Author name: Chappie

Black Jack +

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Date: 8/1/20

QIC: Chappie

10 HIM got better, faster, stronger and a little fatter (thanks to YHC’s Coffeeteria, complements of Dunkin. Hey, the coffee was good!). No worries, PAX got fatter in fellowship too! Bonus: The impromptu car show was cool! Big welcome to FNG’s Timmy Rogers (n.k.a. F3 Biddie) and Luke Maloney (n.k.a. F3 Bolt). Among 16 PAX on our Q list YHC was super excited to be able to Q 2x in less than a week. Here’s the break down from a very muggy Saturday morning:

WARM-O-RAMA

• SSH – 18 IC

• Sealjacks – 30 IC

• Crabflippers – 18 IC

• High knees (in place) – 18 IC

• Compass Squats – Jump Squat & turn N, E, S, W (1 rotation = 1 rep) – 10 OYO (a new crowd-pleaser for sure, based on the mumble chatter

• MNC – 10 IC

PATRIOT RUN to North Bedford Street Park

THE THANG – Blackjack 21’s – Merkins/Reverse LBC’s

• “Hit me!” option from the F3 Workout Deck – 5x deal/per PAX

  • (21/Blackjack = a pass)
  • (Other draws = #of exercise on the cards)
  • (Sandbags = 4 sandbags/10 PAX. Never pass 1 by, carry to middle or end)
  • Keep track of your rounds. YHC was able to get to 9 Merkins/12 Reverse LBC’s/Gas Pumpers before time ran out

PATRIOT RUN – Return to AO

3rdF shared about mid-workout:

SUA SPONTE LEADERSHIP
YHC first heard of Sua Sponte leadership years ago from an illustration shared by Greg Laurie, making the point that Christ himself was a Sua Sponte leader.

Many, following the movie The Passion of the Christ, were claiming the film was anti-semetic. People were pointing fingers faulting the Jews, the Greeks and Romans, and everyone but themselves for the death of Christ. Fact is, he died for each of us as sinners and I’ve heard people say that if you were the only person who needed saved, Christ still would’ve died for you. In fact, 1 Timothy 2:4 says, “God…desires all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

He died in our place on the cross. He was arrested, beaten, tried and killed ALL FOR US and FOR ALL OF US. In reality, it was all my fault that he died! But as we bear the guilt or lay the blame on others (It was the Jews! It was the Romans! It was the Greeks!) the sinless Savior Himself was practicing Sua Sponte leadership, as He stated in John 10:18 – “No one takes it [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from the Father.”

He chose to die for you and for me…of His own accord!

The book, QSource, by one of F3’s founders, Dredd, says, “Sua sponte is Latin for of his own accord. [A man] acts Sua sponte when…he takes the initiative to act on his own accord. Sua sponte is also the motto of the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Reg. It is a recognition that to become a Ranger a man must be a triple volunteer: first the Army, then Airborne School and finally the Ranger Regiment. Rangers aren’t drafted, they must make the choice themselves–3x! The Rangers are elite because every man there is taught to be a Leader and every leader is directed to take the initiative to do what is necessary to accomplish the unit’s mission. (I.e. “I got this!”)

In F3, a Sua sponte leader is a man who has been freed to Lead. He is a Leader who exercises Individual Initiative (I2) by taking action in furtherance of his group’s articulated purpose WITHOUT SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS. He initiates movement toward advantage for his group in the absence of explicit authority because he is the rare man who will Lead with or without another Leader to direct him. He is That Somebody.

F3 could not function without HIMs willing to be That Somebody.”

F3 is an organization that was created in order to invigorate male community leadership. THAT is our mission. Carrying out that mission, whether it be communication, Site-Q’ing, organizing a 2ndF or 3rdF outreach opportunity, just plain old Q’ing, keeping each other accountable, stepping up to take someone’s place to Q, planting, growing, serving, etc., means each of us must be That Somebody, it means we must practice Sua sponte leadership…just like the Rangers, like many others before us, like Jesus Christ himself! (Quotes adapted from: Qsource, 189)

Tools of the Trade

A shameless plug for the tools of the trade in the above pic: Both are available at F3nation.com where you can click on the Gear button to pick up your own.

