Lifting weights

Writer Robert Shannon says that the human body has 330 voluntary muscles. The count doesn’t include involuntary muscles like the heart that require no thought or conscious effort to work. And he says that if God has put at least 330 muscles in our body, then He must have intended for us to work.

A body builder guested in a popular TV show. During the interview, the TV host asked, “Why do you develop those particular muscles?”

The body builder simply stepped forward and flexed a series of well-defined muscles from chest to calf. The audience applauded.

“What do you use all those muscles for?” the TV host asked. Again, the muscular specimen flexed, and biceps and triceps sprouted to impressive proportions.

“But what do you use those muscles for?” the TV host persisted. The body builder was bewildered. He didn’t have an answer other than to display his well-developed frame!

Whether for work or to simply display a well-developed body, the question is, how does one build muscles?”

I am no gym rat, but every time I get a four-hour window, I would sneak into the gym and exercise. Always in a hurry, I would go through the stepper, then do the treadmill, and then do some weights. One thing I’ve noticed is that I never develop my muscles when I carry weights that I can easily lift. Because muscles are built when one carries heavier weights each time.

And this principle applies to life as well.

Some people think that talents are fixed and are inborn. So they stick to what they know. If they were playing a video game, they’d be playing the same game over and over again, rather than try a different – maybe harder – one. This reinforces their sense of competence. This enables them to avoid failures. But this mindset also keeps them from learning more and growing as well.

Meanwhile, there are those who get excited with new challenges and even failures. They love leveling up, challenging themselves and taking risks. They see failing as excellent platforms for learning and improving. They like lifting weights that are heavier than what they’ve previously lifted. They’re committed to building their intellectual, emotional and even spiritual muscles.

Building talents into skills is just like building body muscles. You lift heavier weights each time, and you’ll build up and strengthen your muscles. You take on new challenges and experiment with new approaches, and you’ll grow your skills set.

Push the envelope. Maximize your potential. And if you’re leading people, set high goals for them to achieve.

Stretch them and test them, all the while guiding them throughout the process. Don’t do the work for them, but be with them as their cheerleader. Let them surprise you with what they can do; let them surprise themselves with what they can achieve.

As for me, I will try to lift heavier weights to build more muscles. I will learn and ask guidance from professionals who are experts on how to go about this.

Failing to learn is not failure. It’s the tuition fee you pay for gaining expertise. And when you become good at what you do, that’ll be payoff time!

(Spend two whole days with Francis Kong developing your leadership skills this July 4-5 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel. For further inquiries, contact Inspire Leadership Consultancy Inc. at 632-6872614 or 09178511115.)