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Caution This Is Most Contagious

Drumroll please……

Wait. But first, let’s just make sure we’re all on the same page. Two days ago was the anniversary of John Lennon’s death, and the topic of yesterday’s post.

But today’s Lane 8 blog post is not about John Lennon, it’s about motivation.

It’s also about the number one most contagious thing (and greatest success factor) in the world when it comes to motivation.

Are you ready?

Okay, back to the drumroll. Drumroll please…..

The number one most contagious thing in the world is…….ENTHUSIASM!!!!!

Can you hear the echos of some people saying, “That’s it? That’s all you got? You’re wasting my time!”

And others, “Yes, that’s exactly it. Try to do anything well without a mountain of enthusiasm. Seriously, go ahead and try.”

What works best for you?

Imagine John Lennon

Can you imagine John Lennon as an athlete? I can, but it doesn’t seem he ever was. His travel schedule was hectic to be sure, at least for much of his life with the Beatles.

So maybe he had an excuse – world travel.

Can I use it too? Oh, and let’s see, may I also use some of these?:

Too busy with work
Too busy with school
Too busy with the kid(s)
Soon as the weather gets nice
Starting January 1
I can’t find an exercise I like
It’s too dark
It’s too cold
I can never see results (fast enough)
It’s too hard

Not exercising didn’t kill John Lennon, but it certainly may contribute to my death.

Do you ever think about stuff like this?

PS. Tomorrow, we revisit yesterday’s blog post and reveal the number one most contagious thing in the world.

Motivation Fascinates Me

Does motivation fascinate you?

Do you have any motivational strategies or tactics you’d like to share?

Do you think about motivation:

All the time
Sometimes
Never

You know what the most contagious thing in the world is?

Here’s a hint. The number two all-time most contagious thing in the world is a lack of enthusiasm.

Another Favorite

Yesterday I shared the favorite motivation tip:

Find a million ways

Today, a second favorite:

Pay attention

In August, I had the privilege to watch a 70-year old man do the equivalent of Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile barrier (1956). Do you trust me enough to click here?

Please know up front that clicking will take you to an August 2009 Lane 8 blog post, which includes my You Tube video of a world record being broken.

Here’s a third motivation tip, as a bonus:

You must find time and reason to do things you don’t what to do

Can I Ask You Another?

What is Lane 8?

Lane 8 is the worst lane in Track & Field. Fast runners are put in the middle lanes and slower runners are assigned the outer lanes. The slowest competitor is always assigned Lane 8.

And in the 400 meters, which I compete in, you stay in your lane the entire race. The way the starting lines are staggered, makes it look like Lane 8 is way out in front, when in fact, it’s the exact same distance as the others.

So many consider lane 8 the worst lane because you cannot see any of the other competitors, until they pass you.

My goal is to be in Lane 8, the worst lane. And I also don’t care if I come in last. Seriously.

Our son (9) says, “Dad, you want the worst lane and you don’t care if you come in last?”

(Pause for effect, and read each of the next three sentences with decent pauses in between)

“That’s right, son, Lane 8. In the finals. At the World Championships.”

I continued the answer for our son, “You can come in last and still be the eighth best in the entire world.”

I then shared the moral of the story with our son:

“You can go through life and set the bar low, reach it, but then live with the regret of wondering what you could have done if you tried harder. Or, you can set the bar ridiculously high, fail, and yet live with peace because you know in your heart you did your very best.”

Ya with me?