BOM/COT:

  • Announcements: Q schedule is out and includes a leadership Pow-Wow scheduled for Wednesday evening 9/2 @ 6:30 pm. Summit volunteered to host, details TBA. All invited!
  • Naming of FNG’s: Welcome again to Bolt & Biddie
  • Prayer: Prayer offered for a few PAX’s marriages. For Brineball, having a doc look at a nerve issue. For Chattahoochee. And a few others which slip YHC’s mind as of this writing, but they never slip God’s mind.

Lawn Chair Coffeeteria: YHC invited all PAX to stick around the circle after the COT for coffee/munchkins. Good times. Camaraderie.

Lawn Chair Coffeeteria

Paver Rinse & Repeat

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Name-O-Rama
Paver Aftermath… +9 more just like ’em

Date: 7/28/20

QIC: Chappie

YHC had the privilege to stand in the gap for Chattahoochee while he’s following quarantine protocol after he kissed a girl and he liked it. Got you covered brother…”I got this” if you know what I mean Quattro.

Today’s workout called for pulling out the stack of pavers in YHC’s shed–they haven’t been out since WBOC posted and did a Delmarva Life story on F3 First State, so YHC dusted them off, chalked them up with some new motivational messages, and put ’em to work again in the hands of 11 strong PAX.

Remember when…

WARM-O-RAMA:
• SSH – 18 IC
• Swartzjacks – 18 IC
• IW – 10 IC
• Prisoner Squats – 15 IC
• Shoulder Tap Merkins – 10 OYO

Patriot Run (around short block)

THE THANG:

(Partner Up)
Paver Pass
• American Hammers/Plank & switch (til each team does sandbag transfer – 2 sandbags opposite ends of parking lot, partners run and switch bags to other ends all while everyone else is doing AH’s or in Plank)


Paver Drive
• 1 PAX drives paver, other runs cones/ switch (4 rotations)
☆ Cone 3 to 4:
Dragon Crawl,
Bearcrawl,
Crawlbear,
Inchworm Merkin

Shout-out to Fireplex (who bowed out to respond to the fire call, but gave us a good piece from the Night Train as they were going by). Monkey Humpers…next time! To all the men and women of Milton Fire 85, thank you for all that you do to keep our community safe.

Paver Overhead Squat Press
• 1 PAX POSP, partner runs to Cone 3
☆ 8, 6, 4, 2 Burpees per round …great push on the extra credit Burpees Waterfall!

Paver Sunday Drive – Done as bonus (not punishment) by teams who finished early — it pays to win!
• PAX Wosey “Drive” w/paver

3rd F shared mid-workout – First, PAX took the time to read the motivational message on each paver, then…

Thomas Edison said, “If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astound ourselves.”

Back in May YHC watched an episode of one of the ESPN E60’s. It was titled Cliff Diving, but it wasn’t about cliff-diving at all. Instead it was about a man named Cliff Devries, diving.

Cliff is the diving coach at Rochester Institute of Technology. He says in the documentary, “You might see me walking down the road and think ‘Man, he’s got it rough,’ but there’s more…which is a little beyond what you think right now.”

In high school Cliff was the Empire State Games diving champion and selected as an All-American in his junior and senior years. That led to a scholarship to dive for the University of Kentucky with Olympic dreams.

As a diver he was always pushing himself to get better and to do harder, more complicated, dives. He was a competitor! But then he noticed his movements were getting worse. I’ve seen some of the videos of this highly skilled diver, flopping on his back. Something was going wrong.

