tarynrom

25: The Year of Growth

Thu, 09 May 2013 10:08:39 -0600

Birthdays often present an opportunity to look back and reminisce on what the past year (or years) have turned out like. Upon rowing my active recovery row this morning, I decided to use that time to reflect on the past year - afterall, it has been a crazy year, and I’ve encountered the most growth in a year as an individual than I ever have before.

Some growth highlights from 2012 that stand out among the rest:

Finishing 14th at the 2012 Canada West CrossFit Games Regionals, when I had zero expectations. Further fuelling my fire for this year to fully explore my capabilities.
Landing sponsorship from Real Xtreme RX, a stellar clothing company out of British Columbia, that would develop into a great business relationship as well.
CrossFit FUNCTION - the apple of my eye. Buying out my business partner and overtaking the company. Building my brand, and continuing to build my business to grow more in the past four months than it did in two years. Strengthening the family bond within the black & yellow walls. Adding more employees. More equipment. Expansion. All things that didn’t seem like reality until I listened to my heart.

These highlights are things I replay in my head to reassure myself I’ve chosen the right path. That I’m not a kid anymore, and I’m capable of being only twenty-four (soon twenty-five) and owning a successful business.

And on that note, it also came to me that I’ve learned a lot, and I can group these into a list of twenty-five important ones.

<1. Listen to your heart.> First and foremost. Everyone always says do what you think is right. But what may be right, in the moment, may not always last. If you listen to your heart, it’s more likely to be something you’re passionate about, and something you will devote everything you have and are to.

<2. Trust, but don’t trust easy.> A lot of people around you are there to help you. And while it’s great to utilize them when you need help, their interests may not always coincide with your best interests. This is just reality, and sometimes it takes a huge dose of reality for one to learn this concept.

<3. Don’t try and do it all yourself.> Something I still struggle with as an entrepreneur, but I’m learning to let go of control more and more everyday.

<4. Jump.> When others hold you back thinking you’re about to make a wrong decision, jump anyways. There’s a reason they are where they are, and you’re going where you’re going.

<5. Question.> And if it ends up being the wrong decision, ask questions. Find the lesson that’s being presented and change your path appropriately. Nobody ever got anywhere by playing it safe.

<6. Give.> Don’t be scared to put yourself out there. You may just change someone’s life, and that’s something you won’t ever forget.

<7. Go back to your roots.> While I never had a close relationship with my dad as I grew up, our relationship has gotten closer in recent years simply because I’ve allowed him to help me more than I ever used to before. As a teenager, we always think our parents are out to get us. But we know that’s not the case. Let them in. Don’t shut them out. Little did I know, my dad just wanted to be involved in my life.

<8. Coffee.> Find yourself some real coffee. Finding myself real coffee (and a love for it) has welcomed new relationships into my life and developed long lasting friendships. It’s brought me invaluable business advice that brought on major decisions I made this year. And all of this started with a simple cup of real coffee.

<9. Fear.> Fear is never a good enough reason not to do something. Period.

<10. Be uncomfortable.> Growth doesn’t happen unless you’re put in a position where you’re uncomfortable.

<11. Take the opportunity.> When you see a window open up for change, take it. We aren’t aware of what the time period will be before another window of opportunity is presented, and the worst thing to do is live with regret. Whatever that window of opportunity may be for you, take it. Jump.

<12. Read a book.> Reading isn’t at the top of my interests lists, but my goal to always keep learning, is. It’s easy to get caught up in the age of the internet and rapidly updating social media, but some of the best things you can learn were written on pages in hardcover books long ago. I know: hard to believe.

<13. Get away.> Routines are great, but what goes along with being uncomfortable, is stepping outside of your routine. I find myself in this loop a lot, until piling stress forces me to stop what I’m doing and retreat. Avoid that step, and make it part of your routine to shut down early one day.

<14. Have a hobby.> (Re)Learning to play guitar was one of the best things I ever did. Spending the majority of my days at the gym, and coming home to only eat and sleep gets redundant (and often leading to resent), and I often need a reminder that I’m a regular human being too. Do something you enjoy outside of home and work, whatever that may be.

