The New Golden Age
Starting something new is tough. For me, the awkward phase is the toughest part. I don’t like being bad at things, but who does? Today, January 24th, marks the start of the American Gold Rush in 1848. Talk about starting something new—300,000 Americans migrated across the country to new lands, encountering new climates, animals, and people. Gold mining was a new profession, a new entrepreneurial endeavor. People start new things all the time, and most of the time, we start with the hope of becoming rich—rich in mind, body, and/or spirit. I argue that although the Gold Rush could make people rich monetarily, it could also enrich them in mind, body, and spirit. The peace of mind knowing their families would be financially secure for generations, the physical labor that strengthened their bodies, and the resistance to greed—by only taking enough for their sovereignty— all worked to enrich their spirits.
New Beginnings Enrich Us
If you are like me, you try to prepare for maximal success and minimal failure. There are articles, blogs, videos, classes, mentors, and many other resources to help maximize your potential for success. Preparation is key, as the adage says, “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail.” But when you begin something new, you are bound to face weaknesses. There is nothing wrong with preparing beforehand. In fact, it’s smart to learn about the thing you're starting. Asking questions, taking courses, and observing others who embody what you’re trying to achieve are all healthy ways to prepare.
You might think, “What about talent?” Sometimes people have natural talent and pick up new activities quickly. However, I agree with high school basketball coach Tim Notke when he said, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” Just ask Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Nadia Comăneci, Michael Jordan, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ray Lewis, Wayne Gretzky, or Jon Jones. They all worked harder than anyone to become the best in their respective fields.
For me, my preparation started with a new skill—physical therapy. I spent six years in a classroom learning about anatomy, physiology, nutrition, and exercise, and delved deep into the theory of modern medicine, health, and healing. After earning my doctorate, preparation took on a new form. Now, I prepare for each patient by connecting with them, listening to their goals, reading charts, and analyzing metrics from our objective intake.
Yogi Berra once said, “In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice; in practice, there is.” This truism is something physical therapy schools understand, and therefore require students to spend mandatory time practicing in clinical rotations. Doctors and lawyers undergo similar clerkships and rotations. There is a basic acceptance that learning the art of a profession in a classroom or from books only gets you so far. Even if you are a star student, guess what? You are going to be bad at it at first. Your talent might get you to a certain point, but effort and perseverance are what take you from good to great. Even though no patient asks where you ranked in your class, they do want a great therapist—not just one who is “good-enough.”
There are neuroplasticity principles that support this. To name a few: "use it or lose it," "use it and improve it," "intensity matters," and "repetitions matter." By starting something new, you actually improve your brain's ability to heal, process information, and function better. Just reading about doing a task can be helpful to some, but it is not nearly as effective as actually doing the task—especially if it requires hands-on work. Take Ken Jennings, the all-time Jeopardy! champion, for example. Jennings said, “Most of the contestants can answer most of the questions. But Jeopardy! victory most often goes not to the biggest brain; it goes to the smoothest thumb.” For me, I had to endure through the awkward, weak phase of physical therapy to improve my clinical skills. That was my equivalent to practicing the buzzer press—being able to implement what I knew.
I have an advantage over some of my peers because my parents raised me to be comfortable with being bad at things. The pain of starting something new is just growing pains. Looking back, this mindset was incredibly powerful, because that pain, although real, is temporary and harmless—just like a kid going through a growth spurt. Embracing weakness as a source of comfort has immense benefits for your mind, body, and spirit.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (Is that where you thought this newsletter was going? I do believe in a sound mind, body, and spirit, after all.) If you are like me, when Jesus says He works through us best when we are weak, that brings me personal comfort.
It is interesting that the best learning often happens through doing. No matter how much you prepare, your brain does not process information as effectively or prioritize it in the same way as when you actually practice it. (Some might call this a coincidence.)
A New Relationship
Just as starting the practice of physical therapy taught me to embrace the awkward phase, getting married has been another opportunity for growth. I just got married for the first time—to a woman I met in physical therapy school. Now, I don’t recommend you practice marriage by getting married several times, but the preparation for a relationship is not something you can learn in a classroom (I hope). My preparation involved pre-Cana counseling, observing healthy relationships, and learning from unhealthy ones around me. However, this didn’t fully prepare me to be the best husband. Instead, it gave me a framework of what an ideal relationship might look like to me. This practice is called visualization.
