Welcome along! Thanks to those of you who’ve been sharing the newsletter. As a result, our community has grown by a couple this week! As always, it’s a genuine honor to have you all choose to start your weeks with me. Let’s get into this week’s business!
I’m also introducing a new section this week because I believe most content is a highlight reel. We all know that isn’t the case so I’d like to introduce the Weekly Wobbles to discuss what didn’t go well.
Weekly Wins
Recently, I’ve started meeting with my strength and nutrition coach from my playing days in Malaysia. Not only has it been good to catch up, but he’s helping me with the plan to get my body back (and better). Elephant in the room: it’s odd having to ask someone else to help me work out and eat clean. Yet, it’s often necessary for growth.
We hit 115 degrees in the “Bend The Knee” chronicles! When I had the surgery, the surgeons were able to bend it to 120 degrees. Now that we’re approaching that limit, I’m very curious to see what happens next. What happens when you hit the ceiling of a room? Do I kick through the roof? We don’t know. Obviously, y’all will be the first to know next week!
Weekly Wobbles
Last weekend, I built out a schedule that I thought was “The One". It had my morning walk, LinkedIn engagement, posting schedule, and even time dedicated to using my Shortform subscription. “New month, new me!” Maaaan, did I fail miserably LOL. By Wednesday, I knew this wasn’t the right fit for me because I wasn’t excited about the routine that I built. So, in typical CE fashion, I started throwing more spaghetti. I’ve built another one that I feel a lot better about so it’s showtime… for real!
This week’s theme is acceptance. The first step in addiction recovery. The first step of a breakup. The first step of getting laid off. Acceptance is everywhere… no matter how hard we try to ignore the 8 foot shadow it casts.
The first time I really had to look acceptance in the face? When Duke never reached out with a college scholarship in high school. The second time was when my name wasn’t called in the 2014 NBA Draft. Most recently, when I was building furniture for my new apartment this week.
Of course, the last example isn’t nearly as devastating as the first two were. However, as I sat there on the floor surrounded by tools and assembly manuals, acceptance started peeking around the corner from another room.
I’m Chris and I kinda build things.
Now I’ve built things before, but to say I’m a pro would be a lie I’m not willing to tell this fine Sunday afternoon. For anyone who’s ever built anything from Target, IKEA, etc., you know it’s fairly straightforward and the necessary tools are usually in the box with everything else.
That was not the case here. I had the task of building a nightstand and a motorized standing desk (because apparently sitting is the new smoking). I chose to attack the nightstand first because the manual made it seem a lot easier than the desk. As I looked at the instructions, it said I would need two people to complete assembly…
Challenge accepted. It’s like when your mom says you’ll need to make two trips to get all the groceries out of the car. ABSOLUTELY NOT. I drove right past that yellow light every single time and basically started doing farmer’s carry exercises at an early age. I’m a strong, independent guy in his 30s that doesn’t need help putting together something as basic as a nightstand. Guess what? I was right… this time.
I know my setup looks like Wall-E, ok.
Next was the standing desk. A true behemoth of a task in both weight and time. But, fresh off my victory against the nightstand, I was prepared to knock this out in 30 minutes or less. Get this done and I could go on to the next item on the laundry list of move-in items.
It started out strong. Had all my parts, all my tools, and all my energy after a short halftime coffee break. As I built the frame, it was time to screw things in to secure them. Now, the box says you can use a drill or a screwdriver. Seeing as how I had just used a screwdriver for the nightstand, I’d just do the same.
Wrong.
Stubborn ass screws I tell ya!
As you can see, I got the four screws close to their final destination with the screwdriver. But like my college coach used to say, “Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” With my hands on fire from all the rotating, I was stuck. I had to accept that the same strong, independent man in his 30s from 37 minutes ago now needed help to get the job done.
Fortunately, “help” this time came in the form of a drill. I drove to the store, bought a drill, and then returned to complete the mission. Did I get derailed? Sure. Did it take more time than I wanted? Yep. Do I now have a safe standing desk to type this very newsletter on? Hell yea.
An “office” view I would dream about as a kid in Chicago.
The moral of the story here is simple. You may be strong, you may be smart, but you’re never above acceptance. Life will find ways to humble you no matter how high you think you’re flying.
By putting aside our egos, we’re able to ask for help when we need it to get the job done. So for this week’s homework, I challenge you to ask for help when you’re stuck in a process. It’s not as daunting as it sounds, I promise.
The best part? In the future, you can be the person returning the favor.
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