Mediocrity is you’re worst enemy. The comfort zone is your biggest rival. For years I would tell myself that I was in good enough shape, or that I had sufficient training already to handle whatever would get thrown my way. That line of thinking was a big mistake, and I am fortunate that it did not get a member of my crew or myself injured or killed. The truth is, if one isn’t moving forward and constantly improving, then regression is the only alternative. There is no room for excuses such as “I can’t do that” or “I’m not strong enough for this particular task”. You may not be able to do it but how can limits ever be found if they are not tested? Push forward. Get out of the comfort zone such as adding just a few more reps or weight to your workout. Get one more narrative typed up before you say that you’ve typed enough for the day. Whatever it may be, prove to yourself that your limit is just a little bit farther out (or maybe much farther) than you thought it was.

With that said, everyone has a specific limit of what they can and cannot do. So how much is simply too much? Search for indicators that you’re headed for your point of failure. In the fire service, one of the first things recruits are trained to do is feel the door for heat, if it is hot enough to injure through the glove, don’t open the door! Not all indicators are quite so obvious. Maybe you simply cannot dial in and handle that stack of forms on your desk. Don’t be afraid to unplug and rest. Just ensure that rest doesn’t allow you to fall into the trap of mediocrity and being average. You were born for better than that.

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