Note from the Badass CEO: Today we check in with Chris, who has dubbed himself "Jr. Badass," about the specific goals he is targeting as part of his 360 to 30 Badass Journey. As you read, ask yourself: What are your goals? And can you aim higher?
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you will land among the stars.” -- Les Brown, author and motivational speaker.
When I started this 360 to 30 Badass Journey, one of the first things I did was lay out a few personal goals. By “a few,” of course I mean “a lot.” And by “I,” I mean “with the assistance and at the suggestion of my spouse, family and friends.”
I made sure that these goals were attainable -- not something that in 344 days, I would look back at and think “Badass FAIL!” When people lay out their goals, the biggest mistake is that they too often make them unreasonable.
For example, no matter how much I run/lift/row I will NOT be a 6’7” former professional basketball player like David, a cycling and rowing instructor (aka “Tall” and pictured next to me, at left)
Honestly, that is just not going to happen. I do know that I can work to be in somewhat proportional shape to him, though. Kind of like a “mini me” (I was going to go with Tiny, but Shannon has claim on that).
I was very happy with the input I received from many of my friends on suggestions, and after careful consideration here are my top 7 goals for my 360 to 30 Badass Journey. Why 7? Well, it’s my lucky number: The number of diamonds in my wedding band, the day of my wedding and the day of my birthday.
1) Stick to it!: This is the top goal. If I cannot do this, why bother? Maintaining a workout schedule is a top priority. Although work may sometimes get in the way, we cannot allow that to be an excuse. I made the promise that I will not allow even my frequenting of certain downtown establishments to derail me from my workouts, and I will stick to that.
2) Certifications: If I am going to be living at the gym, I might as well get certified to teach the classes I am taking. It will help me better understand how I am training, and allow me the opportunity to help push others. First certification: Real Ryde, next Sunday!
3) Eat less junk: Thanks to the good people at Earth Fare Tallahassee, the amount of “bad foods” in my house has declined in recent months. Although I can’t say no to my Chick-Fil-A, it’s time to cut out those unhealthy choices when dining out. Every once in awhile, that Grande Burrito with extra cheese, sour cream, guacamole, refried beans and a side of beans and rice is good. But it can’t be a once-a-week thing.
4) Turn off the TV and get out: Living in Tallahassee, and being from Orlando, it’s easy to just say “there is nothing to do, so I am going to sit on my couch.” LIES! There are so many beautiful resources in and around this town. At least once a month, I will do something different to enjoy the natural resources of the community that I call home.
5) Operation ABDOMINALS (and every other muscle while I am at it): We have all seen the Old Spice commercials where the man says “Look at your man, now look at me.” Focusing on healthy eating, making sure I keep up hard on the cardio, and cutting back on the “empty calories” (code for “beer”) will get me to the six-pack I want.
6) Shut up and Run: I will run the Cooper River Bridge 10k in 2012. My goal: Averaging 8 minute miles. http://bridgerun.com/. And thanks to the “pressure” from a friend, I have agreed to enter a local 5K next month – a decision that helped kick start me into running and training. (I also will be doing the Marine Corps Half Marathon this year if scheduling allows; if not, I will be doing the Marine Corps Marathon in 2012! Hooah!)
7) Get Dirty: http://www.warriordash.com/ Yeah, this looks pretty insane but at the same time a lot of Badass fun! This reminds me of some of the “fun” stuff they used to make us do back at the Academy. Obstacle courses test every aspect of your fitness, especially your mental strength!
OK, Badasses, I have spoken to a lot of you over the last couple weeks about your goals, and am happy to hear that some of you are joining me on this journey. So it’s your turn to dish: What are your priorities for the next few weeks/months/year? What do you have on your calendar that you will make sure that you stick to? What “stars” are you reaching for? Tell us in the comments section below.
Because if you shoot for the moon and come short, you won’t hit the stars, you’ll land back on the ground. Stars are higher – so aim higher!
Coming next week: The Monday Move, and the Badass CEO takes on Tae Kwon Do...