An MRI revealed that a 6″ tumor in his spinal column was the cause of the loss of movement in his shoulder and arm. At 21-yrs-of-age, complications during surgery to remove the tumor, left him with severe trauma to his spinal chord. Totally paralyzed on his right side, he was told he’d be in a wheelchair the rest of his life.

Cliff grew tired of hearing that and determined he’d walk again.

His walk would leave you with some impressions, but he does walk. He has been coaching at RIT since 1999 and has always longed to get back on the diving board. A few years ago Cliff Devries did just that, and it has now became his annual tradition to dive on his birthday. He slowly climbs the 10M ladder, shuffles to the end of the spring board and dives in to the applause of his family, his team, and the crowd watching.

Such an inspiration, as he’s telling his story he states:
• “There’s always more to you; there’s always more to what YOU CAN do.”
He reiterates, “You might see me walking down the road and think, ‘he’s got it rough,’ but when you look beyond what’s on the surface, there’s always more!”

Hw says, “You’re not gonna find alot of beauty in what I do; it’s alot of hard work, alot of emotion, all balled up into a half-second fall into the water.

But then he asks a series of inspiring questions: “When you see my dive, what else can YOU do? What can you find in yourself? And this question is even more key: What can you find in others? When you look in the mirror, what else is there? What more can you bring out–which is a little beyond what you think right now?

All of this brings to mind the familiar verse from Philippians 4:13, which says, “I can do all things through [Christ] who strengthens me.” That verse is meant to inspire us in a variety of life’s situations where we cannot seem to find strength to go on, or to do what we need to do; it’s meant to carry us through in stating that we can, in fact, find whatever strength is necessary, both in highs and lows, by trusting in Jesus Christ.

I think as leaders, as High Impact Men (HIM), husbands, fathers, and brothers we ought to be asking ourselves (and those around us) the same questions: When we look in the mirror we have to be inspired to ask: What else is there? What else do you have? What more can you bring out…which is a little beyond what you think right now?

COT:

  • Announcements:
    • All PAX invited to join YHC & Gump this evening in Georgetown for RuckingChallenges “Scav Ruck”. Friday Gloom will be the “Suns Out Guns Out” ruck, all PAX also invited to join the fun: Step off @ 2 a.m. for first 7 miles at Primis in Lewes, final 3 miles will be part of Roving RuckF3st Friday.
    • YHC reiterated that the COT is just that, a Circle Of Trust and that the GroupMe is an extension of that. Just a maintenance issue to continue to build our trust with one-another and to lock shields.
  • Prayers: YHC prayed for PAX to be able to live out the inspiration heard from Cliff Devries. Prayed for Chattahoochee. Prayed for Semi’s family traveling to and from GA. And Praised for Fireplex and others who serve as VF in our communities.

Special thanks to Chattahoochee for the opportunity to stand in the gap. Honored to Q. Humbled to lead. Always grateful for those who won that first battle (over the fartsack) and posted to get better and get stronger and there’s never any regrets for doing that! Well..almost never. You lapped those who slept.

~Chappie, out!

The Soupy Deck of Death. Kinda.

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Date: 07/09/20

QIC: Chappie

Us four and no more cut through the soupy fog to post at the Grit Mill and cut through the soupy humidity–all the way around it was a thick soupy Gloom!

Warm-O-Rama:

  • SSH – 10 IC
  • Albatross Wings – Single Count IC
    • 20 x Forward Arm Circles
    • 20 x Backward Arm Circles
    • 20 x Seal Claps
    • 20 x Overhead Claps
  • Swartzjacks – 10 IC
  • IW – 20 IC
  • Compass Squats – 10 IC (Squat while jumping to turn N, E, S, & W = 1 rep.)
  • Cherry Pickers – 20 IC

Patriot Chase to Milford Church of God (Parking Lot) – 1 PAX ran ahead with the Shovel-Flag, while rest of PAX did 3 Burpees. PAX would then run to catch the flag, and slow down til all PAX caught up. PAX rotated through carrying the Shovel-Flag and doing Burpees (rinse & repeat) til destination was reached. Soupy Patriot Chase!

