Complete Every Rep...

Back in the early 60’s, my life was ruled by the process of completing every rep. When I wasn’t in class or practicing football at Georgia Tech I was in the weight room following a very strict, self-made schedule of pumping iron.

Each set was planned, the weight was recorded and the reps were completed in the best way possible. I did a max rep in the bench almost every a day I trained ‘upper body.’

After my career in football ended I moved to Hawaii and surfing took over my focus. Completing every rep became paddling with the proper form, catching the wave and completing the ride, a process that lasted about 15 years. Next came windsurfing which lasted roughly 15 years. Then came stand up paddling that lasted about a year, and then replacing joints (knees and hips) and rehabbing my neck took over.

My real focus in the gym at that time was not getting hurt. I have a condition called “add a plate” meaning my mind thinks I’m able to lift heavy and my body is screaming to STOP! And then came a call came from Bill Curry, my teammate at Georgia Tech and life long friend, a survivor of 10 years in the NFL. "I’m lifting three days a week, piddly little weights and bands and I complete each rep.” Bing-go, the light went on. I instantly regained my clarity of focus. The value of weights is the attention to form, not how "piddly" the weights are. In that moment I made a commitment to bring a new energy into my workouts. A new structure, discipline and focus to completing each rep.

Thank you, Bill, you are an inspiration to me. One of the results of that inspiration is this article on completing each rep as an approach to handling the challenges we all face in living this long. As Bill likes to say, “It’s never too late! We can accomplish so much if we stop thinking of our selves, get busy serving others, and enjoying each day.”

If you struggle with the challenges of performing at the level required in your job, the GED process is for you!

The “complete every rep” can be a mantra for you to want to be present, embrace the challenges, and battle with the distractions and win! In this way, you will build your life around being deliberate, training with a purpose and breaking your day and life into the the tasks that demand your presence. For each task there is a series of repetitions that complete the challenge.

The GED process, combined with the proper form and style of breathing, will allow you to:

• Settle down and decide for yourself why a specific task is important. The “Taaaaah” Breath.
• Determine what is required for you to do the work and find joy and satisfaction. Performance Breathing.
• Build the capacity to seize the opportunities to contribute to your self and other team mates. Breath Holds.

I’m excited to share this process with you and the members of your team. Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further help with you learning to complete every rep. The breathing techniques mentioned here can be found elsewhere here on my web site.

Gratitude provides the awareness to define the rep

In the face of the challenge you must:

1. Use the “Taaaah” Breath to settle down, be calm and go deep and find your purpose.

2. To Establish the expectations–theirs and yours.

3. To set up the task and build the confidence needed to perform at this level.

Reflection: Are you able to progress from wanting to be present in your activity, to being able to embrace challenges and finally battle with the distractions and enjoy the process?

What have you learned in this regard?

Excitement provides the positive energy to complete the reps

During the work you must:

1. Use performance breathing to build the strength, tempo, endurance, power and accuracy that is required.

2. Find fun and joy in the practice and execution.

3. Trust the Process and Build a Team.

Reflection: Get the job done Are you able to be engaged, be mindful of what you want and need to do and focus on being in sync with the activity and completing the process?

What have you learned in this regard?

Devotion provides the capacity to get better and build Team

To complete and learn from the work you must:

1. Use breath-holds to build the attention to detail needed to experience growth.

2. Learn to communicate and advocate for your wants and needs.

3. Refine the process until your performance is a statement of your ability to complete every rep.

Reflection: Make good decisions. Are you able to learn from your efforts, make adjustments to your intensity, attitude and focus and let go of all negative thoughts, feelings and actions?

What have you learned in this regard?