What Would Happen If You Really Tried?

(Roadturn Principle)

When someone asks you why you’re not trying harder, how do you react?

Are you angry and offended?

That’s the normal response.

Worse yet, how about when you say you’re trying your best… and someone fires back with “Well, your best isn’t good enough!”… how does that one feel?

Let’s not worry about what others say or think for a few minutes.

Let’s be concerned with what WE think about ourselves and our efforts.

What would happen if you really tried?

The first turn in any serious discussion about ‘trying harder’ normally leads to a look at commitment. How badly do you want to achieve the goal? Are you committed to it (aka the ham and egg breakfast — the chicken was involved, the pig was committed), or are there other things more important to you that block progress.

Strength coach Charles Poliquin says it all comes down to one thing: Do you value your health more than you value donuts?

After the commitment question, a deeper discussion lands on the Why — what is your motivational driver? The illustration here is the monk who wanted to achieve enlightenment. The teacher took him to a river and held the student’s head under water, almost drowning him. The lesson: When you want enlightenment as much as you want air, you’ll achieve it.

Armed with the lessons of commitment and a strong reason Why, we nod our heads and keep doing the same old stuff. Rarely do we find real, lasting change.

So, let’s skip the semantics, skip the Zen koans, skip the months and years of thinking about it, and stop avoiding the question.

What would happen?

This is personal. It’s just for you.

Roadturn Challenge: What would happen if you really tried? Is your dream really possible, or are you setting yourself up to fail right from the start? Set aside some thinking time. Look deeply. Record what you find.

Roadturn Principle: You can do it… if you want. But you can’t stop trying.

Let’s talk about it…