The Thang: (Had to break out the brand-new Workout Deck purchased during the quarantine–YHC couldn’t wait any longer…)

Upon arriving at the MCOG parking lot, PAX did mosey variations (Mosey, Nur, Side-Shuffles, etc.) back and forth across lot, taking turns drawing cards from the F3 Workout Deck (i.e. “Deck of Death”) at the starting point each time.

YHC Shared the following 3rd Word (3rdF) somewhere around mid-workout:

In Mark 10:17-22, we read: “As Jesus started on his way, a [rich] man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. “Good teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?”Jesus answered. “No one is good—except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.’” “Teacher,” he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”

——————————————

This portion of Scripture is not just about a [rich man]. Too many people read it and conclude, “I’m not rich, so it doesn’t apply to me.” But the passage is about so much more: As the man approaches Jesus, he’s got one thing very wrong. He wants to know what he must do. (I.e. what he can do to gain eternal life.)

After Jesus points him to God and begins to list the commandments, the man grows perturbed. His response: “Teacher all these I have kept since I was a boy,” tells us he was oozing with self-righteousness. He’s worked hard; he’s kept all the rules; he’s tried his best.

But Jesus sees things differently. Jesus’ response is key: “Jesus looked at him and loved him. “One thing you lack,” he said. “Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”

YHC wants you to see what Jesus’ love looks like in this story: He loves the man too much to allow him to continue in his self-deluded little world of sweat, hard work and determination. He is not willing to stroke the man’s ego and tell him how wonderful he is. Instead, Jesus issues a command. It’s a very poignant moment: Jesus loves the man–and He lets him walk away. He doesn’t chase after him or lower the bar. He doesn’t negotiate and settle on a lower figure that the man will be willing to give. Jesus demands it all.

That is the command and there’s no budging. It’s not just hard. It is an impossible command. Jesus set the bar so high precisely because He loves this man. The point is this, and it is the point for us all: The man had reduced eternal life to SOMETHING HE COULD ACHIEVE, that it was within his power to gain–yes, I can do that!

But now he was confronted with something that was absolutely beyond him. He was brought to a place of realizing he could not do what he thought he could do.

Jesus loves us too much to stroke our egos as well, and tell us how fabulous we are. Instead, He issues commands that are far beyond our ability to obey in order to drive us to him.

Don’t run from that. It doesn’t feel comfortable; it doesn’t give us warm fuzzy feelings about how great we are. But in that moment, in that place of weakness, we can learn to whisper these two words: I can’t. And THAT honors God far more than you’ll ever know.

The man’s right response to the command would be to fall on his knees and speak the words, “I can’t do it.” Only then, with his self-confidence and self-righteousness in tatters and his heart exposed, would he be ready to receive the kingdom of God like a little child. (Mark 10:15)

Perhaps the best summary YHC can give you of what I’m sharing today, is found in Titus 3:8, “He [God] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.”

Truly, HIM have whispered these two words: I can’t. And in that very moment they’ve not only expressed trust in God, but have found Him to be the One who can!

With that, we got in a couple more rounds, then us four and no more mosey’d back to the AO. It’s a wrap!

COT:

  • Announcements – PAX invited to get in on the “Suns Out Guns Out” ruck this month.
  • Prayers: Chappie’s mom; Chairman; etc.

Soupy day with the fog and the humidity/heat, but the PAX showed up and cut right through it like a deck of cards–a Workout Deck, that is! PAX didn’t quite make it through the deck so it was only kinda a Deck of Death. No worries, YHC will break it out again soon!

Always grateful for the opportunity to Q!

~Chappie, out!

