Why You Should "Empty the Tank"
Bryce Kenny
Keynote Speaker | Professional Monster Jam Driver | Author "Geared for Life" | Maximizing Team Engagement Corporate Consultant | Shift your Team into High Gear
Only 21% of Americans today think their children can do better than them if they work hard - and that's down from 64% in 1998. Why the pessimism?
I believe that everyone as worked hard at some point in their lives. But the older I get, the more people I meet that seem to have developed an aversion to hard work... although I don't believe it's a question of mere laziness.
I believe they simply never learned how to fill themselves back up after pouring themselves out... and you can't pour out from an empty glass.
"I don't know that I can run at that level again" -Anyone with a pulse at some point in life
Maybe you're completely drained. Perhaps you just finished a brutal project at work, are raising young kids, or are caring for an elderly family member. It's easy to run out of gas in seasons like that. You have just enough energy to survive, and you wonder how long you can keep going at this exhausting pace.
I completely understand. As a Monster Jam truck driver constantly pushing equipment to its limits, I regularly find myself and my crew in do-or-die scenarios where we must dig deep to finish the job. We call it “the thrash” - exerting absolutely everything within us during those critical moments to problem-solve and overcome.
Here are a few principles from the racing world that help spark a thrash-like mentality when I feel my personal tank is on empty in everyday life:
1. Know where you'll refuel. Identify ahead of time what refuels you - relationships, hobbies, rest, podcasts, music, etc. When you know where your pit stop will be in the race, you're more willing to empty the tank.
2. Adopt a "one more lap" mindset. When you’re wiped out halfway through a soul-sucking project and want to wave the white flag, tell yourself you’ll keep going just one more lap. String enough extra laps together and you’ll cross the finish line.
3. Focus on finishing rather than winning. At a certain level of exhaustion, forget trying to win whatever race you’re in against opponents or deadlines. Simply focus your remaining energy on finishing - one email, one meeting, one load of laundry at a time.
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We all have greater capacity than we think to deliver when it counts most. When you feel like you can’t possibly give anything else of yourself, try shifting to a higher gear of determined effort. Surprising things happen when we choose to dig deeper and THRASH.
What’s one area of life right now where you need to empty your tank to the finish line? How can these racing mentality principles help spark your effort? Let me know in the comments!
Ready to find your NEXT gear? Get a copy of Bryce Kenny 's new book "Geared for Life; Making the Shift Into Your Full Potential" anywhere books are sold, including the audio version on Audible!