Sorting, Organizing and Progressing
Let's be honest - there's very little "new" material in the industry.
In fact, what I see time and again isn't necessarily new information. Instead, it's a better understanding or application of what we already know, or information that's already readily available.
Here's a great segment from Eric Cressey in a recent T-Nation article:
Well, some people just spend way too much time in Internet fantasy land to actually go out and train. They see what they read as everything they need to be successful, but in reality, it's just one piece of the puzzle.
Information can help you tremendously, but only if you're willing to work your ass off, too. So, take the experts' advice to heart, but also go beyond the Internet to find the environment that'll motivate you to bust your hump.
Find a good training program instead of spending countless hours trying to plan your own. Get a good training partner. Find a new gym. Get a little angry.
Even though Eric is talking about getting in the gym, his point is universally applicable. It's not always the fact that you need to learn more, or learn new stuff. A huge component of getting results either as a trainer or trainee is properly applying what you already know.
Maybe it's working harder in the gym.
Maybe it's better application of what you already know as a trainer.
And maybe it's getting off Twitter long enough to do anything.
What I really feel we'll see in the next 5 years of strength and conditioning/performance enhancement/personal training is a movement to sort what we already know, organize it into something more tangible/useful, and to develop progressions/regressions that will better allow us to utilize this information with any client.
Sure, we'll always be learning new stuff, and that's absolutely necessary. But don't get so caught up in "new" that you forget about properly applying the "old."
Stay strong
MR
Comments on This Entry
Posted by VinnyG at 08:16AM on June 23, 2009
Application and action is an individuals choice that needs internal permission. Independent bodies flip the switch regularly. Dependent bodies do much better flipping the switch with trainers and coaches that ask for the switch to be flipped.
Turning the switch means knowing the pathway to the switch ... That is the only challenge we have with our charges.
Posted by Jack at 09:40AM on June 23, 2009
Mike,
Do you have any tips for how a person can "break the cycle" once he's become prone to paralysis by analysis and constantly focusing on whether something is optimal by current standards?
I have started to display a tendency toward questioning my every move in the gym and over-thinking things. I'd like to change that but feel lost and almost unable to erase the mental doubt that's crept in of late.
Essentially I'm looking for a way to get back to the freedom in the gym and the training passion and intensity I had earlier in my training career.
Case in point: reading Coach Thibaudeau's forum on T-Nation . was a real eye opener in terms of how he refines programming over time and his definition of optimal is constantly changing. That clearly doesn't erase the effectiveness of all that came before it, but it has lead me to focus way too much on whether what I am doing i optimal rather than just taking sound principles and more basic programming and training the heck out of them.
A future post on tips to "clear the mind," so to speak would be greatly appreciated.
Posted by Chris at 11:17AM on June 23, 2009
This is a great post. I have never thought of the future turning out that way, but that conjecture seems certainly plausible.
Posted by Bob Parr at 01:39PM on June 23, 2009
Great post, Mike! One action I'm glad I undertook was getting out to meet you. I think the stuff I picked up in the two hours I spent with you and the IFAST crew was more valuable than my last six months worth of reading. (The only exception being the Safety Squat Bar Curl idea!) Just goes to show how much of an asset a good training environment can be, especially for breaking through that paralysis by analysis.
Thanks again for your hospitality.
-Bob (aka Peter)
Posted by Cole Ellis at 03:25PM on June 23, 2009
Hey Mike - great post. Sometimes over-analysis can cause paralysis, sorry for the "cheesy quote," but it's true. I train for Xterra triathlons and often become stagnant looking for the perfect training program and avoid taking the necessary steps. Even though I know what to do, we tend to be the hardest on ourselves when it comes to training programs. I recently had a pro-triathlete write me a program and it leaves me more free to do other things - like write this!
Side note, your bulletproof knees manual and dvd were great, helped clear up a few things. If there is anyway I can help you promote this or anything else in the future please let me know. I'm a sports chiro in San Diego and find your info extremely valuable.
Best,
Cole
Posted by Mike T Nelson at 06:15PM on June 26, 2009
Great reminder Mike!
EFFECTIVE and RESULTS are the goals, and that may mean a cutting edge neuroscience approach or it may just mean lift something heavy and put it down again---depends on what is needed. Constant improvement is key and the methods will vary.
Rock on!
Mike T Nelson PhD(c)
http://www.extremehumanperformance.com