D-Day+76[Years]

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COT @ Georgetown, DE WWII Memorial

6 June 2020

QIC: Chappie

14 PAX posted at the Aegis AO in Georgetown for a D-Day inspired workout by Chappie that went a little something like this…

WARM-O-RAMA

  • SSH – 18 IC
  • IW – 18 IC
  • Cherry Picker – 10 IC
  • SwartzJack – 18 IC
  • MNC – 18 IC

PATRIOT RUN – for 2 reasons:

1) Today is 76th Anniversary of D-Day!

2) We should NEVER be ashamed to fly it high! And fly it high we should!

>>>To County Bank Steps      (We’ll chalk that one up as practice…know what YHC means?)

Who said that? “Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force: You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.      Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to victory! I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory! Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.  ~Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Supreme Allied Commander, 6 June 1944.

Workout: PAX Plank, each, in turn goes to top & back down. (1 rotation)

PATRIOT RUN:

>>>To School Field:

Almost nothing went exactly as planned on June 6, 1944. In the end, partly due to poor weather and visibility, bombers failed to take out key artillery, particularly at Omaha Beach. Many paratroopers were dropped far off their marks and became vulnerable to German snipers. And during the land invasion, a critical fleet of marine tanks sunk in stormy seas and failed to make it ashore. Despite the setbacks, Allied troops pushed through and by pure grit, got the job done. 

Workout:

Round 1: Low-Crawl to 1st Sidewalk (get low!)

  • LZ Jumps (Squat Jump, Parachute Landing Fall style w/feet & knees together) – 33 Single Count     
  • Merkins – 33 SC

Round 2: Run For Cover! (He sees you, get down! & low-crawl | Run for cover!, get up and run) from 1st SW to 4th SW and back. Snipe got YHC on this one, ankle’s still a little stiff but only because Chauffeur asked about it!

Round 3: Low-Crawl to start

  • LZ Jumps – 33 SC (Squat Jumps PLF style)
  • Hand-Release Merkins – 33 SC (Brutal, but when you’re ready to quite, remember they didn’t – Burp if you need a break/rest)     

YHC Omaha’d the rest of the field workout due to time constraints, time to move!

PATRIOT WOSEY:

>>>Around corner to School Parking Lot:

French businessman Bernard Marie was 5 years old and living in Normandy on June 6, 1944. He remembers before the Allied invasion, he and his friends could not go out and play on the beaches because “Mother couldn’t trust anybody. So, for me, everybody wearing a uniform was a bad guy.” Bernard Marie recalls when the shooting was done. He heard his mother outside yelling, so he and his grandfather ran upstairs to follow her. “I will never forget,” he says, “She was hugging a soldier! I could not understand that. For me it was a bad guy. So she called me to come and said, ‘These soldiers are good, they’ve come to save us.'” To this day, Bernard Marie is grateful to that soldier—and to all the veterans who fought to liberate France from the Nazis. “The most important thing for any human being is freedom,” he says. “We cannot forget the 6th of June.”

Workout:

Advance & Retreat – PAX took turns calling Advance! or Retreat! for length of parking lot (kinda like suicides but not…)

  • Advance! – mosey forward
  • Retreat !– nuR back

PATRIOT RUN: (With a self-imposed punishment run by Quattro who everyone else thought was running ahead to get pics. No pics, but it did bring an important life lesson: Pay attention to details. Lol! Accelerating man!

>>>To Armory:

PAX acknowledged family members who fought in WWII, especially D-Day. Some of those mentioned…

Chauffeur’s grandfather, somewhere in the crowd
Quattro’s grandfather (L), SPC James H. Baxter Jr.
Chappie’s grandfather, CPL William Goodwin

We’ve done a lot of 33 reps today. Explanation: Done to honor YHC’s grandfather, CPL William Goodwin, who jumped into Normandy with his 508th PIR (Red Devil Regiment (82nd Airborne). They fought for the next 33 days in and around Chef-du-Pont before being sent back to England and preparing to jump again in Holland (Operation Market Garden).

