Standards last forever

I conducted my military service as a navy-diver and went thru a very rigorous training and a lot of tests and challenges before we even got into the education. At first I felt all those challenges and tests where far out close to ridiculous but after a while we all started to understand that it served a purpose. The goal was to raise our standards to a level where our worst still was more than good enough for any kind of extreme circumstances. And when that was clear I really started to appreciate all the insane training and drilling we had to do. Everybody who pass thru that training got a high quality education in many areas and very good standard for safe diving in any kind of circumstances. Later on I went on to civil diving and started to work as a Divemaster at a dive-center. It was a lot of fun and strange at the same time. I do understand that a regular person don't need military drilling and probably wont endure the same amount of pressure. I just didn't feel good handing out diplomas to some people because they didn't feel safe even though they hold the requirements for certification. It's the same thing when I conduct examinations in Martial Arts or educate Instructors. There's no guarantee for the outcome but I can personally guarantee that I've done everything I can to raise the standard to the highest possible level before I sign and hand out a diploma. I just don't feel good about it otherwise. (Quick-fix and the easy way are for softies that ends up with low confidence) I haven't had a dive for almost 20 years in Bali, so when I got the opportunity do dive at The Summer Camp in Sweden this summer I hesitated for just a split second but had to go. Just Do It! Gearing up was a little strange because there's been some modifications technically but when I got in the water it took like 30 seconds to feel at home, and it really was great to feel the sensation of hanging weightless again. It was yet another proof that when you raise your standards high enough it lasts forever. Thank you Peter and Lasse!

Everybody are afraid of getting old and I know why

I just finished my 44th birthday and what a day. I made sure to not get to exited so I went to bed 3.30 the night before and got breakfast in bed at 8.30, same o' same o'. I wont get into details for the entire day but it was great. Some party with the boy's and lot's of play.

Short reflection how it feels to be 44 because the scared ones are quick to make a point about it. I only have to ask myself these three questions to reflect over.

• Did I Live?
• Did I Love?
• Did I Matter?

As long as I can answer a honest YES on those questions I couldn't care less on getting older from minute to minute, day to day or year to year.

If you can't answer a honest yes on those questions you will definitely be very worried of getting older because you've been wasting your time. DON'T wast your life I mean time ;)

Everyday when I get up I can feel my body and appreciate a little pain from old injuries and remember all the crazy stuff I've done with it because I LIVE.

When I got back home tonight and went through literary hundreds of greetings on Facebook, emails and sms there's a lot of friendship, connection and LOVE. How great isn't that? Thank you!

When I see how many people I've had the chance to meet, influence, share, teach and learn with/from/by I know I MATTER for more than just me and myself.

I'm feeling better and better and it get's more fun for every year. Hope you got inspired as well!

Your Body and Your Stories

I often hear the expression “I will do that when I got better time” or There’s to much stress for me to train right now. And then you start to think how it’s possible to make those contradictions in your life. I mean, everything we do in this world are depending on our body. No matter what, physical activities as well as deep solid thinking are done by our body. So when you let your body degenerate by not taking care of it and then give yourself a story why you can’t do it right now you are actually telling yourself (and maybe others)that you’re not here to do your very best. So if you think about it for a short time when you last gave yourself or someone else a story like “I can’t train right now because…………….”´, was it really true or where there in fact some possibilities to manage your own personal maintenance one way or another.

I got some friends with career, family, kids and the hole enchilada still never miss a training. I also now people who I wonder how they fill up their schedule and they miss a lot of workouts. It makes me curious.

Me and one of the trainers at the club did a 12 week regimen one and a half year ago there we worked out Monday to Friday every week. We where both really busy this period but we never missed out one single workout. Believe me, we where really creative. I went to Thailand and had to do squats back in the plane because it was Friday/Leg day. Both of us where travelling and got back late a Monday night, driving to a dark and cold soccer field at 11.30 pm, unloading a lot of iron to complete the workout of the day I’m happy nobody else was there. They would thought we where completely insane, and maybe we where…..

But most importantly, we promised each other and our self to complete this regimen and we did, without any stories or excuses. Every time you fulfill your promises and take care of yourself and your body you raise your standard.

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Stories don’t!

Goals and Expectations

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Many times in my life I have seen people talking about different ways of running projects. Where to start and what to do first and so on. I have realized and learnt first you have to define the vision and the specific goal. Without that any kind of project is doomed.

I have been accused heavily for being dishonest, steeling and not fulfilling tasks and so on. (see former posts) The irony in this though is that I really tried to clarify our vision and goals many years ago. Most of the time the feedback was “I don’t know”, “we have to start the basics first” or “you do it”. I realize now that I shouldn’t have let it go because now the other one claims that it is all wrong, we shouldn’t be where we are today and there’s all the money?

I can in one way understand the frustration of not being where you want to be but on the other hand, if you don’t steer the ship from the beginning don’t expect to end in the right harbor.

So the earlier you define your goals the better you will work to fulfill your expectations. That’s the same principle for a person, a coach or a team.

Three kinds of people

Sometimes a piece of daily sarcasm can help yourself to act. There are basically three kinds of people.

1. Those who makes things happen
2. Those who participate in the happening
3. Those who asked "what happened?"

I quite often ask myself that question and it's very rare that my wish is to be no 3. When I look back on most things I've spent time on in my life it's 1 and 2. They doesn't have to be ranked because if you start something good and can make other people to join you would be stupid if you couldn't do the opposite then other people start good things as well. But then things go wrong nobody want's to be 1 or 2 and many people prefer to say "it was them......." . The problem though is nothing happens with that attitude and your life get's REALLY BORING. So get out there and ask yourself who do you want to be and have some gut's.

It will be fun and you will go further.

Mabuhay