Extraordinary physical feats and mythical strength has always been something that I see as being attainable. I am obsessed with the amazing powers that each one of us has. Watching unbelievable movies with Shaolin monks flying around sparked something and opened myself to the question what if .... or why not ...  Many people are so grounded in their own reality that they can not comprehend the what if of achieving something spectacular. I mean outrageously spectacular! Why not at least have that mind set that instead of that voice in your head saying no way, how about, what if, or why not!  With business, relationships, health, get ungrounded and see yourself doing something spectacular.

United States. Scientists have now discovered through meticulous research that it is appearing in Flow gyms and in the homes and workplaces of Flow athletes worldwide. I am speaking of course, about HyperFlowism.

At first glance, HyperFlowism may just appear as a light rash/abrasion on the interior thigh or lateral ankle region, or on occasion acute skin peeling on the palms of the hands. These symptoms are merely a precursor to the imminent full-scale onset of HyperFlowism.

SYMPTOMS OF HyperFlowism

• Performing “kettlebell swings” with jugs of milk.
• Using your kids to help with joint mobilization or for weighted exercises.
• Pointing out things on the street, to complete strangers, that you “could jump on to”.
• Calling out “Time!” after the following: (but not limited to these…)
  - Getting ready for work in the morning
  - Placing groceries on the conveyor belt at the store
  - Retrieving your newspaper or mail
  - Childbirth
  - Pumping gas
  - Pooping
• Conversations begin with “So, I PR’d my Squat Snatch” or “I kicked Cindy’s ass this morning”, followed by an awkward silence.
• Secretly waiting for the day you’ll “need” to deadlift your 1 rep max to save someone’s life.
• Overhead squatting Costco dog food bags between sample tasting.
• Your daily schedule is in 10 and 20 minute AMRAPs.
• You own more workout shoes than work and casual shoes combined.
• You refer to Kelly Starrett and Carl Paoli by first name as if you’re personal friends.
• You begin “learning a new sport” that you probably have no business playing.
• Cleaning the garage, only to make room for pull-up bars and gymnastic rings.
• Blowing your family clothing budget due to your ever changing body size.
• Loss of contact with friends because they were tired of hearing how “rewarding” and “challenging” Flow is.
• You talk openly about doing “Barbara” or “Annie” or a host of other women.
• Volunteering to move your neighbor’s landscape boulders … by hand.
• You often yell “No rep!” when watching strangers pick things up.
• You know other Flow members’ back squat weights and Fran times, but may not remember their last name or what they do for a living.
• There is no longer any shame or embarrassment from spending the day in your workout clothing.
• Insomnia, due to strategizing the next day’s Sweat.
• If just one Sweat is missed, extreme irritability sets in.

Three or more of the symptoms listed above occurring after at least six months of Flowmembership, meets the clinical diagnosis of HyperFlowism. Although currently incurable, HyperFlowism can be managed with the help of your physician, a Level 1 certified coach, and in some instances a mental health specialist.

Support groups are continuously forming. If you or someone you know needs help, call the national HyperFlowism hotline at 888-HFI-HELP.

I want to chat about the “80/20″ rule. I’ve heard it regarding work, lifestyle, relationships, nutrition, training … you name it.  And you know what I’m talking about because you’ve said it yourself, “80 percent of the time I [fill in the blank], 20 percent of the time I fudge a little. Ring a bell?

It’s cool. I’m not going to rag on the 80 percenters. Hell, I’m in your boat in about 80 percent of what I do. I want you to know where the real gold is — where those truly dedicated to their goal leap ahead of the rest.

This “80/20 principle” is everywhere.

In a workout, you convince yourself that you’ll just slow down a little bit during the squats and do them faster later. (I don’t know why, but this always seems like a good idea at the time. It isn’t. Go faster now.)

It’s often found in nutrition. Most of the time, you’re spot on. But you fall face first into a bottle of wine and a bag of chips every weekend.

How about relationships? Your partner needs some help and you spend an extra few minutes in the bathroom while they do the dishes.

You get my drift. But think about the potential in the last 20 percent. That’s where success is exponential with every percent. Each extra effort you make in your life puts you ahead of the rest because if they are working hard, they’re most likely doing it 80 percent of the time.

Be the athlete spending time dialing in technique.

Be the spouse taking extra time to give the other rest.

Be the business owner who responds to emails when you’re tired of the computer.

Be the 20 percenter. People can see the difference and you will too.

A significant part of my belief system is personal excellence. Being accountable to myself. Realistically, no one will ever hold me to a higher standard, so I must. Accountability is a process involving standards, values, and measurements. Sometimes these elements converge to a Go/No Go situation; sometimes it is grayer.

