Football is the greatest sport ever!
If you’re not a football fan, it’s either because you don’t have a pulse (just kidding!), don’t find the game interesting, don’t like sports in general, or are put off by the violence.
The hitting in football is generally what both attracts and puts off fans. It’s the topic of this post.
Back in 2007 when my son was about eight, he had a revelation.
“Dad,” he told me, “did you know if you’re about to tackle someone and run at them as hard as you can, it doesn’t hurt as much when you hit them?”
He was in the middle of his fifth football season playing Center and Defensive Tackle for the Rockville Wolverines. I tried to teach him that same lesson every single year. His coaches also made “Go Full Speed” the huddle-break chant. I guess it’s one of those concepts you have to actually experience to believe.
I learned it back in 1981 when I hit Tim Fletcher, Melodyland High School’s All Academy League tailback as he ran back a kickoff. He was about 5’8” and probably 200 lbs. I ran at him full speed and laid him out flat. I saw stars, and the impact ripped my chinstrap in half but the rest of my body was fine. Going full speed made it a whole lot less painful. I only hope his knees bother him now as much as my two titanium hips do!
While this is something you learn in Physics 101, (I think Newton or Plato or someone invented this) this lesson applies to nearly everything in life that is uncomfortable or painful to do. Going at it full speed takes the sting off it.
This morning I had some follow-up calls to make to prospects I sent books out to last week. I like the prospects, I just really hate doing these calls! I kept looking for other important things to do like schedule my daughter’s car for service and respond to some emails. Then of course write this week’s blog. Finally I realized those calls had to be done and so I picked up the phone, gritted my teeth and did it! Essentially, I just hit them full speed. Now it’s done. I can write my blog.
It doesn’t hurt nearly as bad as you think and it feels so good to get them done.
So this week? Go Full Speed!
