E-couragement: Multi-Task Myth

“Decide upon your major definite purpose in life and then organize all your activities around it.”  Brian Tracey I had a question about running. My oldest brother, Jamie, was the right person to ask during our bi-annual family reunion run. Keeping pace alongside of Jamie, his wife Madelyn, and my other brother Bob, I sought his expert opinion in between breaths of coveted oxygen. My inquiry had to do with the new workout rage—cross-training. I questioned, “Jamie, I’ve been doing some cross-training recently, how will it help my running?” That’s when I received an unedited, straightforward, older brother answer. 

Here’s why Jamie was the right person to ask. He’s an accomplished track and cross country coach. For over 30-years, his athletes and teams have achieved the highest levels of success. He even guided one of his runners to the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. So, what was his response? “Richie (yes, that’s what my family calls me), cross-training is a great way to be mediocre in several events.” That was it. Mystery solved. We continued our run.

Although that wasn’t the answer I was hoping for, it made perfect sense. Cross-training is the athlete’s form of multi-tasking.  Jamie’s goal is to help athletes become the best possible runners of which they are capable by teaching them how to run more efficiently. He has them spend hours each week logging miles and miles of…running. They plan and practice strategies for…running. His athletes fine-tune their nutrition and sleep in order to…run faster. See the pattern. They are great at running because they diligently and passionately work on running—not rowing, cycling, or swimming—just running.

Although I asked my brother a question regarding running, the answer he provided was about life. We're best at what we focus on. Multi-tasking has never led to greatness and you're here to be great at something. Determine what greatness for which you are responsible, then, focus on it. Dedicate a considerable and consistent amount of time and energy to improving it. You owe it to yourself. You owe it to the rest of us. Take it from Jamie Schlentz, you’re meant to be great at one thing—not mediocre at several things. Focus.

Leave your comments: What one area of greatness will you focus on?