Finding Your Bootcamp

So, six and a half weeks ago I started extreme fitness bootcamp.  It’s basically an hour every morning of non-stop exercise torture — sit-ups, push-ups, running, sprinting up hills, climbing stairs — you get the idea.

The first day I passed out.

The third day I came home with flu like symptoms.

The fourth day I couldn’t get out of bed — literally, my muscles were too sore to lift me up.

The fifth day I was depressed.

Depressed?  I kept asking myself, “why they heck am I depressed!?  I just finished a week of the most grueling exercise regimen I have ever done!  There is nothing to be depressed about!”  I couldn’t put my finger on it.  I was tired and loosing energy, and it wasn’t from all of the lunges or squats.  There was something inside of me that was draining the life right out of me!  I was feeling great, my body was quickly responding to the healthy diet and physical activity.  What was the mystery culprit?

The next day I went into the office to finish up some work, and it dawned on me.

I was horrible!

No, really.  I was awful with bootcamp.  I found myself minutes behind even the 40+ year old soccer moms when we ran, I could barely do a handful of push-ups, and my clothes were drenched after 15 minutes (I could literally ring out my t-shirt).  I felt the looks from everyone else on the squad burning into my ego.  I mean, I knew that I was out of shape, but it was now glaring at me in the face.  For the first time in a long time I was the worst in the team, strenuously working my way up.

I had to learn to learn again.

I think for many leaders, we enjoy being in arenas where we are the experts.  We like to be the ones that are teaching others how it is done and what know needs to happen.  Situations where we are the learners and the inexperienced make us feel downgraded, unimportant and uncomfortably weak.  It’s easier to stay with what’s easy than to venture into unknown waters, risking failure and humiliation.

For leaders to continue growth, we need to constantly be stepping into arenas where we are going to be miles behind the 40+ year old soccer moms.  We have to find places where we are once again the learners and not the celebrated heroes.

And it isn’t to become well-rounded individuals at all.  When leaders tell me that they are well-rounded, it means that they aren’t great at anything, but average at alot of things.  No, we need to move into these places so that we can remember what it is to learn!  So that we can continue to sharpen our reflexes to risk greatly and move in the face of failure.  Whether its making a short film, writing a blog everyday for all of your friends to critique or running a marathon — these things keep pushing the essence of our life forward.

Today I ran 3 miles in the Hills of Chino.  Tomorrow will be 3 1/2.  I’ve lost 28 lbs and 21 inches and feel amazing.  I start another 12 weeks on Monday of bootcamp, and I’m hoping to keep up with the soccer moms this time.

What’s your bootcamp?