<15. Invest.> Throw some money and some effort into something that will give back to you. I like to invest in a friendship in California. Although it costs a lot of money to see my best friend in San Diego, the first hug in the airport upon arrival makes every penny worth it.

<16. Great things are often where you least expect them.> Who knew that two of the most important relationships in my life would be formed through Twitter?

<17. Be aggressive.> Don’t be scared of conflict, and don’t be scared to speak your mind if it means the difference between waking up resentful, or grateful each morning.

<18. Pick your battles.> In that same breath, choose your opportunities wisely. It’s easy to lose your footing and react in the moment. Pick your battle; have a plan.

<19. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals.> This goes without saying, but I am so grateful for my CrossFit FUNCTION Family. I wouldn’t have half the success I do if it wasn’t for them.

<20. Have a support system.> Along with those like-minded individuals, surround yourself with people who will only lift you higher. Enablers. Nobody has time for those with insecurities who try to pull you down.

<21. Throw your exit plan out the window.> When deciding to start my business, I was always told to have an exit plan - a “what if” plan when things didn’t go as they were planned. Exit plans allow you to acknowledge there’s a way out. If you do something out of passion, you’ll never need an exit plan. There is no exit when this is the only thing you know.

<22. Learn to cook.> We live in a high-paced society, where it’s easy to get caught up in what we’re doing and turn to eating out frequently. Not only is eating at home a better and healthier alternative, it’s my opportunity to relax. This year I developed a love for the Food Network, and developed my cooking skills. Learning to use a knife properly, and learning to use the BBQ were two of the best skills I learned this year.

<23. No regrets.> Wrong decisions always have lessons to be learned. Find your positive in the situation, and learn from your mistake. But don’t ever regret your initial decision. From it, you grew.

<24. Find someone who believes in you.> It’s easy to beat yourself up when times get tough. We doubt ourselves every step of the way, and it’s important to have someone to fall back on to. Every sturdy building begins with a pillar of some sort. Find your pillar.

<25. Know your “WHY”.> Have a “why”, first and foremost. Have a reason for doing whatever you are doing. A purpose. Because when things get tough - and they will - you need a reason to draw back on to remind yourself why you are where you are, and why you’re doing what you’re doing. Intrinsic motivation is a powerful tool.

So there you have it. Lessons I live by. People always say to me I have a mind much wiser than twenty-four, but I beg to differ. I just always have my eyes, ears, and mind open.

“Immaturity.” A constant reminder of the athlete I...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 10:51:41 -0600

“Immaturity.”

A constant reminder of the athlete I used to be: bent over, defeated, broken, and no purpose.

A constant confirmation of the path I am on, and the struggles I endure.

"There are certain kinds of people that are purely driven. I can tell who they are simply by looking..."

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 16:17:27 -0600

“There are certain kinds of people that are purely driven. I can tell who they are simply by looking at them. I have faced so much criticism for my drive that at times it has alienated me from the majority: the people who are comfortable with second place, the people who hate against me because I am not. You know these kinds of people; they are the ones who fear winning, the jealous ones who envy and try to sabotage. They are the people who have been telling me I couldn’t win all my life. Many times my drive to succeed has put me on an island all by myself because no one understood me, or they chose to misunderstand me. They chose to portray me as being something that I was not. I have learned that it is OK for me to be me, and what being me entails. It means that I will not rest; I will not sleep, relax, relent or be satisfied until my goals have been met, the challenges answered and my doubters silenced. I will not give in to my foes; I won’t let down my teammates. I won’t stop inspiring those who look up to me or stop giving motivation to those who motivate me. I will not back off until I’m back on top, back in the place where they say I could never be again.”

- Kobe Bryant

believe | achieve I’ve had these words tattooed on my...

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:57:09 -0600

believe | achieve

I’ve had these words tattooed on my wrists for three years now. It started out as a way to motivate myself - knowing that if I believe in myself, I will achieve the things I want. They’ve always been there; carefully placed so I always see them. A constant reminder that I am worth it.