The Chase

I believe a person must chase something they believe in. I believe there are few things worth believing in. Did your parents expect excellence from you, or did they say “do your best?” Those are two different standards. Did your teachers in school expect excellence or did they reward you for showing up? Does your boss lead you with excellence, or does he simply kick down workloads for you complete?

Our society does not reward excellence. In fact, more and more I see that society scorns those who do well…labels them over achievers and elitist. Why is that a bad thing? I take note of recent events in the media; the world takes more pleasure watching successful people fail rather then average people become extraordinary.

The one thing I truly own

With so little in the world to believe in, I must believe in myself. I must pursue Personal Excellence. My goal is to cultivate excellence within myself. I must grow it. I must nourish it daily, clean it, and take care of it. Excellence can shine as the sun, or become tarnished with misuse/under use.  It may be one of the only things in the world which I truly can say I own.

Truth to one’s self is more important than any other type of truth. Are you telling yourself the truth? Are you evaluating your situations in life honestly? Are you asking the right questions? What questions? Are you looking for things to improve? Or do you kid yourself and say “I’m just fine the way I am?”

What you could be

If you tell yourself this, pay attention. You’re not fine the way you are. You’re unacceptable…compared to what you COULD BE. Inside every person is an expert. An expert at something. You have a talent. Do you know what it is? Everyone possesses Talent, but few OWN their talent.

The truth is something you need to find out for yourself. Very few people can provide you with the truth. No one can tell you what you should be doing with your life. If you look at your life and find yourself displeased it’s time to for change. Excellence, Truth, and Change all work together. People change all the time, but not for the sake of truth or excellence. People work hard, but not to change themselves. Some people chase excellence but ignore truth and fail to change.

Question everything

Question everyone. Question everything you can. The only point to my ramblings is to give you information to get you to ask yourself new questions. Nothing contained in this blog can be considered true unless you personally inspect yourself, does it resonate with you? Or maybe I have just suffered too many head injuries and now I am cranky all the time…

Breakdown or Breakthrough? I’ve found that these are the two results of a Flow workout. Oddly though, these results aren’t a product of the workout, but rather a mindset established before the clock starts. Breakdown is the little guy in your head that tells you it’s too heavy, it’s too difficult, it’s too exhausting, or it hurts too much. Breakthrough is the little guy on your shoulder that tells you “I’m going to finish today, I’m going to try my best, and I’m not going to give up!”

Through observation and learned experiences, I’ve found that training the mind is just as important as training the body. This is because the body can only do what the mind allows it to do. Sit and think of a workout that you felt you could have done faster, or with more weight, and I’m sure you can remember the moment where you decided mentally that you weren’t going to push it. I know it happens to me every time I workout, I think to myself, why am I putting myself through this pain. The answer to this question determines how I finish.

You see, the mind is just like the body, it has capacities, and just like the body, it can be trained to become stronger. 

Don’t over think it. Remember take yourself lightly, and take a minute to realize that the work we do is fun. Everyday we struggle with one another to build each other up. As we continue to build our physical capacity, just take a breath to get your mind right, and you will be on track to achieve greatness. Breakthrough mentally.

…..Embracing this truth is perhaps the most difficult task you will ever face, but here it is, in plain English, so you can know it, and know it well: IT NEVER GETS EASIER…..

It’s no surprise that when the moment comes to put up or shut up we make like ants running from a ground fire. Watch a class of people in the moments before Fran and you might not know a thing about them because it’s all internalized. Watch that same class during the 100 Amy's and you’ll know all you need to know. The warriors commit and the pretenders crumble……

Not only will your body change in both appearance and ability, but there will be a psychological shift as well. You’ll start tapping into that deep satisfaction that only comes from overcoming something difficult. You’ll start craving that feeling of total exhaustion, knowing what it will cost you to achieve it, and craving it just the same. You’ll walk taller in the hallway at work, knowing that what you’re done is barely measurable in comparison with what anyone else has accomplished this day. Your approach to everything will be different because you know what it means to truly give it all; to be lying on the ground withered and gasping, then to get up do it again.

This is why Flow is the optimal training environment, in my opinion. You know exactly what you have to do, you know exactly how much it’s going to hurt, you’re surrounded by a group of people that know all the same things as you. The only thing left to do is go there. The athletes of the world accept these consequences knowingly. They know that it’s hard and that it’s going to hurt, and they do it anyway. To continually grow and improve, this is the outlook we must all have.  At 100% effort, Fran is always going to hurt. a 100 Amy's for time is always going to hurt. Embrace this reality. Know that it’s going to suck and don’t back down.  Wear it like war paint every time you train. When you do, you’re no longer the ant.  You are the ground fire.