Workout:

(Start at curb) Bearcrawl to top of steps – 33 American (of course!) Hammers, return… (again YHC cut out the rinse & repeat which included: 33 X’s & O’s & 33 Gas Pumpers (4-count)

PATRIOT RUN:

>>>Return to AO at WWII Memorial:

Other quotes:

“We’ll start the war from right here!” ~ Brig. Gen. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., Assistant Commander of the 4th Infantry Division, upon finding that his force had been landed in the wrong place on Utah Beach. (Yes, that’s who you think it is)

“I took chances on D-Day that I never would have taken later in the war.”      ~First Sgt. C. Carwood Lipton, 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division. (Band of Brothers)

PAX circled up for the COT around the WWII Memorial

  • Number-Rama
  • Name-O-Rama
  • Named FNG: Welcome to Ruxpin’s 2.0, Peyton (now F3 Peddles)
  • Announcements & Prayers

A huge welcome back to Summit! We’ve missed you! Great to have you in the ranks again, brother. As always, YHC is grateful and humbled by the opportunity to lead these awesome HIM. Always inspired to hear the stories of WWII veteran’s from our own families as well. Let’s live lives that honor the sacrifices of those from the Greatest Generation.

~Chappie, out!

The H.O.B./M.E. 500

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The so-named workout will become evident as you read on but it was done in honor of the race that is always run on Memorial Day — The Indianapolis 500. This year it is postponed to later this Summer in August. Meanwhile, it served as a good motivator for the first workout at CHOP since mid-March.

Monday was the “official” reload of F3 First State since the shutdown and it was a good one! The relaunch was a brutal 2nd Annual Memorial Day Mini CSAUP at Cape Henlopen State Park. 13 PAX started the day with a mile-long double Patriot Run to the beach, planted the shovel flags, promptly got completely wet, and commenced to making “sugar cookies” between sets of Sandbear and recitations of the F3 principles: Open to all men. Free. Always outdoors, rain or shine, hot or cold. Peer led. And always end with a COT. It all unraveled from there. But it was awesome to be back together! PAX shared brief bio’s of fallen warriors throughout the workout to keep focused on the reason for the Day. We ended the 2-hr CSAUP with a tailgate coffeeteria.

The morning after: 13 PAX posted again for what was originally scheduled as a day of reeecovery. Yet the draw of being circled up together again for motivation, accountability, locking shields, and to be sharpened “as iron sharpens iron,” drew PAX out of the fartsack to ignore recovery for a Chappie led H.O.B./M.E. 500 — so named after the perfect little oval in front of these two elementary schools: H.O. Brittingham & Milton Elementary…

The Oval

First things first…

WARM-O-RAMA: (something like this)

Disclaimer given because it’s been so long, and because of the presence of an FNG; welcome Spread!

  • SSH – 18 IC
  • Crab Flippers – 18 IC
  • Moroccan Night Clubs – 18 IC (not Arm-Circles Chappie!)
  • Windmill – 18 IC

Mosey’d to H.O.B. & M.E.

3rd F YHC chose to share his 3rd F word to be sure to get it in:

First, a quick recitation from the PAX of F3 core principles and mission.

See if you can finish this very popular verse from Jeremiah 29:11 : “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you…’ <PAUSE> …’a future and a hope.'”

We tend to think the 2 most important thoughts of this verse are that God will give us A FUTURE and A HOPE.

But I’ve been re-thinking this lately because in our nation, our state, and our communities we’re surrounded not only by signs people are putting on their front lawns with the word “hope.” on them, but behind those signs are people concerned about an undetermined and unknown future. They’re looking for hope. Maybe you are too!

Whether we’re talking about businesses, schools, churches or other entities that have been affected by the shutdown who wonder if they’ll be able to reopen and what it will look like when/if they do, nobody likes an unknown future. That’s why I think there are 2 words in Jeremiah 29:11 that are even more important than the words “future” and “hope.” I’m talking about the words: “I KNOW.” God was saying to Israel, the false prophets don’t know the future, but “I know.” Israel themselves didn’t know the future, but God said, “I know.” Our federal, state, and local governments can’t even pretend to know the future, but God says, “_______________.”

