Living & training in a divided world

Someone asked me many years ago how much Jump pay was, and said he was considering going to Airborne School. I told him  if you won’t do it for free, there is not enough money in the world to make you jump out of a plane.

So what does that have to do with today’s title?

It comes down to a matter of the heart. If he couldn’t be a Paratrooper from the heart, then he should not do it to make a few extra bucks each month.

As a coach, if you don’t have a heart for people, you shouldn’t be a coach.

If you don’t really care about the people you are training, you will never give them your best and they will not achieve their best either.

All people matter whether you agree with their world view, politics, sexual preference, religion, or lack of religion.

I thought of a quote tonight that kind of sums it up, “Don’t put a label on me, I have a name.”

Coaches are in a unique position to help build mutual respect and understanding among people who might be very different from each other.

I live in a beach town that is very popular with people from other countries. They come here from all over the world. Plus, the local community also is extremely varied (I don’t care the word diverse since it is overused).

As they come to my gym, the Cave, we focus on building a bond through hard training.

The military has done this for years and it works very well.

People don’t give a rip who you voted for when you are  doing a heavy deadlift. They are cheering you on. They help each other change plates, get a bottle of water, or bring the chalk bucket over closer for you.

They are spotting you on the bench press, encouraging you if your back squat is stalling out (and you make it after all).

They are living in their present reality, living in the moment.

I have said many times that a common struggle builds an uncommon bond.

Create an atmosphere of cooperation and friendship for all who come to train with you.

Make it a place free of social media, news, and other disruptive things.

Focus on what really matters:  people