We have heard it when watching a sporting event, when training in a group setting, or in a gym. Someone will say to you,  I wish I could throw a jab like that, or I wish I could run like that, or I wish I could look like that.

My old response, being the coach and motivator that I am, was:

"You can, you just have to choose to put the time and effort in doing it, you need to study the craft and then work just like they did".

Of course as soon as I would say something like that the excuses would come pouring out.

Well I would BUT......

I have this old injury.....( pick your favorite one knee, back, shoulder).

I have kids now.

I work shift work

I work overtime

My wife, my husband, my parents, I'm in school right now......

The list goes on and on and on and on and on.........

At this point I would try to explain to them that every champion, everyone that works at their craft every day, no matter their level of performance has similar problems.

Guess what, it was like talking to a brick wall.

This is my response now to the following comments.

I wish I could:

Be an athlete.

Throw a Jab like that.

Jump that high.

Run that fast.

Feel and look that good.

Open my own business.

My response is:

NO YOU DON'T!!!!!

• If you did you would be practicing that skill instead of sitting around watching television.
• If you did you would be studying the greatest in the world and what they did to get there.
• If you did you would find a coach that could help you improve what you already have.
• If you really did want to look like an athlete, you would put down the six-pack  and chips and be eating and drinking for health.
• If you did want to be able to look, perform, and feel great, you would be taking steps to do it.

And that requires WORK.

So, No You Don't want to look like that, you don't want to perform like that, and

You really don't want to feel great for the rest of your life.

Because that requires WORK!!

If you did want to be an athlete, if you did want to climb that mountain, if you really did want to fly that airplane, or open that business:  Every excuse that you make for not doing it, you would use to motivate you to accomplish it.

Stumbling blocks or stepping stones?  The choice is yours!

Now, can we all get in the top 3% and participate at that élite level? Probably not.

But a few of us can and will!

Can we be better than we were yesterday? Absolutely!

Can we perform hard work, concentrated study, concentrated effort, and get in the top 20% of our field?

I believe all of us can.

We can't do it by sitting around wishing.

We do it by setting a goal and working hard to achieve it.

When I started telling people No You Don't, I thought I would be met with resistance and with an aggressive attitude.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

When I say No You Don't.   I actually see their mindset change.

Most look at me and they start thinking about it.  Then most people ask me questions on how they could improve themselves.

They also start to use those same excuses I used to hear why they can't do something, and they would start telling me how they were going to work around those problems.

Using the same excuses as stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks!

We all want to be better, we all strive for growth in our personal and professional lives.

To do this requires work!

We have to get out of our comfort zone in order to achieve it.

We get comfortable where we are, we get comfortable with who we are, and our excuses become like our precious little gems.  We cherish them and hold onto them.  We use them daily.  We share them with other people and we get to hear why they aren't happy.

Get out of your comfort zone and dare to go experience an adventure!

So the next time you make a wish....

If it's something you're really interested in:

• Running a race
• Opening a business
• Climbing a mountain
• Taking flying lessons
• Swimming the English Channel

If it's something you want to do, look into it.

See what price you have to pay to get it, and then get busy paying that price.

You will become a better person on the journey.

You have the courage to attempt it, and give it your all!

Getting out of your comfort zone stretches your limits, expands your horizons.

Getting out of your comfort zone is an adventure all its own.

Adventure is what life is all about.

You can have adventure in a workout, getting outside of your comfort zone in your own living room every day of life.

Let that be a catalyst for an even Greater Adventure!!

Train Safe

Train outside your comfort zone!

Because really....

You DO Want It!