Do What You ‘Don’t Enjoy’.

While the modern day maxim, ‘’do what you love’’ sounds sexy and makes for a great soundbite.

Looking back on life thus far, I can safely say that the moments that led to me growing –figuratively and literally–, and developing — both personally and professionally– have, for the most part, consisted of doing things I didn’t love or like or enjoy.

• When I was a Fitness instructor / PT

Having to man reception when staff was low, sucked. I’d rather be on the gym floor, ‘’doing my job’’ [as I once put it to my manager].

Taught me [a fuck-ton] of discipline — Even the things you love doing are going to involve doing things you don’t like or want to do — do them anyway. And seriously, stop complaining; because no one gives a fuck.

• When I was in Membership sales.

Having to go out, come rain or shine, and hand out leaflets and talk to people in the street even when they looked at you like you were beneath them.

Taught me empathy, but also creativity — ‘’hey, how do you feel when you’re out and about and someone tries to stop you to sell you something?’’

Reframing it like this: allowed me to think of what would make me stop if I were in the other person’s shoes? Surprisingly, when I took this approach, I managed to make more people either stop and talk to me or grab a leaflet.

• When I was a fat kid, and I wanted to lose weight.

Choosing to skip [over] eating crap, and exercising — taught me the importance of regimentation, commitment, and delaying gratification.

I dunno, man. Maybe I’m just having one of those quarter-life crises or something.

Regardless, the point still stands:

The things you ‘don’t enjoy’ will teach you more than the things you ‘do enjoy’ because, naturally, the things you enjoy are [usually] the things you’re most likely already awesome at, or decent at — the things you don’t enjoy are all the things you probably suck at.