Admit it, having an unknown future bugs us! It’s disorienting! I don’t know the future, and you don’t know the future, but the most important part of this verse, that part which actually gives us hope, is that God says, “I know…I ALONE know…the plans I have for you.” This is a call to turn to God and trust Him!

“For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.'” Trust Him for those plans, THAT future!

The Thang:

PAX partnered up and completed the following exercises cumulatively (Partner 1 runs lap, partner 2 exercises, swap, rinse and repeat to total number of reps were completed:

  • 100 – Apollo Ono
  • 200 – Merkins
  • 300 – Seal Jacks
  • 400 – Squats
  • 500 – LBC’s (500, get it?)

Mosey return to CHOP AO

Number-Rama

Name-O-Rama – Welcome again, Jalil Davis (F3 Spread)

COT – Prayers lifted for several PAX and family members, etc.

Honored to Q the reload workout at CHOP. Welcome back, welcome, back, welcome back…

Chappie, out!

COVID-19 Comz

/ Leave a Comment / Aegis, CHOP, Georgetown, Lewes, Milford, Milton, DE, The Grit Mill / By

DATE: 03/17/20

Men of F3 Nation,

Our country and countries across the world are being greatly affected by COVID-19. Here is the “official” statement from F3 Nation on what is happening right now.

We are a #Starfish. Our mission is explicitly to invigorate male community leadership. Our hope is that we, to some degree or other, have done this. Therefore, we urge you to look locally to your Nant’ans for guidance on what you may want to do on the ground where you are. From Charlotte, we can’t know what the best practice is for Omaha, nor would we pretend to. Omaha will know what to do for Omaha, the same is to be said for regions across the Nation. 

Be smart. We’ve all likely seen by now the many practices that are recommended by the CDC and other experts. In fact, very many of the great Leaders and Nant’ans of F3 have already put out guidelines for how they suggest things be handled locally in their regions. For example, in Puget Sound, where the virus made US landfall, they have been adjusting their COTs to not include a BOM, encouraging men to stay home if they feel sick, no partner work, etc. Again, look local for what you all might do to avoid spread of both the virus and any panic that may surround it.

LEAD. It is times like these that we now get to put into practice all this stuff we’ve talked about over the years. We have attempted to get ready for the expected, while staying ready for the unexpected… this is truly unexpected, unprecedented even… Lean in, do good, find a way to be useful and of service to your family and your community (even if that truly is staying home because you aren’t sure if you’ve been infected) and then articulate your vision of how you intend to help people… persuade them to join in the help, and exhort them as necessary.

Men, THIS is the kind of thing that we were made for. THIS is the kind of thing that you’ve been getting ready for by posting and living third. Go make cool stuff happen… we will get through this just fine.

We love you, and if the Nation can help in terms of resources, communication or otherwise, on a level past your local region, let us know. We will.
ISI,

Dark Helmet (The Darkest of All)

Abicides

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QIC: Chappie

DATE: 03/10/20

14 HIM beat the lag from the new hours of Daylight Savings Time and posted at CHOP in Milton, DE for some ab work. Plus, the PAX got in their fair share of Merkins for March Merkin Madness (actually only 147 total).

WARM-O-RAMA: (Intended for Phyfe but he couldn’t make it because of working the Blue Light Special today – no worries, we’ll get him on the schedule again.)

  • SSH – 18 IC
  • Swartzjack – 18 IC
  • Smurfjack – 18 IC
  • Plankjack – 18 IC
  • Crabflippers – 18 IC

THE THANG:

PAX lined up single file at the edge of the field which had 6 cones lined up evenly from one end of the field to the other (lit up with chem-lights – you gotta admit it was cool looking!)

