Wax On: A Non-Surfer's Guide to Catching a Wave

During the depth of the recession, I did a webcast for our industry.  Recruiters from around the country listened to this training that was really 30% education and 70% encouragement (or maybe it was more like 80% if you buy into the whole "give 110%" thing).  My goal was to give my friends in the industry some practical tools to survive the worst downturn our industry had ever seen and at the same time convince them that better days were ahead.  The analogy I used was that of a wave building out in the ocean. My encouragement was to "wax your surfboards, kids, the wave is coming!  Paddle hard!"

About a year later as the recovery was well underway, I was hearing from friends throughout the industry that they were seeing a surge in their businesses.  Some thanked me for the encouragement and said they had been able to use some of my training to accelerate their own recovery.

But there was one email that made me sad.  This guy had one question:  "When's that wave coming?"

Dude, you missed it.  He missed the point of the training AND he missed the wave.

You don't float in the shallow water waiting, waiting, waiting for your big break.  You can't control when that wave will hit, but you can paddle out toward it and shorten the distance.

It's not just true in business.  It's true in every aspect of your life.

Yesterday while enjoying my morning coffee, I was flipping through Instagram and came across this photo posted by my friend, Carrie:

Photo Credit:  @sunshineeveryday

Her caption: "While waiting for inspiration, paint what you see..."

Yep, take a closer look.  Her watercolor masterpiece is a painting of her tray of watercolor paints.  

Instead of waiting for inspiration to crash over her, she's paddling out toward it.  And in the process, she's getting practice and gaining skill.  You go, girl!

It got me thinking about what waves I'm waiting for.  

The other night as I was leaving the gym, I told Molly, one of the owners and head coaches, that I really wished they would add a gymnastic skill class to the program.  Specifically I want to get better at every move that involves a pull-up bar or rings. As she quizzed me about what I was really looking for, I realized that my wanting a class is no different than my recruiter colleague wishing upon that wave.

"I guess basically, I'm asking you to just hand me the skills," I admitted.

I have a pull-up rig and gymnastics rings in my garage gym that go to bed lonely every night. Waiting for my gym to add a class is a comfortable excuse for not doing the work necessary to gain skill and make progress.

Proof that I have all of the equipment I need.  Now I just need to do the work.

My coach, Molly, knows a little something about doing work.  The same night I jokingly asked her to "hand over the skills" she posted this picture on her Instagram account.

Molly (Hunsinger) Hitt in 2011.  Reprinted with permission.

According to her description:  "I've always loved overhead squats, but I have NOT always been good at them!"  The picture was taken in early 2011.

The picture below was taken at the 2014 CrossFit Northwest Regional competition where Molly tied for first place in an event that showed off her super strong overhead squat.  The joy on her face is the unmistakable joy of a lady who just caught her wave!

Lots of hard work and training pays off as Molly (Hunsinger) Hitt snatches 165 lbs at the Crossfit NW Regionals
Photo credit: Nicole Solvang

What wave are you waiting for?

Are you waiting for your boss to give you more training.  Go get it!  

Are you waiting for someone to hand you a high-profile project at work?  Ask for it!  

Are you wanting more quality time with your special someone?  Make it happen!

Alright.  Enough of my preaching to you.  It's time to head out to the garage.  I have a date with a pull-up rig.

Surf's up!