Caring about the right things are important. Letting go of the petty nuances of life is equally important. But, where do you draw the line? And, why do I care so much?
A follow up question could be, “Nick, why do you start sentences with conjunctions?” Because [ 😉 ] teachers never let me do it because it was “bad grammar.” They also said that when I become a professional writer I could do what I want… so bam! Here I am just doing what I want and shit.
I do something few others do and many probably can’t wrap their head around. Honestly, it’s difficult for me to wrap my head around and explain it simply.
I posted a recent podcast called, “Why Do We Give a Shit?!” and discuss all of the things that we care too much about. Well in this blog, I’m going to discuss why I care so much about things that I find are care-worthy.
I call it “pulling from both sides.” Most people see things from one vantage point and that’s it. They’ll argue until their blue in the face without even thinking that they might not have all the information or that their not seeing from all sides; it never crosses their mind.
Look no further than amateur politicians (AKA people on Facebook) for proof. You could probably also look to professional politicians and see the same thing. But, that’s neither here nor there and this will not be a political post. It shall be something more worthy of your time and definitely mine!
So, of course we can’t care about every little thing. We have to pick our battles and decide on what we truly care about and devote our energy accordingly. But, we must also manage how much we care about those things we’ve decided were important.
I think it’s important to start with why.
Why Do I Care So Much?
I’ll admit that at times my perfectionist-nature has sometimes kept me from starting or finishing things and sharing them, mostly in the writing category of my life.
My perfectionist-nature hasn’t stopped there. I put a tremendous amount of pressure on myself to do a job well, no matter what it is.
When I got my first job as a personal trainer at Anytime Fitness in New Boston, I dedicated myself to my clients and my overall development as a trainer and person of influence.
I wanted to bring value to everybody that walked through that door and even more value to my clients. I read everything I could get my hands on, I asked questions to people who had more experience, and collected as much data as I possible could.
Even as a part-time sales associate at GNC, I strove to meet all of the job standards and considered it sub-par when I wasn’t in the top 25 associates in the region.
When I worked as a trainer at Quest Performance in Nashville, TN, I demanded myself to remain discipline, put out relative content for members, stay in shape (walking billboard), and scheduled workouts so that if members showed up on a consistent basis they would see results.
When I was a sales rep for NutraBio on the West Coast, I held myself to an even higher standard. I had to! I was meeting with DFO’s, RSD’s, DSD’s, etc.
There is even more on the line for the job I hold currently. It’s not just my livelihood at risk, but a friend’s also. A friend that’s more deserving than any other person I know. He’s taken the right chances, put himself in places to be successful, and he’s got the skills to take him to the top.
He’s one of those people who you just want to be part of their story, even if it’s the slightest bit. Just to say that I got to rub elbows and work with this guy in person I count as Top Shelf Shit.
Perhaps, the position I find myself in currently is a bit of an outlier but there’s still one reason why I care as much I do.
At the end of the day, whatever I do, my name is attached to it. People will be able to gain a lot of information about me and my character and integrity.
What kind of guy am I? Am I a dude that does what he says he’s going to do? Are there actions behind my words?
Personally, whatever I attach my name to, I want to do the best that I possibly can. More times than not, I set super high expectations and often they’re probably mostly unrealistic.
“I have found no joy in climbing small mountains.”
– Nick LaToof
If I’m going to do something, I want to be challenged because I want the job to be rewarding and fulfilling in more ways than just putting a few bucks in my pocket.
These high expectations can be a sharp, double-edged sword. While they provide you with big targets and an incredible sense of accomplishment when you reach them or even get close, they can be incredibly frustrating if you (and when) you miss the mark.
When you fall short, it’s difficult not to take it personal. Even when you’ve laid it all out there, you didn’t hold anything back, it still fucking hurts. But, I’d imagine that sitting back and taking the easy route and having to play the ‘what if’ game hurts exponentially worse.
That’s a game you never win and you’re forced to play it until the die. I’ll take my chances, dare greatly, and wear my failures like a badge of honor knowing that I did everything that I could to be successful; it just wasn’t enough and I’m okay with that.
I’m not going to pretend that I have the balance of pulling from both sides figured out. Much of my journey has been just learning and figuring things out as I go. I like that. I like growth and trending in the right direction.
So… why do I care?
I care because when that Nick LaToof name is stamped on something, I want everybody to know that they’re getting my all and I won’t settle for half-ass. I want everybody to know that I’m dependable and reliable; that when they call on me, I’ll do my absolute best not to let them down.
Why do you care?
