Want to get better?
Do your reps.
Want to get stronger?
Do your reps.
Want to get faster?
Do your reps.
Reps are the ticket friend.
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Lots of people say, “Oh I wish I could (fill in the blank) like you, but I never could.” Sure you can, you just have to do your reps.
What we’re really talking about is becoming more than you are now. That’s not a judgement, it’s a statement of aspiration that gives every human’s life purpose, meaning, and satisfaction. So if it’s so simple, why aren’t you doing your reps?
Because reps are difficult. Because reps are hard. Because reps are sometimes just not very fun. Because some days reps really just kinda suck. And so you say to yourself, “Well, today just isn’t my day, tomorrow will be better.” And then tomorrow comes and, well, you get it.
Do your reps.
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In his excellent book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell reveals the secret of mastery: 10,000 hours of dedicated practice in your area of desired competence. In case you’re wondering, 10,000 is full time (8 hours a day, 5 days a week) for 5 years.
The Beatles were ok in the beginning, but they really started becoming fab when they played 8 hours a day in Hamburg. Speaking of senior musicians, in a recent interview, Kenny G (the infamous alto sax player from the 80’s) reported that he still practices 3 hours a day – everyday. Want to be the crooner that those lovely 50 and 60 somethings swoon over? Rep up friend.
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Someone said to me just yesterday, “Joe, you are an awesome writer, how did you learn to write so well?” My eighth grade teach would adamantly disagree, but it’s really just doing my (fill in the blank).
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My simple advice to you on this Sunday is to get quiet for a minute and mediate on one question: “What do I suck at that I want to improve?” It could be your health, your cooking skills, playing the guitar, or playing rummy with your best friend, and not get your ass handed to you over and over and over again (that’s mine). Whatever your deal, just pick one and put it on your radar. Then get to your reps.
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I’ll leave you with this: one of the things I talk about in Does it Pencil training is something called “small practice”. Small practice is based in the idea of planning your week, not just your day. If you can visualize your week as a spreadsheet with columns being the days and rows being time, pick 2 slots of 15 minutes each in your week. I call this, “an appointment you keep with yourself”.
In that appointment the FIRST THING you do is SHUT OFF YOUR PHONE. Believe it or not, the world, your children, and your clients will somehow make it for a quarter hour without your attention. Quiet your mind, focus, and start repping. Don’t stop until the 15 is up. In about a month you’ll start seeing yourself going from suck to great. It’s kind of amazing really.
That’s all I got.
Good luck and have a good week.
Joe Still
2024.02.18
Cite
“It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.”
– Muhammad Ali