Modern Consultancy

In the gym. Time to bench press. Worrying about a friend. Today: 160 lbs. Ok. Dude has some stuff going on, I want to help him as best I can. Fine. Focus on this, now. Do the math. Try to help him later.

2×45 lbs on the bar.
2×25 lbs on the bar.
2×10 lbs on the bar.
90+50+20=160. Perfect.

I get under the bar, and uh, this is tougher to lift than I thought it would be. lower under control and pressssss. Crap. Left shoulder has stopped 3/4 of the way through the rep. c’mon, push through… nope. Ok, lower under control to my chest and pressss. Double Crap. Half way up and stuck. OK, you know the drill you knockledragger. bar to chest, roll down ribs (ow), abs (as such), to hips. Sit up. What they heck is wrong here? I just did 155 last week? Did I miss that much sleep last  night?

All right, can I pick this up from here? Nope. “Uh, Rob, a little help?” Rob dashes over and grabs one end of the bar, as another guy comes over and gets the other side. I sheepishly thank them both, and Rob kindly offers to spot me if I want to go heavy.

I thank him again, and start stripping the weight from the bar. I immediately realize my mistake. I didn’t account for the 45 lbs that the bar weighs. I strip off the two 25s and do one set before calling it a day. I want to avoid injuring myself, and my head is not in the game. That is a recipe for disaster, so I stop and hit the showers.

I was so worried about my friend’s issues that I did not focus on the task at hand. Luckily, I was in a crowded gym, and could somewhat control any damage. I often see people in business checking emails in meetings while on conference calls, playing games when they should be on point. It is a bad habit, distracting yourself when you need to be focused.I have done it, you have done it. Trying to multitask leads to a lack of focus, which leads to bad stuff happening.

I think it was Keith Code who said that a Motorcycle Rider has ten dollars worth of attention, you need to choose where you are going to spend it. Doesn’t matter if you are in the office, on a bike, or in the gym. Focus on what you are doing, now.