We will be officially starting the “Arete Challenge/The Fletcher Way” in February. In a nutshell, the challenge consists of the goal of being the best version of yourself from moment to moment and me sharing my process of trying to help you do so. It is a very lofty goal and one I personally come short of everyday but I view it as a “Journey not a Destination.”
When taking a Birds Eye view of the process, I came up with three themes or secrets to making the process a success.
1. Decide what you truly want and WHY!
2. Do what you know!
3. Do what you say!
The third secret to “Do What You Say” could also be called “Honor Your Word”. On the surface this may sound simple but it is not easy. This secret is not just about doing what you tell others you are going to do but doing what you tell yourself you will do. As Bruce Lee once said, “ To be truthful with oneself is one of the hardest things to do.” I couldn’t agree more.
If you have worked with or read any of Thom Shea’s work you will know this is a cornerstone of his training. I think Thom is a master of simplifying concepts that can have a powerful effect. His second book, “Three Simple Things” is an example of that. Thom has a simple exercise of honoring your word for 21 days straight by doing 10 pushups, sit-ups, and squats first thing in the morning and right before bed for 7 days, then 20 of each exercise the second 7, and 30 of each for the last 7. If you have never tried it, I highly recommend it. It was very eye opening for me and it could be for you as well.
Pay attention to what comes up as logical rationalizations for why you missed a day. We make these rationalizations to ourselves all the time. I catch myself doling it and I see it everyday at the gym. The key is to become aware of it and then do something about it. The average mindset is to do what you feel like where the elite mindset is to do what you said you would do regardless of how you feel.
If you have a growth mindset, want to make 2023 great, and want to participate in the challenge, reply to this email or sign up at the gym to be added to the challenge.
Don’t count the days, make the days count. Dominate the day and make 2023 great!