I’ve never really been tested like I was these past five weeks.It’s something that I’ve taken for granted, without realizing it. After Regionals finished last year, I set my mind on “I want to finish in the top 10 after the Open,” but it was more a hope than it felt a tangible goal. Or at least how I recognized it at that moment when the words escaped my mind.

Fast forward through the 2013 Open, and I finished in 8th place in Canada West, achieving my “hope goal.” It took 13.1 for me to realize (and understand) that this was more than just a “hope”. That if I truly believed in myself, top 10 would be achievable.

What matters more to me is not what the final outcome numbers say, or where my name lies on the leaderboard (although, it is nice to see it where it is). What matters more to me is the lessons that I learned; that even four years into this, I still can feel like a naive and inexperienced athlete sometimes.

I learned what a true 100% capacity feels like - going out there and just throwing your heart on the floor for everybody to see. I learned that in failure there is always a lesson, but you need to choose to accept it and learn from it. I learned how to deal with failure in front of all of my clients - something I will admit that I feared the most. I learned about grace, and what makes second chances worthy.

And most importantly, I saw what it really means to believe in myself. That I’m capable of this just as they are; that I deserve to play too.

believe | achieve has always just been my “thing”. The biggest realization over the past five weeks was understanding that I finally put meaning to something that became apparent was just a concept.

And that’s what I love about what we do: growth. Not just as an athlete, in this moment, with this particular event; but as an individual. The barbell really does teach you a thing or two about yourself. You just have to let it.

“This my dear, is called GRACE!”

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world..."

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 09:41:59 -0600

““Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.””

- Muhammad Ali

(via myignition)

"Revisit your why…. and reconnect with the pleasure of desire and let go of the expectation of..."

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:26:44 -0600

“Revisit your why…. and reconnect with the pleasure of desire and let go of the expectation of a certain outcome. Using failure as fertilizer, get up with a smile after the teacher has knocked you down, bow with gratitude for the reminder and the lesson, and take another step…This my dear is called GRACE!”

“Have you ever thought that maybe the pressure you put upon yourself is a block for you to...

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:18:15 -0600

“Have you ever thought that maybe the pressure you put upon yourself is a block for you to perform the way you actually can? .. You write these words like “trust” and “believe” to motivate yourself, but do you actually trust yourself to do what we all know you can do? .. You need to let go. You need to stop thinking about where you want to go and just (fucking) go there. Stop thinking you have to be the best, and just go out there and kick ass, and you know what, you will be the best. You’re holding on to some mental baggage that you need to lose, these workouts don’t define you Taryn, what you do in life defines you, and you’re completely superior at that.”

Just needed to find a positive in a negative.

A little inspiration to keep with me always. #StayStrong

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 20:47:37 -0600

A little inspiration to keep with me always.

#StayStrong

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points...

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:37:31 -0600

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Constant reminder that it comes from within.

Tue, 02 Apr 2013 21:07:32 -0600

Constant reminder that it comes from within.

Perspective is everything. I remember 185# back squats being a...

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 10:41:43 -0600

Perspective is everything. I remember 185# back squats being a total mind block for me; failing every single time at that number. This week I PR’ed with 4x230# right after 13.3. I remember not long ago a 125# snatch being something that seemed so distant. 150# this week over my head.

See the hurdle in front of you - jump it. Look ahead at the next hurdle. Jump it too. Don’t. Stop. Attacking.

These hurdles will continue to come at you; they’re infinite. You won’t get stopped in your tracks unless you choose to.

And I choose not to. Put it out in front of me, and you’ll have to hold me back. I’ve got that will; that desire. I want it more than you do.

believe. achieve.

believe|achieve

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 11:12:00 -0600

That’s the difference one year makes. TRUST - the word written under my rings last year during 12.4. TRUST - meaning, I didn’t trust myself to get up over the rings. Achieving those muscle-ups were only something I half believed in. Last year I finished with four muscle-ups, and seven attempts.

