This Post Is About That One Time I Got A Chance To Chill With Kawhi and LeBron.
Did I say chill with? Oh, my bad, I meant to say chill like. Yeah, chill like. That’s better.
So, what had happened was, I made a decision to go on a sabbatical right. Because, as I stated in my last blog post that you can read here, I was burned out. My mind and body were just--OFF.
Way off!
While on my sabbatical, I’ve had a lot of time to think. And one of the things that came to mind is one of the keys to staying on the grind and not wearing yourself out.
You see, most people think that the grind is all work, work, work. So many people are working their lives away. Missing out on precious time with their significant other. Missing time with their kids. All in the name of the grind.
Don’t get me wrong. I realize that being successful, being great at anything, requires hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. I recognize that doing what it takes to be a champion demands a serious work ethic, a commitment to the grind. But this sabbatical time has helped me redefine the grind. All it took was Kawhi, Lebron, a dose of burnout, and an episode on The Secret to Success podcast.
Let me explain.
Now this is where this blog gets really good so keep reading.
THE GRIND REDEFINED
We’ve all heard ‘em before:
NO DAYS OFF. ALL GAS NO BREAKS. 25/8. EVERYDAY I’M HUSTLING. TEAM NO SLEEP.
As a motivational speaker, not only have I said these phrases before, but I have tried to live by them. But in the wrong way. In a misinformed way. That’s why I’m grateful for these two NBA champions because they have taught me a valuable lesson.
Lebron and Kawhi.
Over the past few years these guys have done something that has NEVER BEEN DONE BEFORE in NBA history. (Dare I say that if you start doing this one thing that they did on the regular then you will be able to do accomplish something that has never been done.)
Kawhi is the first player to ever:
Win Finals MVP for an Eastern conference team and a Western Conference team.
LeBron is the first player to ever:
Lead his team back from being down 1-3 in the Finals to win a championship.
Guess what they had in common when they did it.
A season of rest!
Board Man sat out nearly an entire season to rest up due to an injury. Unlike many of us workaholics, he put his health above all else because all else doesn't matter when you're not in good health. And even when he played this past season he took load management serious.
Did you know that the year Lebron led Cleveland to win that ‘ship was the same exact year that Lebron took off for two weeks to just, wait for it, REST. That’s right! The king himself was so out of it that told the Cavs, “Yo, I’m outta here. I’ll be back in two weeks.” This article is worth seeing if you want the inside scoop.
He went down to Miami just to REST and recuperate. By the way, this wasn't during the off-season. He missed seven games. Let me just pause right here and say this: when you get serious about taking care of yourself you will have to overcome the fear of missing out on some things.
LBJ took some time off. I encourage you to do the same. Don’t kill yourself in the process of chasing your dreams. Take care of yourself. Make rest a habit. The grind includes rest.
Here is what I’m doing to make rest a habit:
1. Resting On Purpose.In other words, I have made a conscious decision to make rest a priority.
2. Getting Quality Sleep. It’s really not so much about how many hours you sleep as much as when you sleep. I made a decision to not compromise my sleep because it compromises my productivity. Check out this piece by the sleep guru for more insight.
3. Reflect Daily. I spend 10 minutes before I go to bed just sitting still and reflecting on my day. I ask myself these three questions: What was a win today? What is one lesson I learned today? What three things do I need to do tomorrow?
4. Getaway Quarterly (2-3 days). This is something I plan to start doing.
5. Take Vacations (5-10 days). I’m convinced that because I have not made this a habit, it led to my burnout.
Remember: The Grind includes rest!
Now that I truly understand that the grind includes rest, I have the chance to chill like the champions THE KLAW and THE KING. And who knows, maybe one day I'll get the chance to chill with them too.
Question: So, what are you doing to make rest a habit?
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