Category: hustle

dare to be different, hustle

Gifts or Shadows?

2chicksandapen

What are your gifts or shadows? I took my Enneagram test to verify what I already knew, but also to see how I could play better in the sandbox with others I collaborate with on the daily. I have taken many tests that are similar in nature. Most come out and highlight my dominant gifts or shadows, but this tool allowed me to look a little deeper. It was a good time to test myself. See what the report revealed. Have I changed? What personality types could I clash with? How can I improve?

I am a few years older since my last test of this sort. I am in a different space personally and professionally. I collaborate with a mixed group of individuals now. Timing was good to take a deeper look at me. Below are a few fun facts.

I am an 8 not a 10. Shocker alert! Shoot, I always thought I was a 10 across the board! Just kidding, there are no 10s. I wonder if that is by design? What is an 8 you might wonder?

Number 8 represents The Challenger:

The Powerful, Dominating Type:

Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational

If you spend anytime around me in the workplace, in the gym, on the field or anywhere for that matter, you are sure to see the challenger in me. Heck, I even drive a fierce red Challenger on the daily. Talk about an irony. Guess I will keep that car since it mirrors my persona!

Next up in the rankings, the results show me as The Enthusiast:

The Busy, Variety-Seeking Type:

Spontaneous, Versatile, Distractible, and Scattered

For those who know me well, they often see me as a headlines girl. The one who looks for shiny objects in those long board meetings. The squirrely friend in the pack. I often enjoy chaos and note the scattered, smothered and covered hash browns you can order at Waffle House when painting a visual to others. #distractible

The next two types came in close so I will list them both below:

The Achiever:

The Success-Oriented, Efficient Type:

Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious

I am a driver, no joke there. Not too good at the passenger role but I play it from time to time to keep peace. I strive for success in every aspect of life and I note that a positive image is a must. I would say I ranked up high in the achiever category for good reasons.

The Loyalist:

The Committed, Security-Oriented Type:

Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious

I am disciplined and aim to keep humor in my life. I plan for rainy days and am always suspicious of other people’s motives. This is yet another trait that doesn’t surprise me.

I have the details printed, highlighted and cross-referenced to those I work with closely. I still have one individual to fine tune my traits with, yet that person has failed to complete their Enneagram test. It’s really doesn’t shock me. Some people find it difficult to self-evaluate. Looking in the mirror can be hard. Some don’t want to face the hard truth.

When one person challenges another to look in the mirror, the other can feel intimidated regardless of the real motivation. This is where perception and reality come into play. Your perception of me or my actions may not be the reality. Step out of your comfort zone today. Take an Enneagram Test. I don’t get paid to endorse this test, I just think it’s a good tool to review where you are and how you interact with others around you.

https://www.enneagraminstitute.com

It’s difficult to acknowledge you need to improve yourself but the reality is we all grow each day. Nobody is perfect. We never will be. We can only be the best version of ourselves and it takes time and energy to continue to develop that person. It really takes a lifetime.

At my ripe old age of 47, I can say I have grown by leaps and bounds. Some years the growth was slower than others, but when I recognize the opportunity to grow, I never hesitate. I seize the opportunity and go for it. Challenge yourself today in honor of my car (the red Challenger) and my Type 8, The Challenger. Remember nothing ventured, nothing gained. Will you grow a little today?

fitness and nutrition, hustle

My Why or Why Not

2chicksandapen

I was asked for my favorite CrossFit quote today and boy did that set my mind on an infinite loop for words.

Why is that such a hard quote to put on paper? Because my CrossFit story has a beginning or an initial launch, but really I relaunch or a reset happens each day at CrossFit thanks to the constantly varied programming. Also, what I think is somewhat in the middle of my CrossFit journey is still really undefined since I have no end date in mind. Why no ending? Simply stated, I want to do CrossFit for as long as my body will allow and I hope that means into my 80’s. All of the above translates into the fact that my quotes can change daily, weekly, etc. based on where I am in my CrossFit story. Also, did you catch me on a high success day or an I need to work harder day when the quote question was asked?

Well, today this was my answer:

Snatchy, sweaty and sometimes sassy is part my CrossFit story. I love everything about CrossFit and how my story continues to evolve.

There are many highs, lows and everything in between when I reflect on my CrossFit journey, all of which has made me stronger, leaner and wiser.

