Work Harder. You're Not Done Yet.

I feel like I’m a fairly competitive person. It’s the Hero Archetype in me. While I’m not athletically gifted, not a Mensa candidate, and I haven’t stayed at a Holiday Inn Express (at least not enough to give me the confidence to pretend I’m something I’m not), I compete. I grit things out through effort, passion and a general interest to learn enough about something.

Several decades ago (yeah, I cringe when I say that), my friend Larry Main invited me to play “hoops” with some of the guys at work (@Cengage). He said, “It's a bunch of us from work, we play every Monday night out at this high school.”? I don’t know that he screened me well for this role - I’m guessing they needed a warm body. My shooting ability was akin to Michael Scott from The Office (Season 1).? I tried, ran a lot, shot horribly, learned from my friends (I think all of them had played some level of basketball - my experience was gym class, and H-O-R-S-E). We played together almost every week for something like 20 years, and they’re some of the best friends I’ll ever know. They taught me a lot about basketball and life. And from there, I saw I had more to learn. I figured out what I had to do. “Work Harder. You’re not done yet," I told myself. While I never became an elite scorer, I learned, improved defensively and was better than the day we started playing. Memories to last a lifetime.?

As I eventually outgrew that stage of my career, I moved into the HR landscape - joining a little staffing company (off of a phone screen I had with someone from a post-it note - that’s a fun story).? I didn’t know much about that industry, but I knew people. I had a small and caring team, a great boss (now lifelong friend, Beverly Deshaies Knapp ), and an environment which was open to teaching and helping me learn. I knew then I had a lot to pick up and learn. Yes, it was daunting and unfamiliar. Each day, I had to tell myself, “Work Harder. You’re not done yet.” Over the course of nearly 20 years in recruiting and HR service oriented business, I learned a lot from friends, colleagues, industry groups, bosses and clients.? I kept digging in - thirsting each day for how to do one or two things better or differently.

A handful of years ago, I came back from a family vacation. When we came back we scrolled through photos and I saw pictures of myself I didn’t like. Completely unhealthy, and the heaviest I’ve been in my life. It took me a while to come to terms with it.? I eventually was encouraged by my friend Molly Bush to come to Saturday workouts in the park with Angel. I joined her one lovely September morning. I felt like crap after, but knew there was a long game. I kept going back knowing that I had to Work Harder. I wasn’t done yet.? That little group lasted about 8 or 9 months til I found something more challenging. More friends, more hard work, more “not done yet” effort. I’m not saying I was superb at any of it (much like my hoops skills) - but each day I brought an ounce more of effort, humility, and desire to do more.

Here we are now, I just reached a new level. See, back in 2021, I joined a CrossFit gym - not actually knowing what CrossFit was (I thought it was like a metabolic/HIIT thing). OMG - it’s NOT that.? I knew enough that I had to put some time in to see if it was for me. I think I was client #2 or 3 or something, and most of my workouts were with one or two other people. Eventually that grew to 3 or 4 (truly awesome people). Every day, the people, other coaches, other people like me who were on their own fitness journey, encouraged, supported each other to do a little more, push a little harder than you thought you could (especially Kody). Even after you sucked out on a workout (WOD), you knew tomorrow was another day. The message? “Come back tomorrow. Work Harder. You’re Not Done Yet.” I took a course, passed a test, and earned a training designation so I could help members at my affiliate with techniques and lessons I learned from the people who supported me. I want to help THEM Work Harder. Because THEY’RE not done yet.

Why do I share this? Yeah - of course there’s a lesson people. C’mon now. Each of you have employees, colleagues, customers, bosses, brand ambassadors, etc. Each day, they all show up for work. Sometimes more engaged than others. All wanting to earn their paycheck and more. Employees (and managers) of today want to learn. They want to grow. They want to develop skills so they can contribute to their workplace culture and work product in meaningful ways. They want to know that they matter to the business.?

Those of you who are managers, business owners, directors, etc.? (yeah, I’m talkin’ to you) - set the tone. Whether you send them to class, or coach them, or guide them on work AND the skills they need for the job AFTER this one, they look to YOU. Your impact and drive to teach them what it is to build a career is entirely in YOUR court. What you do with the ball on your court, is up to you. You may have taught them a lot. And you may not feel like you have more to teach them but here’s my message,

Work Harder. You’re Not Done Yet.