Been offline for a while, but that does not mean that I have not been following everybody elses bloggs:-) and when you get the chance to sit down and enjoy what everybody else decide to share online, a few questions arise! I would like to share one with you here today!
A while ago I read an article from what used to be CrossFit Greyskull! I actually read a bunch of their articles and decided that the articles were intresting and to some point justified! However, I also decided that I would not invest any further time in reading the articles of someone who had jumped off the boat, and just stood there yelling profanities, and spat hatred at the sport and pursuit of fitness that has become such an integral part of my life!
There are many things I would like to change about CrossFit, but instead of turning into a hater, I have decided to contribute with my input, and let it become a part of what CrossFit is today! CrossFit is ever evolving and if you contribute to the community then you can help develop it! If you sign out and just complain nothing is ever going to change! It is much like the people who decide not to vote, but will complain about the direction the country is moving and the talentless politicians who lead it! If you dont vote/contribute you simply have no say- That is where I decided to put the Greyskull articles!
Lately however I have seen some of their articles resurface on different bloggs and websites, and the most popular one seems to be the one that offers 10 advices on how to set things straight at your CrossFit box! Remember that this advice is coming from someone who has decided that they know better than the entire community, and turned their back on CrossFit! I am not even going to get into why I think the article is BS from beginning to end- instead I thought I would choose the higher road and offer 10 advices to how you can contribute to your box becomming a better place! Cause that is what you do when you decide to contribute instead of acting like a spoiled child!
So here we go, 10 advices on how to contribute your box becomming the best box in the world:
1- Voice your opinion!
Tell the box owners what you think! Let them know both good and bad! That kind of communication will lead to a better box everyday of the week and twice on sundays! If someting bothers you then be vocal about it straight to the owner! Criticism is great when it is done out in the open, not so much behind closed doors or behind someones back!
2- Present solutions!
When you find somethng you would like to see changed, offer a solution! Dont be a part of the problem, be a part of the solution instead!
3- Get involved!
Get involved in your box! Help out in classes, set up a fund raiser, start a facebook group! Get involved in what happens at the box- that way you can help drive the box in the direction you would like!
4- Share your experiences!
Do a cert and contribute your new knowledge to everyone else! Visit other boxes and share your experiences! Help move all the markers in the right direction!
5- Be openminded!
Realize that sometimes you may not know everything better than everyone else! Listen to why things are done the way they are, and allow for things to settle in before you rip everything up and force your own opinion down everyone elses throught!
6- Are they your goals or the box goals?
Wait for a second, have a coke and a smile and ponder! Maybe the greater good of the box is not what the tailormade solutions to your ambitions look like! How in this case do you work around this? Then move to point number 2 and present a solution!
7- It is your box!
Treat the box like you little baby! Imagine that the box is yours and every single individual that walks through the door, just walked into your box! How do you want them to feel? What values do you appreciate in your box? Now pass them on to the next person!
8- Learn peoples names!
Make an effort to get to know the names of the people you work out with and use them! You'll be surprised at how happy people get when you walk up to them in the box and ask what their names are! Usually you get the question why you want to know? When you say that you honestly care and want to know who you work out with everyday- more often than not you gain a new friend for life!
9- Internet warrior!
Get online and comment on the bloggs and websites run by your friends at the box! This builds a comminuty you would have never imagined possible! These people take the time to share their efforts and thoughts, the least you can do is comment!
10- Get the f#*k out of Dodge!
If you feel like the box you are at just is'nt right for you then give the owner a high five and a chestbump, and go somewhere else! There is no reason to be enemies just because you deside that you would thrive better in another box!
So instead of unfucking your box! Be a part of the solution,and help create better boxes and happier crossfitters!
I know that at least one of you will read this and say something along the lines of: " Of course he says so! He is part owner of a box!"
This is true! I am a part owner of a box, and the reason this box exists and is such a fantastic place is that the members there are actively engaged in making it a better place! They could not care less about unfucking anything- they are way too busy building a place they can thrive in and become better athletes!
A thank you from the bottom of my heart to every single one of you who have decided to make CrossFit Nordic the place it is today, and to the crossfitters worldwide who are making their boxes and the community stronger day by day!
Much love!
10 comments:
Right on target!
Lead, follow or get out of the way.
Keep on preaching the good word!
Very interesting and very very true!! I agree with all 10 points.....I would especially recommend people to take an extra look at point 8.
Just think about ur box as your girlfriend/boyfriend...u want it to look good, u want others to like it, u want to have a good relationship with it, u want it to be a part of you for a long time, you want to have good memories from it,,,therefore you should sometimes look at yourself if you want changes instead of blaming the box.
Keep up the good work!
I agree with you, Mads!
All incredible enthusiasts with a passion to develop their ambitions and then the pride to share the sensory experience is clearer and more open-minded with a CrossFit practitioners than any other forum I have encountered.
Common over the CrossFit world is to "give and take". That winning attitude, to give everything you can in each new situation. Whether it is physically in a metcon or social pleasure and the feedback people give each other, they so earnestly want to help us "all" in the box.
I'm so glad I have the opportunity to be involved in devolop of the concept.
-Thanks to CF, I took myself out of my comfort zone and want to develop myself in many aspects, I want to challenge life and see how far I can reach, to later share with you my experiences along the route.
/ Peace Andreas Sjöstrand
You might find this interesting:
http://chasingcapacity.com/category/crossfit/love-hate-series/
Make sure to start from the bottom :)
Nice post Mads, and 10 good points!
I don't think you should ignore an article just because you think the author is an asshole though. If you think the article has some valid points, learn from them. If you think they're presented in a rude, non constructive way, don't be friends with the author. My 2 cents.
i like your list but before you vilify john you may want to reread the 1st paragraph of the article. He still deals with cfers and affiliates, they come to him for advice. they pay him for it. so there is a group of cfers who appreciate the article.
I am not trying to vilify John in any way shape or form- I am just saying that the article does not contribute to the solution, and the man has decided to turn his back on the community as a whole!(single individuals may still be a part of his herd) The fact that some CF'ers still come to him for advice is great for him, and I wish them all the best! I hope they find what they are looking for!
But before I turn to someone like John, there are a thousand diffenrent sources within the community- sources who are dedicated to evolving CrossFit- whom I would turn to!
Many of his points have been voiced within the community and some brilliant solutions have been implemented i various places! In other words people are trying to make things better everyday- still they do not feel the need to abandon their affiliation, and author manifestos online! They simply go on with their business
of trying to change the things they feel need fixing!
John is probably brilliant, but I dont think he is the doing much to propell us forward!
That beign said! Honestly! Thank you for getting involved and sharing your thoughts!
Much love
Mads
It's like somebody wrote: there's no end to the writing of books (articles) and reading them all is wearying. No point in wasting time on rude or negative input, right?
And why wast time spewing ashes against a sport? I mean, if it's not for me, I just do something else? Thinking about the owner of former Greyskull.
Anyways, I like CF, and I read positive input. :)
Smart piece! I agree with you 100%!
Eeeh, måste fråga, är det du som kom topp 5 på Lidingöloppet 2006?
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