Pep Talk: "Not An Easy Chore"

An interesting byproduct of a project designed to unite isolated individuals with fitness-minded, dependable and productive Americans to sweat, bond and grow in a group workout? The audience it draws.

Unless just recently returned to America from a galactic getaway, most understand the challenges before our country. There are many, including a terrible trio Victory’s A Stronger Cord project is designed to address: isolation, obesity and stress. Folks, it’s time to sit down and tie our shoes. We’re tripping. ASC’s Knuckleheads try and accomplish that with their sweat, bond and grow philosophy. It starts with the workout but is much more. We’d love to warm up, work out and hang out with you.

Anyway, back to the story. Bringing this idea to the marketplace has led to some interesting conversations with leaders of government, non profit, business, faith-based and others. All laboring to crack the code and reduce our nation’s overabundance of isolated, unfit and stressed folks. We are everywhere. From missions to mansions and Main streets. All colors.

Many folks are employed to try and figure this out. We need to. Quickly. A lot of money is spent desperately seeking winning game plans to address our growing societal challenge. The battle has drawn many. Recently, one offered their philosophy to life.

It blew me away for its simplicity and brilliance. 

“I have always tried to tackle this thing called life in this sequence,” suggested the philanthropic-minded public policy wonk. “Listen to others, think about the discussion and then act on what idea materializes.” Listen. Think. Act.

Just me, but makes a lot of sense. I must admit to being guilty many times of not following that wise counsel. This aging jock, too often, places “Act” before “Think.” I’ll listen to something, form an idea and go flying off the gang plank before really thinking it through. I like to joke with folks, “There’s a fine line between bravery and stupidity.” I’ve crossed it often in almost 57 years of wandering this planet. It’s great to have the guts to go for it but sometimes, upon reflection, we ponder this question, “What the heck was I thinking?”

However, a challenge to “think” coming before “act” is, “How long do we think about  whatever we’re thinking about before we decide to act?” Are we going to analyze something to death before having the guts to throw caution to the wind and jump into the great unknown of possibilities or pratfalls? Chase a dream?

We could debate that topic till the cows come home but this much is irrefutable. This “Listen, think and act” philosophy has served the man, who delivered it, quite well in a successful career, at various levels and areas, in public service.

It’s always good to listen. It’s how we learn. The main competition seems to be for second place, between think and act. In harmony, how to unleash the strengths of each.

Not an easy chore. Good luck this week!