It’s another Tuesday where I “get” to write you again! There’s nothing like be able to engage in the things that bring your passion, joy and interests together! Last week we lamented ‘starting again’, rarely if ever does one have momentum from the beginning. It is rather something that builds as you build. Like the bicycle analogy, at first when you get going that little bit of momentum propels you forward; that is until you crash. If you pick yourself back up and go again you begin to realize, that the scary speed of momentum is actually your friend. It is good for you and you need it to succeed. Once you grasp the least bit of the dynamics of balance you realize you can direct a whole lot of the power of momentum. I believe so it goes with life.
In my time here on this planet I have observed so many of us that get going on that bike and crash what seems like every time they try to go somewhere. For some this becomes normal and they crash regularly for the rest of their lives. Every time they get something decent they ruin it or waste it. Others who crash regularly at the beginning just give up and walk everywhere. The momentum of the bike is not worth getting beyond the crash phase, even though they can see others whizzing around ‘killing it’ in life. They come up with excused why they are not doing it. I don’t want to make today’s rambling about choices, but please go off and consider the choices you make everyday that limit, ruin, waste or stop your momentum. Make new ones, you’ve got it in you and there are people out there who believe in you! I’m one of them.
This is about momentum, realizing it, understanding it and using it. It is a pretty big deal. Most people don’t realize what it takes to get something started or for that matter keep it going. Being a ‘car guy’, I’m going to use this analogy as metaphor and vice versa. Perhaps you’ve noticed those large trucks barreling down the highway next to you as you pass them by. I know some of you are oblivious to everything except where you’re going but for those who have taken note, did you notice that when they start out you can run walk faster than it moves in first gear? Have you noticed how when you come to a hill that they slow down tremendously given the incline of that hill? What most of you probably don’t know is that those truck engines have about three time the power of an average car. On the other hand they move approximately twenty time the weight! The one principal that makes these ratios work is momentum. An object set in motion tends to stay in motion, thank Mr Newton! It’s not really important to understand engine, gearing of transmissions or the like to understand the principal of motion in your life and how to gain more of it. Look around if another is doing it or has done it you can too!
Back to the truck. If that truck was allowed to reach a speed of say one hundred miles per hour it would produce enough momentum to make it’s way much farther up that hill before it slowed down to the “crawl” speeds with which we are familiar. It takes a lot less energy to get that truck from seventy mph to one hundred mph than it does to “crawl” the distance differential of the two speeds. Meaning getting to one hundred to climb a hill is better than staying at seventy. Why don’t we do things that way? We should every chance we get! What’s the problem? In some cases like the truck example it would be those who like to control everything applying their might to keep themselves ‘safe’ (an argument for another day). Suffice it to say: government regulations or over reach. Another limitation is the environments in which we find ourselves. On a curvy road through the mountains is not the place to take eighty thousand pounds into pell mell lest we want to crash the whole enchilada. Another reason might be education or brainwashing. Depending upon your experience in school you can pick your term. Point being that you are limited to what you believe. Some of us are limited to what we were taught and others are limited to what we can learn. I’m thinking your getting the idea, momentum is useful and dangerous at the same time. I am pretty sure that all of us know the experience on a bike or skate board where we got going so fast that we thought the wheels were going to come off and we ‘chickened out’ and went for the brakes. There are various reasons for not building momentum, figure out what your reasons are and make an adjustment, you need one hundred when you can get it.
I coach many a young person to look at their business endeavor along these lines. A skateboard, a bicycle, a car, a pick up, a commercial truck, an airplane or a ship. Each is capable of only a certain amount of momentum. If you’re in a business analogous to a skateboard, say a paper route, cashier at food chain, any thing at Wally world, you will not gain enough momentum to stay ahead of inflation. These types of jobs are for children learning what it means to work. It’s a place to get pocket money for time with friends and maybe save up for something like a car. The nicer things in life are higher up. Most jobs equate to a car, where most people are comfortable. As I say, most people are trying to get the most out of doing the least. A car suits that example, you can imagine a guy with a 2000 Honda Accord vs a guy with a 2025 Mercedes. Regardless of the man it’s still a car with its limited momentum ability. I am certain you will find that if you can get yourself to the pickup truck analogy you will learn that it is far easier to use momentum. I believe that is why more Americans drive them than anything else. Just another reason we are the wealthiest. For those of you who go beyond this you understand the power of numbers, moving eighty thousand pounds vs four is why you want it. In the same distance you accomplish twenty times the work. And so on it goes all the up to the ship example.
The question isn’t can I do it? The question isn’t can I launch a space ship? The question you want to always put to yourself is, “how can I get from where I am to a better place”. Then do whatever it is you think it will take regardless. Go fail miserably in your attempt, you will learn and the next time you probably won’t crash your bike! You are looking to gain momentum in, experience, knowledge, understanding, effort and skill. You will crash them all if you are doing it well! No crashes means you are doing nothing! Let me say that again, crashes are evidence that you are going and growing. The goal is to get so skilled at crashing that you can do it with minimal loss of momentum. What you don’t know is holding you back, go get experience and learn what it is today and make momentum you best friend!
Glory to all of you in this great republic,
Greg