Read Time: 3mins
Read+Challenge: 10mins
With any regimen, program, or course of action, you should rightly ask: what does success look like?
While anyone can wax poetic about the virtues of training —sharpening your spiritual iron and becoming an aesthetic god, the goal is often vague, imprecise, “meant for everyone” and therefore useless.
You can only measure progress towards that which you can measure. So, here is a list of (largely) measurable standards towards which one system (mine) could guide you. With discipline and consistency, you could reach these standards.
Chin-Up -Two Plates (90lbs+BW, 5R min)
Seated BB Press -Two Plates (135lbs, 5R min)
Flat Bench Press -Two Plates (225lbs, 5R min)
Squat -Three Plates (315lbs, 5R min)
Deadlift Four Plates (405, 5R min)
Run -5 miles, 40mins
Jiu Jitsu -Blue Belt
Stand Up Striking -Proficiency (Test: sparring+shadow tape)
Handgun -Ownership and sufficient training for competent use (filmed)
Rifle (Mid-Range) -Ownership and sufficient training for competent use (filmed)
Basic First Aid (WFA/WFR Certification)
Multi Climate (General) & Region Specific Survival Ability
My standards reflect my tastes, values, and aesthetics. I do not pretend for a moment that they are attractive to most people, much less “everyone.” My aim is to create a body, mind, and aesthetic of rugged self sufficiency, preparedness, and functional vitality.
I am not here to tell you these should be your goals. If you find them attractive, I can help you reach them. If not, I encourage you to write out a similar list of your own…
CHALLENGE
What is the capability checklist of your optimized self?
What ability, proficiency, or capacity does he have?
What are you training for?
STEPS
Take a piece of paper or blank doc, write a numbered list from 1-18
Decide on categories for your list… Categories might be physical, mental, technical, social, emotional, or spiritual. For instance, my list is largely divided between physical attributes and technical skills —and is therefore lacking in the ethereal realm.
When you have decided your categories, populate your list. Expand the list until it is as long as it needs to be. When you finish, proceed to Step 4.
EXAMPLE
Chin-Up -Two Plates (90lbs+BW, 5R min)
Seated BB Press -Two Plates (135lbs, 5R min)
Flat Bench Press -Two Plates (225lbs, 5R min)
Squat -Three Plates (315lbs, 5R min)
Deadlift Four Plates (405, 5R min)
Run -5 miles, 40mins
Jiu Jitsu -Blue Belt
Stand Up Striking -Proficiency (Test: sparring+shadow tape)
Handgun -Ownership and sufficient training for competent use (filmed)
Rifle (Mid-Range) -Ownership and sufficient training for competent use (filmed)
Basic First Aid (WFA/WFR Certification)
Multi Climate (General) & Region Specific Survival Ability
Curveball: Life is short, and you didn’t make a realistic list. Assuming you will EITHER be struck by an illness, make bad decisions, or fall victim to circumstance, victimhood, resistance, or distraction, you must now reduce your list by 30%. What does your list look like now?
Looking at your reduced list write a bullet for each remaining item of the next step towards that goal.
If you are committed, set a reminder on you phone that will prompt you with any frequency you choose towards reaching your goal. Reminder notifications like “Squat 315” or “Receive Jiu Jitsu Blue Belt” imprint on your subconscious if you see them every day. Consider this an experiment in self-programming.
For Journaling And Reflection
Are you in danger of living too much in the world of the mind or the body?
Based on your list, what are the core attributes of your ideal self? List 1-5.
If you had to reduce your list to 5 items or fewer, what would remain?
Specialization Tradeoff: If it turns out that achieving all goals across your categories is near impossible starting from your current age and stage of development, what would you focus on? Faced with choosing only one, which category would you keep?
What do your reduced list and category choice that say about you?
Final Words
Set a calendar reminder to revisit your list in six months.
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AESCEND, FRIEND
-Thaddeus