!  Those words are a solution to a very unproductive phrase, the rampant "I don't know."

When you hear "I don't know", either from your mouth or another, politely offer "What would it look like if you did know?", then wait. The ensuing conversation should be much more worthwhile.

Strike the Match. Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Here and Now

For years I've wanted to learn how to play the piano.  One of my dreams (that I rarely share) is to perform in front of an audience.  Not Carnegie Hall or anything, a jazz club is more my style. 

About 4 years ago I actually started teaching myself.  I bought a book and tried some scales but I didn't stick with it.  Now I'm left wondering how much closer I'd be to that dream if I'd made the commitment back then.

Whether it's learning to play a musical instrument or changing your career, things take time and you have to start somewhere.  Might as well be here and might as well be now.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Question?

Contrary to popular belief, it's ok to question.  Questioning is positive, it means we're challenging ourselves to grow.

There are two rules: 

1. Never question just to question.
2. Never question your own potential. 

"What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail?"

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Be Open

I am 35 pages into Improv Wisdom by Patricia Ryan Meadows and I've already found something that we whole heartedly agree on.   That something is to be open.

Patricia doesn't come right out and say "be open" (at least not in the the first 35 pages) but it is clear as day.  To be successful at improv you must be receptive to what the other actor(s) are giving you.  If you're closed you miss opportunities and stifle the creative process.  Not just for yourself, but for all those around you.  That's why Patricia's first maxim of improv is "say yes".  Yes is open.

I've found the same goes in life.  When I'm open, it's amazing what opportunities come along.  All of a sudden an uncle's friend becomes a key member of Techmate or a neighbor's recommendation to try Muay Thai becomes a welcome change and a healthy obsession.

Being open makes the world an opportunity.

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.

Meaningful vs. Plentiful

A great friend once highlighted the difference between meaningful and plentiful.

Many people try to count as many experiences as possible.  They equate quantity with quality. They ramble off lists of things they've done, trips they've done, people they've ........ You get the idea. 

He challenged me to think in a different way.  Instead of counting the number of experiences, he asked me to number the experiences that count.

That rearrangement means so much.  All of sudden, a week with one meaningful experience is a much bigger success than a week filled with plentiful experiences. 

How's your week looking?

Strike the Match.  Take Action, Be Extraordinary.