#89 I’m That Everyday Mofo

Ever heard of the 10,000-hour rule?  If you’re not familiar, the rule generally states that you become an expert at 10,000 hours spent in your craft.  Although I’m not sure of the exact number, I’ve spent countless hours developing my craft and passion.  It changed everything.  Average genetics.  No money.  No opportunity in my town. 

No Handouts

I looked at myself as that everyday person that wasn't set up with anything.  I told myself, “No one is about to hand you anything.”  At first, you always think that you can maybe get a scholarship to get out of your situation, right?  You grow up looking up to the sports stars and hear all the stories.  I finally came to the realization that it wasn’t going to happen for me.  I literally got a 13 on my ACT.  I’m not a book-smart cat.  I’m just not.  I struggled to pay attention in school.

Average

By most standards I’m average, but over time I changed that.  I was relentlessly changing it every day because I am an everyday motherfucker.  That's why y'all fucked with me.  You know that the shit that I'm telling you is exactly what I did to change everything.  My life is completely different.  I'm pushing it out into the world to try to make a difference.  I changed it.

I didn’t take a magical route to get where I am today.  I’m just like everyone else.  I understood how to separate myself from everyone else, and how to double down on what made me unique.

Go Against the Grain

It's okay to go against the grain.  It's okay to have unpopular opinions.  It's okay to not follow suit with everyone else around you.  I've never been a person that needed to have purple hair to stand out, but I just always felt like I didn't really fit in all the way.  I still feel that way, and that's okay.  

I understood that my skills in the classroom were below average because I graduated with a 2.1 GPA.  I understood that no one was going to put me on.  I knew what time it was.  The only way to get game time was to outwork everybody.  The only way that I'm going to place in this first bodybuilding show is if I come in looking crazy because I don’t have the size.  I had to make my abs look super nasty to compete with the bigger guys around me.  I can't miss workouts.  I have to be technically sound to hit certain weights.  I must understand body weight manipulation in order to have the best chance of winning.

Sixth Man Mentality

I’ve always had that sixth man mentality.  But guess what?  That's most motherfuckers out there.  When you look at me, I'm no different.  I've continually pushed to figure out how I can separate myself.  I've continually pushed to visualize what I want to be and where I'm going.  No one's going to hand you anything. 

I didn't have some crazy God gifted ability.  I knew myself well, and I doubled down.  To understand your gifts and share them with the world is a unique opportunity that you should take advantage of. 

Next Level

If it's not next level, the success isn’t next level.  If you want to separate yourself from the pack, you must exude extreme consistency.  You have to be lights-out.  Although the performance might not be lights-out every day, the consistency must be.  That’s the only way. 

It's how I got to where I am.  I regularly ask myself, “How can I say separate myself through work?  Through belief?”  It's the faith in yourself that you're going to figure it out, and that you're willing to put in the time.

Time involved.  I'm willing to do what others aren't.  That’s the sauce.  That’s the secret.  How are you separating yourself?  Are you doing the little extra things?  Are you doing the extra research?  Are you willing to do what others aren't? That's what you have to ask yourself.