This year as 13.3 was released, I knew it was going to be different. I was frothing at the mouth to get after this one as soon as it was released.

And so it was. The words written under my rings for 13.3.

There’s a lot of progress to be seen in these pictures. Not only on what will show on the leaderboard between the two years, but the biggest improvement has been between my ears.

This year the word trust wasn’t even in my mind. Trust was not an issue this year - I was getting up on those rings. I was on a warpath, fuelled by my “why.”

Every moment of struggle is worth it. Remember that. And the...

Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:23:03 -0600

Every moment of struggle is worth it.

Remember that.

And the next five weeks are going to be a measure of that. No better time to prove it to myself than now.

"You need to lose a few times, need to lick your wounds and taste your own blood, need to sit in..."

Fri, 08 Feb 2013 08:10:42 -0600

““You need to lose a few times, need to lick your wounds and taste your own blood, need to sit in silence in the locker room of another lost season wondering what went wrong, and then you need to say, ‘Never again, not ever. I am not letting this happen again.””

- -ESPN’s Bill Simmons, which described the killer instinct elite NBA stars need to truly be great.

"You know the chessboard? The board is made of wood, and the pawns are made of wood, yes. They are..."

Fri, 18 Jan 2013 08:11:11 -0600

“You know the chessboard? The board is made of wood, and the pawns are made of wood, yes. They are nothing but chips of the same block. But when they are carved into king and queen and bishop and pawn, and put on the board, they seem to come to life. The Queen wants to go everywhere. Queens have the right to go everywhere huh? Even the king has restrictions. In any case, as long as they are on the board, they follow the rules; they have certain names, certain forms, certain duties, certain rights. However, when the game is over, you put them all in a box. Would the queen refuse to rub against the bishop there? No, because there is no queen, and no bishop, they are all chips of the same block. Likewise, we play our part, whatever is given to us, as long as we are on the chessboard of the world, until we are put in the box. And in that box, we don’t complain, “Who is next to me?””

- Swami Satchinanada

"As I patiently wait in the shadows, I see my competition offering deals and discounts of a fading..."

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 20:59:00 -0600

“

As I patiently wait in the shadows, I see my competition offering deals and discounts of a fading service.

A sub standard program, in a sub standard facility; a covalent bonding of disparate individuals with a singular focus with no focus.

Professionals never sell or get sold short of the mark they deserve to appease the ebb and flow of an attention shallow market.

The market will ebb and flow and come and go but constance and greatness will always stand quietly.

Waiting and planning, preparing itself and improving itself for the providing of value to an already admired and excellent service.

This is the mark of professional marksmanship. This is the mark of excellence.

”

- Eric Pelletier, CrossFit Overcome

You can deal with almost any “what”, when you have...

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 08:50:05 -0600

You can deal with almost any “what”, when you have a more compelling “why”.

One of my clients at FUNCTION asked me last night, “How do you stay motivated?” It’s no doubt a feeling that we all experience at some point or another. And with no doubt, there are early mornings where I’d rather turn over in bed, than bear the cold and trudge to the gym.

When the times get tough, I just think of my “WHY”: Only completing 7 muscle-ups in the last workout of the 2012 Regionals. Failing rep after rep. How that moment made me feel. The disappointment in myself that resonated through me; the pressure to perform in front of my Coach, the pressure I put on myself to keep up with everyone else around me.

In that moment, I knew I wanted to come back next year with nothing able to keep me at the back of the pack.

That’s my “WHY”. That moment. Those feelings. How vivid it all is when I look at pictures like this. That’s what flashes through me when I feel I can’t pick up the bar, or row a little harder, or do just one more round.

What’s your “WHY”?

“All I knew is that I never wanted to be average.”...

Tue, 11 Dec 2012 20:51:40 -0600

“All I knew is that I never wanted to be average.” - Michael Jordan

"You can deal with almost any “what”, when you have a deeper more compelling “why”."

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 07:50:25 -0600

“You can deal with almost any “what”, when you have a deeper more compelling “why”.”

- TH

Versus

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 07:49:04 -0600

Versus:

So jacked up.