I read the story of Jesse Itzler in His book ‘Living with the Seals’, he chronicled his experience of a 31-day training with a naval Seals.
In his early encounter with the seal, he was amazed at how the seal with a failing health condition was capable of performing strenuous exercises. At this point in Jesse’s life, he could only do about five push ups. He decided that he was going to get the Seal train him personally for a month.
On their first meeting, the Seals officer told Jesse he was going to do 100 push ups, for a man that could only do five that was a huge impossibility. Jesse started and stopped at the fifth as usual, he took a thirty seconds pause and he did a little more, this time he was able to do about three. The Naval Seals officer looked him in the eyes and told him to keep at it, 100 push up was the goal. Jesse continued and after many stops, he did 100.
The naval seal then told him about one fundamental belief that is used on the U.S. Seals. He said most times when we say we are done we are only 40 percent done.
This story caused me to have a shift in mindset. The truth is that the human body is capable of much more than we think. Every human being is capable of doing much more than they think, the question is how often do we push ourselves to bring out the best in us. How often do we exert on ourselves?
It is very important for us to discipline ourselves and choose to settle for nothing less than excellent. Success is sweet, trophies and awards are a delight but often times we are carried away by the beautiful stories without looking at the effort, the labour, the sweat, the diligence and the discipline that produced it.
I challenge you today that you can be more, you can achieve more, only if you can push yourself. If you are a writer or blogger push yourself to write more contents and pour your heart into your writing. Give in your time and effort to get better at whatever you do. You are capable of more than you think.
Will you feel tired? Yes, will you feel discouraged? Yes, I tell you, you will definitely get to that point where you will ask yourself if all the sacrifice is really worth it. Dear friend, I tell you it’s more than worth it.
For some people pushing themselves may be letting go of the security they feel they have in what they are currently doing and going after what they know deep inside that they should really be doing. Initially, it would be painful, but the truth is that nothing compares to the joy of living a life of purpose and one that brings fulfillment.
One of the greatest Apostles of all time puts it this way
“I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are worth nothing compared to the glory that will be revealed in us”
A round about way of saying that the price we pay for success is worth nothing compared to the prize we get.
One way or the other we would experience pain in life, you can, however, choose your pain, the pain of regret or the pain of discipline.
When next you feel tired. Tell yourself about this secret that you have learned. You are only 40 percent done and you can do more.
From my personal experience, each time I am able to overcome reluctance and resistance that I face during the course of my work, I enter into a higher zone of productivity and creativity.
Don’t stop…
Eizu, ©Hexavia!
Strategy. Business Startup and Corporate Restructuring Consulting
T: 08035202891
Uwaoma Eizu is the lead strategist at Hexavia!
He is a graduate of Mathematics with two MBAs and over a decade of experience working with startups and big businesses. He is an entrepreneur and sits on a lot of boards too. His core is in building startups and in corporate restructuring. He is also a certified member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria and the Project Management Institute, USA. By the side, he writes weekly for the Business Day newspaper.
