We have a new(ish) employee at Double Under Wonder. 

Her name is Lydia, and hiring her has been one of the best decisions we've made since we launched the company.  She builds jump ropes, nails the customer service aspects of her job, and heavily influences many of the creative things we do.

Today I was adding to her list of responsibilities, and when something didn't click immediately, she recognized her frustration, and said something that was so wise...

"Sometimes I just don't give myself space to learn." - Lydia

Gosh, how true this is in SOOOO many areas of our lives.  I see really athletic people who get super frustrated when they don't immediately get the hang of a clean, or a snatch in their first session at the local box. 

I see people (including myself) make excuses in their careers.  They'll say..."I'm just not good at..."  or..."I'm just not the type of person who can..."

Name your skill, and you'll see people get frustrated with it, throw in the towel, or declare their ineptitude at the first sign of difficulty.

There is a reason the snatch is an Olympic event.  There is a reason people major in marketing in college.  There is a reason people take years to become proficient in a foreign language.

All these things take time to learn, yet we attempt new skills, and immediately expect to be proficient.  It just doesn't work that way.

We have to become students before we become masters. 

Give yourself some space to use a PVC pipe for your overhead squat.  Expect to get spit out of your handstand frequently when attempting your first HSPU.  Be prepared to flop around on the pull-up bar like a dead fish for a while before you find the rhythm of your butterfly kip.

Tossing your rope across the room will never help you develop your double-unders.  Giving yourself space to learn, will.

As they say:

"Sucking at something is the first step to becoming sorta good at something." -Jake the Dog (Adventure Time)

 

Have a wonderful day!

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 P.S.  While giving yourself time to suck is all well, and good, It should be noted that there ARE things that can drastically improve your chances of learning a new skill.  Ask lots of questions,  practice on purpose (frequently)...and when it comes to double-unders, invest in your own rope :)