Saturday, May 12, 2018

Evolution

Evolution  (definition): The gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form.




I have had many mentors, business, fitness and personal coaches throughout the years.  I have found that they usually see much more in me than I see in myself.  My mind is a tricky computing organ and sometimes it is an asset and sometimes a liability.  

One coach in particular Kim McGuire of Fortune Management, always challenged me with goals.  Once a goal was decided upon and a path was set, she would ask me, "What is the true outcome of this goal?"

"To achieve XYZ!, duh!!!!"  I would reply with a high level of snarkiness.

She would agree that the achievement of the goal and sense of accomplishment is obvious. But more importantly she would then challenge me with -

“Who must you become in the process of achieving this goal?” 

I have set and achieved many goals over the years. I have succeeded, failed, succeeded and failed many times over.  I have never thought about who I must become in pursuit of these goals.  

I am training for the Ironman World Championships in Kona, HI this October.   For me this is what Jim Collins termed a “BHAG” (Big Hairy Audacious Goal).  

Now let me say that I am a dedicated endurance athlete.  However, I am not fast.  I am not the guy that wins races.  If I take home a medal, it is usually because I am one of only 3 people in my age group.  I run/race, etc. to challenge myself, to take my game to new limits. I will enter a race to see a new part of the country, new trails, meet new people, etc.  It is not to win.  It is to experience something new. 

How did I get in?  Through a charity slot with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Team in Training. I have been involved with this organization on and off since 2001.  The Hawaii Ironman has always been out there as something I would like to do someday.  The opportunity came my way and I jumped at it!

I am raising money to help cure blood cancers. A noble cause, you say,  It has deep meaning to me.  But that is a subject for another blog. 


I am trying to raise $100,000.  Another BHAG!!!!!

Who must I become to achieve these goals?  

I am planning to achieve these BHAG’s.

I am also evolving….

To accomplish big things, I must evolve.  I can't take things to a new level with the current behaviors and mindset.  If I keep the same effort, I will keep getting the same results. 

I don't like the word change.  It implies that I have been doing something wrong. I haven't been doing anything wrong. What I have been doing with my training (and my life for that matter), has got me to the level of success that I set out to do. 

Now that bar has been raised.  I need to build on what I have been doing to take things to a new level.  I am training a lot.  


Who am I becoming as a result?  We will see!

The conscience evolution has begun. The adventure continues...


I am sober, a husband, father, dentist, advocate, endurance athlete, speaker, writer, leader and follower. The blog -  If you like it, please follow me on my adventures. If you love it, please share! If you hate it, thanks for reading. It's not for everyone...






Leap and the Net will Appear

"What do I fear? I fear stagnation and lack of progress. I fear never reaching my potential and being average. I fear being forgotten....