Sweat More in Training

There’s an old Spartan proverb that says, “Sweat more in training, bleed less in battle.” The message, of course, is to take the risks and feel the pain when the level of danger is relatively low and controlled, thus increasing your chances of safety when the excrements hit the oscillator. Another way to think of this is pushing the envelope and taking your bumps and bruises when the stakes are relatively low, then you will be better prepared when the stakes are high.

Don’t hope you will rise to the occasion when the conflict comes; assume you will fall back to your level of preparation. In Sun Tzu’s Art of War, he writes “most battles are won or lost before they are ever fought.” It’s the skills and mindset we develop during the times of peace and comfort that determine how we will respond during conflict and hardship.

In business and in life, we never know when the battles will come. For a business, it can be the loss of a key partner, a downturn in the economy, a shift in the industry that leaves you behind, or any number of unpredictable events. Personally, it can be the onset of serious illness, a divorce, the death of a child, or simply the loss of a job. Circumstances in life can beat us down in many different ways, and while we can’t necessarily be completely ready for everything, we can certainly work to be better equipped to face what may come.

This requires making the choice to live uncomfortably in the midst of comfort. When things are easy, you still push hard. When others coast, you accelerate. It’s as simple are turning off the TV and picking up a book or hitting the gym. It could be ordering a side of broccoli instead of fries. It’s honing your craft at work, not because you are up for a promotion or because the boss is looking, but simply because it’s a Wednesday afternoon and you committed to improvement. It’s making the difficult choice even when convenience is an option.

Society all around you is on cruise control. They are seeking the easiest, most comfortable choice in the moment. Avoiding pain and suffering now, hoping hardship won’t find them later. This only leads to weakness. Just as your muscles need resistance to remain strong, you need a struggle to remain vigilant. Choose to sweat more in training.

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