When Going the Second Mile Becomes Second Nature

Do you know where you're aiming? What does excellence look like? You can't be complacent and strive for excellence. Excellence requires effort.

“If you don't aim for anything, you'll hit it every time,” Zig Ziglar

Tonight at the supper table, we had a family conversation about how we can tell people are really aiming for what they say they want to do. Every basketball, football, softball, baseball, and every other team I know talks about wanting “region” and “state.”

But so few hit the mark. Why?

I've known quite a few state winning teams in my time as a teacher. I've learn to spot them in the off season. When I see students at the school working out with each other and on their own when they don't have to — that is when I can tell. They are aiming.

You're aiming for excellence when going the second mile becomes second nature.

Post Mortem or Final Answer?

Kip was discussing a football team he played on once that never won region or state. After practice, the kids who made mistakes were punished with extra work and had to do a “post mortem.” But not everyone. Just the misfits and those who messed up. Most of the players were tired and went to the locker room. Everyone really needed those extra runs.

This is quite a contrast to what my son's former NFL football player, Danny Copeland, has taught my son to do — the Final Answer. The Final Answer is an exercise that Danny did himself in preparation for pushing ahead during exhaustion. When the workout is done and they're exhausted, the Final Answer is an exercize where they push and drag a heavy concrete block up a hill. The goal is to do it four or five times when done with the workout. It teaches you to push hard when you're tired. It is not an exercise any of them look forward to doing but it is something they're thankful for when in an exhausting point in the game.

The people who prepare with a “Final Answer” are those who are aiming for excellence in the sport.

The “Final Answer” exercize makes the second mile second nature.  It is your answer to the question everyone is asked at some point in their life,

“Are you going to reach the goal you're aiming for by pushing through exhaustion?”

We All Have a Final Answer

Excellence is difficult. It is hard. Some people will call you a zealot. Others will say it is too much. But we all have a final answer we give when we're tired but the bulls eye is within arrow-shot.

If you don't aim for anything, you'll hit it every time. And if you are aiming for something important to you, sometimes you have to let the arrow fly when you're spent and have nothing left to give. You'll need steady hands and a mind prepared to act and aim when everyone else gives up.

Great achievements rarely happen after you're well rested and relaxed.

They often happen in the midst of exhaustion and exertion and they don't happen unless you aim for them.

Where are you aiming?

Do you prepare a final answer?

Is going the second mile second nature?