This one is for the underdogs!
Why does everything have to be so tough, ever ask yourself this question? Everyone loves a good Hollywood underdog story. The proverbial conflict of someone defying the odds to overcome a monumental obstacle with a less-than-perfect set of circumstances. It’s great for Hollywood and inspires many people, but what about the underdog?
I think in some way or another we are all underdogs in certain areas of life. I also think we need to embrace our underdog status as one of the best teachers we could ever have. When we work extra hard to catch up to “normal” we set up habits that eventually will propel us beyond “normal” into extraordinary.
A Moment of Terror
One of the most terrifying moments in my life was the day I walked up the steps to the registration office at our community college. My heart was pounding and I couldn’t wrap my head around why I was trying to get accepted into a school when I spent most of my life trying to get kicked out. I had this crazy idea that I wanted to be an engineer. Maybe I was ignorant, maybe I didn’t quite understand the system, or maybe my dream to become an engineer blinded me from all the hurdles that were in front of me.
After all the paperwork was finished and I had taken my entry tests I finally received my first schedule of courses so I could register for the upcoming semester. By this time I had gotten over my fears and I was pretty excited to get the college journey underway.
I waited in line to speak with a lady that was entering everyone’s info into the computer. This was a bit before online registration was a thing. Haha. I told her the classes that were recommended and she punched them in and printed out my schedule. As I walked away, I noticed that besides two of my five classes there was a row of x’s. The lady was already on to the next student so I headed to the front desk because it wasn’t as crowded. Maam, “I said, “What do these x’s mean by my math and English classes? She was nice but very matter-of-fact as she explained that they were remedial courses that did not count for college credit. My heart sank into my stomach as she told me that my entry test scores weren’t high enough to start at college-level math or English. Then she said that I would need 4 classes with x’s before I could start the normal pathway for my degree.
I was heartbroken as I thought about an entire year devoted to classes just to get to the beginning of a two-year degree. I took my schedule back from her and as I turned to walk away I said, “Does this mean I have to work twice as hard to get half as far as everyone else?” I was expecting some sort of comfort from her and over 25 years later I can still see her face as she said, “I suppose you will.”
Driving home I had a flood of thoughts going through my mind. I wasn’t so afraid of working twice as hard but the thought of going half as far was bothering me. I didn’t spend much time after the short drive home thinking about it because I had already made up my mind before I got home. I decided that graduating with a degree and somewhat undoing dropping out from high school meant more to me than having to work harder and work longer.
I suppose that day I became an educational underdog and I embraced it for well over a decade. I’ve earned many degrees at many levels but I am convinced that the most valuable takeaway from any of my education was the lesson of the willingness to work twice as hard to go half as far if you really want to achieve a certain goal. Ironically, I learned this lesson before the first day I set foot into a classroom.
This lesson has been brought back to the forefront of my mind as I dig out of all these surgeries and setbacks. As I start to head back to therapy and regain some strength and fitness, I am realizing how far back I am and how much work I need to do to move forward.
Am I willing to work twice as hard to go half as far?
A couple of weeks ago I hopped on my bike to take a fitness test. I was heartbroken to see how much I had lost over the past two years. As the computer updated my new fitness level it gave me the option to accept it before it would make the necessary changes to my program. The number they use to test fitness was exactly half of what it was the last time I took the test. I was expecting a drop but certainly not a 50% decrease.
Just like that car ride home over 25 years ago I was faced with a question. Am I willing to work twice as hard to go half as far as everyone else to reach my goal? The option is always there to choose another goal, complain that it’s not fair, or just say that it’s not worth it. I’ve done all of those things at one time or another but I have also reached a couple of goals being an underdog. I may have to work twice as hard but I am guessing that I will get 4 times the satisfaction when I finally end up reaching my destination.
Embrace the work, own it, and appreciate it and the progress it will bring. Your progress doesn’t have to look like other people’s progress and it shouldn’t. The smallest amount of progress is better than any excuse. And progress, in any amount, brings you closer to your goal.
Be comfortable with your “underdog status,” be excited about working twice as hard, and love the idea that, although your journey may not look glamorous, you press on regardless of the circumstances.
Hey friend, what makes you an underdog? What are the things “you’re not supposed to be” good at? What are the things that you’ve been told to leave to the pros?
What is that thing that keeps you awake at night and brings passion to your day? Maybe it’s your time to work twice as hard to get half as far. The beautiful thing about finding your passion is that the investment and the return don’t mean much compared to the willingness to move forward and work hard. It’s such a wonderful thing to know that there are underdogs like you and me all over the planet. Isn’t it a great feeling to be an ordinary person striving to do extraordinary things?
Until next time, eat plants and move your body, all ya gotta do is a little more than ya did yesterday.
Tim
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