Stuck & Overwhelmed? Find Damn Good Sparring Partners

Sparring Partner (def): someone who helps a boxer practice : someone a boxer spars with for training

When you find yourself stagnant in life or business, it's time to find better sparring partners.

In boxing, when you're preparing for a big fight, you seek out the best sparring partners you can find. Professional fighters have to dip into their own pockets to pay their sparring partners, covering fees that include lodging and meals. Unfortunately, when it comes to business and investing in ourselves, too many people are comfortable playing it safe and don't want to put any skin in the game. They live their lives as if they're content with just competing, rather than striving to win.

Back when I was a sophomore at the United States Naval Academy, I made a commitment to become a national boxing champion in the 175-pound weight class.?

Even back then, I knew that to make this dream a reality, I couldn't do it alone. I persuaded my boxing coach, Jim McNally, to allow the boxing team to travel to New York City during spring break to train and spar at some of the best gyms in the country. After receiving approval from the Academy, my teammates and I from the Navy boxing team headed to NYC, where we spent a week sparring at gyms in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx.

To be frank, each and every one of us got our asses kicked. During one sparring session, I was dropped to the canvas by a left hook, immediately ending the session. It was my first time hitting the mat in the ring. The next time it happened was during the National Collegiate Boxing Association National Championships Finals in Reno, Nevada. My opponent, a six-foot-two boxer from the University of Nevada Reno, caught me with a similar left hook in the first round. This time, because I had experienced what it was like to be dropped during my sparring session in NYC, I wasn't fazed. Not only did I immediately get up off the canvas, but I also went on to win the fight and claim the first of three national titles.

Looking back, had I not sparred in NYC during that spring break, I'm not confident I would have won.? My sparring partners made me sharp, so when it was time to perform inside the ring, I was ready.

These days, my sparring partners look a bit different.I have a team of business coaches I meet with every Friday, and we conduct a coaches' round table called "Bull In the Ring (BITR)." When I'm not at BITR, I spar with pen and paper, podcasting, and engage with others in my mastermind groups. I also invest in coaching, take courses, and read an endless number of books.

You don't have to be just like me, but you do need your own set of sparring partners.?

Life is unforgiving, and it's too challenging to go it alone, especially while running a business. Start allocating funds to invest in yourself. Spend some time researching mastermind and peer groups that interest you and consider joining them.Allocate time each week for reading, writing, and contemplation. Open your laptop and start typing—get your thoughts out of your head and onto paper.

Begin investing in coaching, and don't be afraid to give it time. You can do it in three to six-month increments. Just because one coach isn't a good fit, don't give up on the entire profession.

If you’re feeling stuck, lets chats by clicking here:?

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Founder, Coach, USNA ‘10

I’m a professional acceleration coach helping business owners get unstuck, discover their zone of genius, and focus on what matters the most: a life rich in freedom, creativity, adventure, meaning, and purpose.