Get Good At Stuff

In the fitness arena especially, I hear way too many people saying they don't want to try things because they're not that good at them. It could be any new venture- a sport, an exercise, or even talking to someone you have a crush on.

"It wouldn't work out anyway" or "I'm just no good at it" are the easy things to say.

Don't take the easy way out. If you really want to get good at something, how will you ever do it without trying?

The old saying, "You never know until you try" is true.

I also like this one, "It's okay if you strike out as long as you take a few swings first."


Here is my 2 step system for getting good at stuff, and the first step is the most important:
1. Try
2. Practice

Still didn't succeed? Then try my next system for getting good at stuff:
1. Try again
 2. Practice more
3. Repeat

...and so on, and so on....

You see? It's not even really "my system". It's just how life works.

How do you think people who are good at something got that way? With a few exceptions, people who are good at things probably weren't always good at them.

How about an example? Okay, let's say you want to be able to run a 5k (3.14 miles), but you've never ran before. I wouldn't be able to stand hearing "I'd love to be able to finish that distance, but I'm just no good at running."

This is not a reason not to be able to do it.

My advice is to start small. Don't overdo it your first time or it will be a complete turnoff to you. Run in little increments weekly, and work your way up. Walk when you have to. Give yourself time for preparation. Ask other runners how they started. Set weekly goals for yourself. The first week, try to run a quarter mile without stopping, a half mile the next week, and so on.

You can apply this to anything really, no matter what your goal is.

Don't be one of those people who don't try things because they're "not good at them". That's not living. Turn words into action. You will feel better because of it.

How do I know?

Because I used to be one of those people who said "I'd like to be able to do that, but I'm just not good at it", and I'm not anymore.