If you are one of my clients, or have worked out in my proximity, you have most likely heard me say this. This concept is amazing in its motivational context, but it is profound in its application to life.
Finishing Strong is what moves mountains. It is what got Transcontinental Railroad completed. I can only imagine that the first spike pounded in the ground was cake (and probably done by an overweight guy in a pea coat and top hat). But you can bet your ass it took tenacity, determination, and strong will to get the other 7,000,000+ into the ground.
Are we building a railroad single-handedly? Probably not. But the concept it prescribes can be lent to all aspects of life.
Let's start with exercise. There are hundreds of thousands of people that can rep out 10 beautiful air squats faster than the fittest people in the world. So why aren't they the fittest in the world? There are those people that can start their 225 pound deadlifts with superb technique, within a workout of, let's say, 21, 15, and 9 reps of deadlifts and handstand pushups. Let's say that Bill does the first 21 deadlifts in 40 seconds, and John does them in 60 seconds. Bill is more fit (at that exact moment) than John, because he did more work in less time. BUT, now Bill stares at the wall gassed out from the deadlifts, and John starts his handstand pushups. They continue on through the workout, Bill's form goes to crap, and John keeps solid. John finishes in 4:34, and Bill finishes is 6:30.
It is great that Bill pumped through the beginning of that workout, but he did not (COULD not) keep up his intensity, and therefore he suffered. More importantly still, and something people will sometimes neglect to focus on, is that Bill failed to Finish Strong in that his form deteriorated tremendously. If you walk into the room in the middle of Bill and John's workout, have no idea what they have done previously, and see them deadlifting 225, Bill with horribly rounded back and shoulders, and John with a tight midline and good form, who is "stronger" right now? Same weight, same lift, same work previously? I would argue (as would most fitness experts) that John is stronger. Because he is doing the movement with great form, and thus will be able to sustain that movement long without injury. So Finishing Strong isn't about slamming your body into a wall of poor movement to get more reps in, it's finishing with great form, AND high intensity. If that means you are lifting less weight, but you are giving it everything you've got with great form, you've finished stronger than Round-Back Billy.
Apply this concept to the rest of your life, and you'll find the outcome of your decisions will be better for it. If you start something, start it HARD. Give it everything you got. But life is short, so make sure it is worth your time to Finish Strong. Go into with great form, and have the same passion in the very last day as you had the first day you started the endeavor.
Make the very last rep as perfect as the first one.
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| These stones mark the first flights of the Wright Bros. I have no interest in aeronautics, but I respect these gentlemen. Their first flight was a measly (for today's standards) 120 feet, but they had passion for what they did and Finished Strong. And now you can visit California in a few hours via airplane. It was inspirational to stand here and see these landmarks. |
I've started my journey into fitness with extremely passion, determination, and tenacity. I've absorbed so much from everything the world has to offer in the ways of nutrition, movement, exercise prescription, etc. etc. But I haven't even scratched the surface. You can believe that I will Finish Strong. Whatever Finish Strong means for my life of Fitness, I'm going to learn along the way. But my passion will be the same, if not more, than the very first day I decided that this is my calling.
Make sure what it is you are doing does the same for you.
Finish Strong, and
Stay Fit.
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