I have thick and thunderous thighs. Some will say CrossFit makes you bulk up. Why do you do that?

I have strong shoulders, arms and back. Does that mean I’m not feminine? 

Nope. My gait, my confidence, my aura reflects how I start my day. I start my day grinding with a diverse group of insanely competitive, motivational and overall badass-type people at CrossFit. Together we sweat. Together we push to limits beyond initial reach. Together we document our stories. Collectively different stories but each story packs a punch. Living a great story is part of my love for CrossFit.

Each new day brings new adventures, challenges, and friends. Embrace today. Build for tomorrow. Say goodbye to the past by leaving any negative vibes in the rear view. Live like today is your last day on Earth. Make that difference in you.

Hard work requires dedication. Dedication requires time commitment. Time commitment requires prioritizing. Prioritizing means investing in you. You make the difference you want to see. Only you!

No matter what doubt others may cast on you, they have no direct impact on creating change in you. Motivation to prove others wrong? Maybe, but the reality is the power is all in your hands. You can choose to harness the power however you want to.

Remember the mind is a powerful tool. Your should only focus your mind on what matters. Don’t get hung up on what matters to others. #goalgettermindset

hustle, perspective

The Chase Begins With You!

2chicksandapen

When you are an influencer who shares, you’ll always have people following you. Whether they say it out loud or not, they are watching. Some will imitate you, some will sit in judgment of what they know so little about. Some will want to be you or with you, in your circle. Some will admire, emulate, and learn. Some just won’t get it.

This happens daily to many but most won’t talk about it. Haters are always around. Kindness is also in front of you. Some choose by default. Others choose because they are uncertain about themselves. No matter where one fits on the spectrum, one just needs to focus on themselves. Treat others the way you would want to be treated. Laugh. Smile. Be genuine when you can. Those who fake it normally show their ugliness in one way or another. Be proud of who you are and what you bring to this world. Just you.

When you engage with your audience, your circle, your friends, your network, your acquaintances, sometimes you’ll be teaching, explaining. Sometimes just laughing, engaging. But within all that noise and engagement, you also have to have someone to chase.

Find someone better than you, in whatever field you are striving in. Business, fitness, social media, even close relationships or friendships. Who do you admire? Who has better skills? Who can you strive to be like?

Don’t mistake a chase for a competition. It’s just the chase. Chase the better version of you not another. You can only compete with yourself in this scenario. In a 50-yard dash you can race to win, but in life you need to focus on developing you and the world only gets one you. It’s up to you to define what you look like today, tomorrow and the next day. The physical you is just one piece of the puzzle.

It could be lunges or toes-to-bar at the gym. It could be the way a person writes or talks to their clients. It could be how a person styles their outfit or cooks in the kitchen. Find that person and chase them. Let them urge you on to a better version of yourself.

You may not even have to tell them. In some cases, it may not even be someone you know that well. In great cases, they might serve as a partner or mentor for you. But, you could also watch from afar and learn and strive that way.

If you are a shining light, you impact others just by being you and pushing forward on your path. Look in the mirror and find your light. Share the light with the world and see what happens.

I dare you to be different. Stand out. You have just one life to live, make it one to remember.

#1095Days #choosedaily #2chx

dare to be different, hustle

You Can Be Part of My Story…

2chicksandapen

Read on to see what it requires to be part of my story…

19.4 is white heavy check mark off in the history books for this girl. I thought this was a one-and-done workout for me, but here it is Monday and this whimsical girl decided to give it another go. I may be crazy but I did it. I knew I wouldn’t die, but I could improve my performance. 

Burpees are not my favorite so I said I’ll take my best effort on the first attempt and not redo it on Friday. Then I got to reflecting on my inner battle with self-improvement and said I should redo it Sunday. I was lazy Sunday so it didn’t happen. I had travel for work Monday so that wasn’t an option for redoing the workout. I felt unsettled about my effort and performance to an extent.

I had some time to think on my road trip. Just me and some tunes in the car. Jammin’ to a classic song playlist. Funny how music can be therapeutic. My mind was settled. I got creative. It was in that moment of clarity that the rippling effect hit me. Just like that, I rewinded the week. What a week. So much inspiration. A snapshot of highlights in my mind. So many stories to share. Where do I begin?

