When someone that you deeply respect tells you something, you listen and you act. Rarely do we walk away from such people without a resolution to “obey.” This happened to me last June, 2014 when Jose Raymond “The Boston Mass” was introduced to me by my coach. We had a very short and polite conversation in the gym as he worked out the afternoon prior to his guest posing stint that same evening at the Utah NPC Show in Provo, Utah. I was thunderstuck with awe that such a great Champion as Jose Raymond would condescend to spend even one minute with me. My coach arranged for us to cross paths at his gym and the experience is indelibly imprinted on my mind.
A PICTURE OF “THE BOSTON MASS” JOSE RAYMOND (FINISHED 3rd IN THE 212 LBS. CLASS IN THE 2014 OLYMPIA IN LAS VEGAS, NV
We are exactly the same height but he is much larger and more shredded than I am. The one feature that stuck out in my mind was how big his hands are compared to mine. He clearly comes from heavy duty stock as I do but this one feature was different. I learned that he turned pro around 2005 and only weighed 175 lbs. This day he was 225 lbs of romping stomping muscle. Oh how I drooled to have his dimensions and to be his kind of champion.I
The next meeting I had with him was at the show that evening. He was pushing his sponsor’s product and signing autographs. He willingly made himself available for a shot with both of us together and then he signed a photo of himself. This photo of Jose and me together will be framed and will occupy a prominent place on my wall. After we talked again for a couple of minutes he told me to, “Keep at it!” He then went to his picture that he signed and added the same words below the signature.
What does all this mean to a guy like me or to a person like you? Quite simply, when somebody sees real talent or promise in you they will say so. When we hear these words we are under a covenant to say, thank you, think about them, and formulate a plan to comply. Jose, didn’t just toss out an idle phrase to me. He saw something and he encouraged me to continue. To pursue. To mature. To ultimately win. Such is the case for all of us.
One of the hardest things for any of us to do is to simply say, THANK YOU, when somebody pays us a compliment. Because of insecurity or poor self-image we never quite believe what the person complimenting us is saying. It just can’t be true. We nervously make excuses for not being better and sometimes we do not even say, THANK YOU which is a little insulting to the person providing the encouragement.
Next, because we don’telieve in ourselves we will often file the compliment away and do not give it another THOUGHT. Afterall, they were just being nice but did not really believe what they just said about us. This is nuts! Believe it. The person extending the compliment did so sincerely and totally believes in US. We are our own worst enemy.
Because of the first two items above, we fail to ACT on the compliment. We do not take the time to work out a first class plan to fly higher and faster. Our moment of opportunity to advance and improve gets squandered by our own self-doubt.
“Keep at it!” I said thank you. I’m constantly ruminating on how to improve. My plans are in full swing. The next time I see Jose, I want to be able to demonstrate my progress and maybe even provide a victory right in front of him. This will be my chance to tell him how much he has impacted me at a very personal level.
The greatest motivation for me to “Keep at it” comes from my coach Justin Dees. He is clear and concise in his expectation of me and my prep for the Nationals. He said to me one time, “I’ve never met anybody like you before.” So, we have kept at it and I regard every moment of his tutelage to be precious as he gets to know my body genetically and physiologically. He and I are going to “Keep at it” until Justin can dial me in for every contest with precision. This sport is lonely and rigorous and is better stated to be a life style that requires all of me all the time. I will win because I “Keep at it” without losing my focus on the prize.
In closing, let me push all of my colleagues and friends to “Keep at it” until you accomplish that for which you were born. This is our time! Do not squander your goals or your talents due to laziness or lack of belief in yourselves.
I’m an old guy but so what!
Until next time!
Douglas E. Graham
Six Pack and Senior 