Want to get to “The Next Level”?

At TFW Greensboro, everyone is coached that you have to LEARN to do the basic things extraordinarily well, and EARN the “next level” of any exercise. The concept is simple, it’s better to do a few things extraordinarily well rather than a lot of things with mediocrity. Bruce Lee said it best with this quote: “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks. I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

When you have mastered the basics, progress is inevitable. However, when you tackle something at a level you aren’t ready for, you must be prepared to struggle and possibly regress. The trouble in our society is that most people want to start at a higher level than they have earned. Whether it is in the gym, in the workplace, or at school, we see what others are doing and assume we should be able to do it too, without considering how much time and effort those that have mastered the desired level have put in.  This applies to ANY aspect of life!

Consider one area of your life (in work, fitness, nutrition, school) that you struggle to make progress. What do you need to be able to perform at a higher level? It might be easier than you think. Here are a few tips to help you take yourself to the “next level” & get RESULTS, no matter what level you are starting from.

• Master the basics first! Sounds elementary, and it IS! Think back to when you were a young child learning how to get dressed. You learned to put your underclothes on first, then your shirt, then your pants, then your coat. If you started with your coat, it would be pretty tough to get the other layers on. The same concept applies when you are learning a new lift at the gym, or a new skill at work or school. Get the basics down first and grow from there.
• You have to do the work. Plain and simple. To get good at ANYTHING, you have to practice, practice, practice. Just think of anything you are already great at. Did you do it perfectly the first time? Chances are…NO! It is said that to become a master of anything, you must do it 10,000 times. If you have only done it 100, and it’s not perfect…keep practicing!
• Don’t compare yourself to others-get INSPIRED by others. As a coach, I see people get frustrated because the see someone else doing a lift or using a technique that they struggle with. Often times, they will throw in the towel way too soon because they aren’t performing at the same level as others. Rather than get mad about what you cannot yet do, get INSPIRED about what someone else can do…and then DO THE WORK necessary to move to their level.
• Consistency. We don’t get good at anything if we only do it when it’s convenient. The people that are the most successful in this world all have one thing in common. They never gave up. A little on top of a little adds up to a lot! Small steps every day will get you to your destination faster and stronger than lots of short sprints.
• Patience. Nothing great happens overnight, nor without mistakes. Have patience with yourself as you learn & grow. Be willing to make mistakes, be willing to fail. Mistakes and failures are inevitable for growth. Anything new is hard. Remember that the only way to grow is to do things you’ve never done.
• Reflect. This might be one of the most important tips I have about getting to the next level. No matter where you are right now, it’s easy to get frustrated about not getting to “the next level”. But you must stop to remember where you started. What is difficult today is likely difficult because you are working at a different capacity than before. I am a firm believer that things don’t get “easier”, you just get STRONGER!

Our motto at the DOJO is to “Just get ONE”! Think about it, before you can lose 10 pounds, you have to first lose 1. Before you can do 10 push-ups, you have to be able to do 1. And this concept applies to just about anything. As you embrace the challenges and obstacles in your life, know that you have what it takes to get to the next level. Believe in yourself, and keep chipping away at your masterpiece!