Then a fluke event happened and my travel plans were interrupted. I had time to make it to the gym Monday night. Fate would have me WOD 19.4 again after many hours crammed up in a car, sedentary. I basically blinked and opportunity knocked. I had to seize the moment. Unplanned events make for the best memories.

Before I break down my workout, I need to explain my version of the rippling effect. You see, people often tell me I inspire them. Whether it be through my physical actions or through my words in books or this blog. That just gets me in the gut. It fuels my soul. It inspires me to keep on going and broaden my reach. My desire to share more and impact many more. The puzzle piece Screen Shot 2019-03-19 at 7.08.12 AM of life.

With that being said, I have many people in my life who inspire me. I can’t name them all here but those reading this may know who they are, even if they remain nameless. One person person can inspire another which causes a rippling effect. I inspire to desire better for me and others. Once one person sees how they can inspire another, the benefits are magnified and the rippling begins. One by one.

This week I saw a photo that captivated many. A gym photo shot by the talented Milagros. That photo showed fatigue, grit and passion all rolled into one small photo. That photo reached far and wide and had a rippling effect. This photographer is amazing and she has caught me in action plenty of times already with many more to come. Her storytelling is through pictures and those pictures inspire others to see their value from a lens they don’t normally have the opportunity to view. #inspiring

Due to my schedule mishap, I wasn’t at my regular class time on Monday and I got the pleasure of meeting Jeremy.  Jeremy is one cool dude but full of inspiration. He works out with a modified workout each week, but it was amazing to watch. I didn’t plan to watch him. It just happened as I recovered from my death WOD. Jumping rope stationary with bands. Rowing elevated. Dumbbells used strategically. This week’s unplanned event allowed me to meet a new face and a new inspiration. I hope to share more about Jeremy in the future if and when our schedules align again. Jeremy was the cherry on top this week for my rippling effect. #unplannedimpact

Another post from an influencer online took me on a walk down memory lane. How two people can be so different on the surface yet harness the same inner strength. It was a vision that was hidden in plain sight.  You almost had to step back to see it. The take away from that post was “Never judge a book by its cover.” We all do that at some point but beauty is within and sometimes you have to look beyond to see what’s hidden in plain sight. Dig deeper inside to see the true story (this includes people). We all have the power to influence and inspire one another directly and indirectly.

Another gal pal at my gym pushed me when I didn’t think I had any push left in me. That person didn’t even have a clue they were inspiring me. That person is nameless for the purposes of this blog because it signifies more than one gal pal throughout the week. But then again, it’s not just gal pals. It’s the dudes. The big muscle dudes that have abs and then more abs. They inspire me to be the best version of me. They don’t see me as a 47- year-old mom tossing the bar weight around like a chicken with her head cut off. They see me as an athlete looking to get to the next level. Just working hard each day to get better. High fives, fist bumps, kudos, smiles, etc. all go a long way. Fostering community is free. Being nice is free. Inspiring others is free. Yet in today’s world some people miss those free opportunities.

Last but not least, I have kids. Three to be exact. Each of them special in their own way. They each inspire me and my desires more than they will ever know or understand. Their perseverance through tough times, injuries and heartache show me hope and wisdom. I recycle the hope and wisdom and share it with others in meaningful ways. Another form of the rippling effect. #lifelessons

All of the inspiration and perseverance this week led me to desire better or more of myself. Time was on my side and a window of opportunity arose for another crack at 19.4. Would I do better? Could I do better? Should I even chance it? Absolutely!

I started out warming up my SNATCH. For those of you who don’t CrossFit, it’s a real thing. From there I went to figuring out my burpee options for getting over the bar without falling on my face. I consulted and practiced with a few people for variations. I still had to figure out what would work for this 47-year-old that had 185 pounds to move over that bar after a burpee. The rest of the time I figured I would stare at the bar and pretend I could do a bar muscle up. I didn’t stare at it actually. I pulled up and failed a few times but my arms and shoulders were toast anyway. #muscleupgoals

That’s it folks, nothing exciting to report this week for this girl. I got inspired. I put in work. I exercised my patience muscles. I made new friends. I didn’t die, but I completed the 19.4 WOD Rx not once, but twice. I know I do much more each week than many my age and I share these stories online.  My actions of sharing my story may help one person see their inner beauty and inspire a desire to be their best.