Visualization is a common technique in mental health, where you create vivid mental images to activate the same areas of the brain as actually performing the activity. Check out this article about Harvard Medical School that explains this concept. There is even a fitness program for the elderly based on imagination, Ageless Grace, which shows the neurological benefits of visualization. In addition to brain health, research shows that visualization can reduce stress, improve mood, and increase the chances of achieving your goals.
After a few months of marriage, I can confidently say that I am not a great husband yet, but I am learning. One of the qualities I sought in my wife was patience. Based on my experience with starting new things, I prepared by finding someone who would be kind and nurturing while I learned how to be a good husband. This goal of being a good husband is continually evolving, much like becoming a good clinician, but it’s important to strive for greatness.
My goal in marriage is to be a good leader, provider, and protector. Visualizing what that looks like helps me strive toward it. It helps me see the kind of man I want to be for my wife and future family. Do you have relationships you admire or aspire to emulate? How about relationships you do not want to embody in any way? Negative examples can be just as powerful as positive ones, and can help you clarify your ideal.
Starting a Business
Lastly, let’s talk about starting a business. If you have started a business, you likely have a skill that you want to share with the world and get compensated for. My skill is physical therapy. Over time, I became proficient in it, but I wanted to help heal people. Honestly, when I started school, I wasn’t even thinking about God. Looking back, however, I can see that having my heart in the right place allowed me to grow quickly and transition from being bad at physical therapy to being good, and now great.
Starting a business as a good clinician does not mean that all your skills will automatically carry over. When I started my physical therapy practice, Health Hive, I knew I could treat my patients well, get great patient outcomes, and redefine what physical therapy looks like, but I was a one-man show. Starting a business involves so much more—opening, operating, managing, and growing. Each of these stages presents its own set of challenges. You have to take on every role at first—department chair, board member, employee—until you can hire others to help with the responsibilities.
Sure, you’re talented. And you practice visualization to calm your system. And you know that when you are weakest, the Lord is strong in you. But that does not recruit patients, clean tables, manage finances, or keep the lights on. What it does is give you courage and comfort during the growing pains. You might be great at some things and lousy at others. If you are like me, then you will try to do everything at once. Embrace the fact that it is okay to be bad at something. It is much less painful than pretending to be good at it. "Fake it 'til you make it" is fine, but I would not recommend banking on that to make payroll or to pay bills on time.
I am not saying let Jesus take the wheel and the calculator. But I am saying, stop pretending to be good at something that you are not (yet) good at. Instead, step back and be grateful for the opportunity to grow. In mindfulness, we call that “gratitude.” This attitude can help your cardiovascular and neurological systems. I don’t thank science or the universe — I thank Jesus Christ— for the strength and clarity to keep going.
Once I accepted that I was bad at running my business, my brain shifted to student mode. I started learning from other business owners, seeking tips to achieve my goals, and figuring out where I needed help. Everything began to click. I was able to delegate better, assemble a great team, turn my business into what I knew it could be. The Health Hive is not nearly done realizing its full potential, but it is much better off now than it was two years ago.
Starting is hard, but hard work pays off. Our connection to God strengthens us— and being challenged releases more dopamine, making everything else better. Whether it is starting physical therapy or a business, these challenges can enrich your life in ways far beyond financial rewards.
Conclusion
Now that you have reflected on the power of starting something new and (hopefully) contemplated the riches that can follow, why not take the first step today? Try implementing these practices by embarking on a new journey—whether it is starting at Health Hive to improve your physical health or joining Skool to gain support and wisdom from other entrepreneurs. The first step toward a richer life is just one decision away. Do not let the fear of being bad at something stop you—embrace the growth that comes with new beginnings. The path to becoming "rich" in mind, body, and spirit starts with the courage to try something new. So, what will you start today?
DISCLAIMER: The content on the blog for Health Hive, LLC is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as medical advice. The information contained in this blog should not be used to diagnose, treat or prevent any disease or health illness. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. Please consult with your physician or other qualified healthcare professional before acting on any information presented here.