The Genius of Fish: Discover Your Unique Power in Fitness & Life

Adapted from a newsletter published February 2, 2024

"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." — Albert Einstein

Are you wrongly measuring your own progress?

Have you ever felt like you just don’t measure up? Maybe you struggle with double-unders, but your barbell work is solid. Or perhaps you watch someone crush a workout and wonder, "Why can’t I do that?" Maybe you’re actually making significant progress in the journey to become the future version of yourself that you’ve been dreaming of, but you’re using the wrong scale to track that progress and it leaves you feeling frustrated, confused, or even — like a fish climbing a tree — stupid.

Here’s the truth: We all have different strengths, and comparing yourself unfairly is like judging a fish for not climbing a tree. The real measure of progress isn’t whether you match someone else’s skill set—it’s about discovering, refining, and maximizing your own.

If you feel like you’re not making the progress you wanted to make, talk to one of your coaches, or reach out to me. I’m more than happy to talk some sense back into you. Now, jump into the right stream and get to swimming.

Coaching That Brings Out Your Best

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to dive deep into refining my coaching at the CrossFit Level 2 course. Through intense classroom work, hands-on training, and real-time feedback, I sharpened my ability to help each of you uncover and develop your unique strengths. It was a humbling and energizing experience that reminded me why I love this work so much.

Even more exciting? Coach Thomas was there with me, stepping into discomfort and growth so he can better serve our community. Coaching is about more than giving cues—it’s about learning, adapting, and helping you find what your version of success looks like.

One of the biggest takeaways from the weekend was reinforcing the concept of self-efficacy, a term coined by psychologist Albert Bandura. Self-efficacy is the belief in one’s ability to succeed in specific situations or accomplish a task. The stronger your self-efficacy, the more likely you are to take on challenges, persist through setbacks, and ultimately grow. As coaches, our job isn’t just to teach movements—it’s to cultivate confidence and resilience in each athlete. When you believe in yourself, you push a little harder, try a little longer, and achieve more than you thought possible.

So, the next time you step onto the gym floor, remember that progress starts with belief. You are capable. You are strong. And you are always improving.

How to Apply This in Your Training

This week, take a moment to shift your mindset. Instead of asking, "Why am I not good at this?" try asking:

• What am I naturally strong at? How can I lean into that more?

• What’s one skill I want to improve, and how can I break it into smaller, achievable steps?

• Who in the gym inspires me, and what can I learn from them?

  
  

Your strengths are yours for a reason. Use them. Build on them. And remember, progress doesn’t always look the same for everyone.

Community Spotlight: Taking Feedback as a Gift

I want to personally give a big shoutout to Coach Thomas for stepping up to the challenge of the CrossFit Level 2. It’s no small feat to put yourself under the microscope, take critique, and commit to getting better for the sake of others. But, that’s exactly what he did last weekend.And, he’ll be the first to tell you that the level of scrutiny that I’ve put him under in the week following the L2 has not been insignificant. Leaning into the idea that “all feedback is a gift,” which is something I learned during my decade at Procter & Gamble, it might as well be Christmastime again for Thomas. And, he’s not only accepting the feedback, he’s using it to become better. That’s leadership. That’s growth. And that’s exactly what we hope to inspire in every one of you.

If you have feedback for any of our coaches, and most definitely if you have feedback for me, please share it. This could be positive feedback or constructive feedback. We’ll try to keep doing the good things — and maybe even do them more often — and we’ll try to fix the bad things. Just like you rely on us to get better at moving well or tackling certain workouts, we rely on feedback from you to get better at our craft.

Own Your Genius

You don’t have to be good at everything. You just have to be willing to grow. Find your strengths, challenge your weaknesses, and embrace the process. Your journey is uniquely yours—own it.