Tomorrow I have a huge interview that could potentially dramatically change my China experience and long-term career plans for the better. I recognize that I’ve already put in all of the man-hours possible. There is literally, nothing more I can possibly do; I’ve already created several flow charts to prove it to myself. I just need to be myself and I know I’ll nail it.
That doesn’t mean I probably won’t cry later tonight haha.
So after much meditation with my Tibetan Buddhist prayer beads (that are made out of human bones), I’ve come to realize that CrossFitters’ are the ideal employee… and here’s why:
1. We’re not afraid to put in the hours.
When I was a senior in college, I would excuse myself from “Wasted Wednesday” early (and sober) so I could wake up at 6am to make it to the 8am WOD… all the way in downtown Boston. My hour commute to-and-from the box was no joke and now that I’m working full time, my 6am wake up call seem like a normal part of my daily routine. CrossFitters won’t hesitate to wake up at the crack of dawn or sacrifice a few hours from the sacred “8-hours of sleep regiment” because we know that time is money, and your snatch and career aren’t going to grow without some elbow grease… and protein. Everyone loves protein.
(9am crew at Team CrossFit Academy Monrovia)
2. We always get back up.
I’ve had lashing marks on my ass, blood gushing from my knees, and muscle soreness for weeks all because I refuse to believe that my body and mind can’t be pushed just a little bit more. When I first attempted FRAN, I didn’t finish; even when I scaled the weight AND did ring dips instead of assisted pull-ups. After almost two years of CrossFit, I am proud to announce that my FRAN stands at 8:30 RX. So when I’m handed a difficult project at work, I start the timer and get into the zone immediately. Because if I can MURPH, FRAN, and complete the 50 Filthy RX, then ain’t no thing that I can’t do. Child, please.
If I pass out, please note my time and save my spreadsheet.
(Post Filthy 50… I am obviously not amused. Or wearing a shirt lol)
3. We have great social skills.
We’re social when it’s appropriate, but focused when we need to be. Ever talk to a serious CrossFitter during the 10-second countdown? Me neither. I’m too damn focused on how I’m going to spread out the reps within the allotted time. I will not be the last one to finish and I’ll be damned if I let ANY of the boys beat my time. But once our times have been recorded in WODIFY, we’ll all go shower up and grab some burgers and beer immediately afterwards. Because there is a time and a place to be serious… and there’s a time and a place to be covered in chalk while yelling obscenities about someone else’s mother.
(Boston College Crew at Reebok CrossFit Backbay)
4. We always have a positive attitude.
There’s something truly magical about hitting a new PR. You can always tell when a CrossFitter has hit a major benchmark in their regiment because their eyes sparkle throughout the day as they struggle to walk up a basic flight of stairs… due to a rapid increase of lactic acid in their muscles, obviously. When we’re successful in the box, we suddenly become the office cheerleader because we know that anyone is capable of anything; they just need the proper coaching and support.
(Middle Kingdom Fitness in Beijing, China. We’re a small, but proud box)
5. We navigate all sorts of social circles seamlessly.
In Boston, my noon class was filled with a bunch of jacked bros from the financial district who would warm up with my body weight. I was normally the only girl in the class and I was also dramatically younger than most of them too. (They hate when I say that.) But that didn’t impact the chemistry of the noon class. I never felt intimidated, belittled, or patronized because I was a young female literally competing in a man’s world. I would lift with people who were from a spectrum of social spheres, socio-economic backgrounds, and cultures. And no matter whom I was WODing next to, I understood that we had a responsibility to one another to finish the WOD and encourage the other to move even faster the next time.
(Reebok CrossFit Backbay crew at the 2013 CrossFit Games)
6. We take failure and criticism well.
CrossFit tells you “no” over and over and over again. I’ve fallen from the gymnastic rings, hit myself in the face during a snatch, whipped myself mercilessly during doubleunders (I was into it), and hurt myself in a variety other ways trying to perform various gymnastic moves or put an absurd amount of weight above my head. Despite my past failures, I continue to show up at the box day after day to try again. When competing against the best of the best in the workforce, you’re not going to be the elite everyday; and you need to accept that. You need to learn from that. My form isn’t perfect and my core is crap, but tomorrow it will be better. Not perfect, but better.
(When life knocks you down… do a burpee)
7. We work well in teams.
When I competed in my first throw down, I was paired with someone significantly stronger than me. Honestly, I was nervous that I was going to hold him back from all the fame and glory that comes in a CrossFit competition, but in reality, we balanced each other out perfectly. He beasted through the cleans, while I furiously raced through the burpee box jumps. We were one point away from qualifying for finals (whoot whoot semis!), but in retrospect, our bodies were seriously destroyed from the 4 WOD’s we completed in one day and my cartilage was quite pleased with the break. During the competition, everyone cheered for everyone. There were no petty rivalries or shit-talking because we all understood the type of mental and physical strength it takes to push your body to very limit. Everyone understood that if you had the balls (or lady balls) to step out onto the floor and compete, then you were already a winner. Period. No exceptions.
(Reebok CrossFit Backbay at the Northeast Regionals supporting our TWO teams… NBD)
8. We are patient with others and ourselves.
“You are enough” is my 2014 mantra because it applies to basically everything. “You are enough” in your relationships, in your career, and in CrossFit. I am constantly trying to support my fellow box members in and out of CrossFit because we are our own worst critics. I’ll be damned if I don’t make it my job to remind you how awesome you are for even stepping out onto the floor to lift. I’ll be the first to admit that CrossFit is intimidating. And for someone to step out of their comfort zone, forfeit a shit ton of money, and actually give this crazy lifestyle a chance… well that deserves a standing ovation. Or at the very least a, “Hey, you’re ass looks great in those shorts.”
(Struggling through a clean in the middle of the throw down. I missed it. Almost a year later, I consider that a warm-up weight now.)
Whelp, those are all my feelings are the moment. Wish me luck, ya’ll.
Wander Onwards 