On the flip side, I am super proud that this year I have hit the Rx button for 3 of the past 4 workouts and for the one that I scaled I actually completed it before the time cap. I couldn’t be more happier with my results and as of now I am in the top 20% of my age group which isn’t too shabby for this girl. The OPEN for me is a health check. No different than the fat truck test I do each year. It’s a personal measurement of me, myself and I.  See my progress pic from the past three OPENS. It shows hard work does pay off in time.

As I reflect on the OPEN this year I get to look back at how far I have personally come in the past year with regard to endurance, skills and strength. At the same time I get to see how much further I can go and what I need to do myself to level up. This is my OPEN story and it matters to me. One more OPEN post for you next week.

bar muscle-ups
strict handstand push-ups
toes-to-bar
pull-ups

Those are just a few of the skills I am diligently working to master. I am not perfect by any means. I have to work at things to master them. It may take a year or it may take several weeks to learn these skills. I will be chipping away at these and will work on my weaknesses in time. Wish me luck with the final OPEN WOD. Will I be able to Rx it? Will I be able to stay in the top 20%? Will I stay injury free?

Be part of my book: until my next post I challenge you to inspire just one person. Capture the moment and share your story. Most people have social media. Tag 2 Chicks and a Pen (#2CHX) in your post. Your inspiration story might just make my #1095Days project. Submit your story today. You may become part of my upcoming book. I dare you to be different. Post online your inspiration to desire. #1095Days

I guess you will have to stay tuned for my final open post to see how I fare. Working on my top 20% goal.

hustle

Round 2 it is…

2chicksandapen

 

 

Well, I made it 1/2 way through the OPEN! I am still breathing, but I definitely feel some aches this week!

Week three I got to hit the RX button again. How exciting that is for me. A step up of sorts or maybe more like 50 box step-ups weighted with 35 pounds after a grueling 200 feet of single arm weighted overhead lunges. Can you feel the burn in your buttocks as you read this? Could you imagine dropping a 35-pound dumbbell on your head at 6:30am? I almost did that when my weaker left arm said one more rep was one too many!

It was a cold Friday morning when I made my first attempt at the 19.3 workout. I had a goal to make it to the third movement noted as the wall for strict handstand push-ups. I fell 3 reps short and didn’t make the wall. Do I do it again?

Of course! Round 2 it is for this girl. The OPEN is about pushing yourself. Testing your limits. If I didn’t make a second attempt I would just be settling. It may only be 3 extra reps but that’s 3 extra moves to my finish line. My finish line matters to me. Now there is a bit of an irony with the wall. I have never completed a strict handstand push-up therefore I may never get one rep on I the wall but I have to try.

I want to make it to the wall for handstand push-ups. I don’t want to hit a virtual wall in my mind. The only way to avoid the virtual wall is to saddle up and get after round 2.

Fast forward to Sunday. The box vibe is different. My muscles are still achy to an extent. My mind is pre-occupied with parenting things but sometimes a hard workout is just the thing for me to balance my life’s craziness. Off I go….

My legs were tight as I stretched for sure. I was super anxious. I had to run to the girls room like three times before I started. Maybe my weight belt was squeezing the nerves out of me!

The countdown begins and the pain starts with the first lift up. My core was a lot more wobbly on my lunges and I had to compensate with my dominant arm for more lunges fatiguing me differently than round one. I made it to the box. And boy did those step-ups suck on round 2. 10-20-25….1/2 way there says Damian. Don’t put that weight down. Keep stepping. Breathe. Push. Am I there yet? I said to myself. Nope!

Those steps seemed like they would never end. I hear Tasha say “10 more Tink Tink” and I literally forced my way through those last few. 9 minutes 18 seconds. On to the wall! I made it to the wall.

I can’t breathe, let alone kick up to a handstand. Okay I get up. And bend my arms to decline but not far enough. I’m gassed. One more attempt. I didn’t get one handstand push-up but I gave a valiant effort. On a positive note, at least I didn’t land on my head.

The picture below shows me hovering at the wall post wod. 19.3 didn’t kill me but my second attempt let me get to the wall. Crossfit definitely feeds my appetite to become stronger physically and mentally.

Until next post people, stay happy and healthy.