  • RR Tracks to the far cone (approx. 175 yards)
  • Cone #1 – COP Hello Dolly – 50 IC (…and the mumble chatter begins)
  • Mosey to parking lot – 6 Merkins OYO
  • First 3 guys back to lot had to grab a Restrictor Plate (Sandbag)
  • Mosey out to Cone #2 – COP X’s & O’s – 18 OYO
  • Mosey to parking lot – 12 Merkins OYO (from here on Restrictor Plates were voluntary, at least for the most part. Well, see what happened was…instead of mumble chatter there was some “mumble yelling” by the enforcer, Leatherman, to get everyone to step up and shoulder 1 of the 3 sandbags (i.e. some guys appeared to be bypassing the bags)
  • Mosey out to Cone #3 – COP 4-Count Freddies – 25 IC
  • Mosey to parking lot – 18 Merkins OYO
  • Mosey out to Cone #4 – COP Box Cutters – 30 IC
  • Mosey to parking lot – 24 Merkins OYO
  • Mosey to Cone #5 – COP Dying Cockroaches – 30 IC
  • Mosey to parking lot – 30 Merkins OYO
  • Mosey to Cone #6 – COP American Hammers – 30 IC

This is how it went…back and forth like suicides, only for abs instead.

PAX circled up for 3rdF:

One of the more popular Bible verses referred to in F3 circles is Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

Most of us have shared that verse as part of a 3rdF, and if not, all of us have at least heard it because it’s been shared regularly.

Iron sharpening iron is a pretty simple concept. We all get it—I think that’s why its included in the Book of Proverbs—its masculine practicality speaks to the hearts of all men!

I’m referring to it today in terms of the leadership principle/practice of ACCOUNTABILITY. By very definition, without accountability there’s no iron sharpening iron. Having no accountability makes you about as useful as the file hanging by itself on a hook in my shed. (P.S. – proper use is critical!)

The question I want to pose is this: In an age when there is so little accountability (i.e. men refuse accountability) do you have someone to whom you’ve MADE YOURSELF ACCOUNTABLE—willingly? I’m not talking about your workplace, where you’re subordinate to a supervisor or to someone who holds your paycheck. But I’m talking about a brother in the Lord, a brother in this circle, or another man, who, in any given circumstance can not only encourage you but call into question a decision, a motive, a response, a reaction, or a path you’ve taken? Have you made your heart receptive to the counsel of someone who might even wound you so that you’ll continue to grow and mature as a man, a husband, a father, and friend? Earlier, Proverbs 27 also says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend…” (27:6). If you don’t have that other piece of iron in your life (I think Mr. T’s words might be for you: “I pity the fool!)

The term ACCOUNTABILITY as its defined in our F3 lexicon is: “Submitting to a standard through enforcement and consequence. To practice Accountability, there must be a STANDARD (and objective measure of performance or behavior…p.s., you’re NOT it!), ENFORCEMENT (an external force to apply that Standard), and CONSEQUENCE (the result of the Enforcement of the Standard). This is certainly a larger definition by context than just a friendship with a brother from another mother, yet it still applies to iron sharpening iron.

That verse means that when iron is rubbed against another piece of iron it SHAPES and SHARPENS it. Similarly, we as men, can help each other become better by our discussions, criticisms, suggestions, ideas, and accountability. As HIM we should not only provide that kind of influence, whether good or bad, but we MUST welcome it as well!

The verse implies both the pleasure and advantage of accountability. Accountability means you have wise and profitable discourses by which you sharpen and are sharpened. I.e. something is added—you are filed, made smooth, or are given a good edge by accountability with another High Impact Man (HIM)…or other High Impact Men (plural). One last question: Do you have the MORAL COURAGE to make decisions for which you will be held accountable?

(Sources: QSOURCE by DREDD, F3nation.com Lexicon, & TBKC)

THE THANG #2:

PAX moved to the wall for a short game of Merkin Dice. PAX took turns rolling the BIG dice to determine the number of Merkins to be done between 10-Count BTTW’s. It went a little something like this:

  • Roll #1 – 10 reps
  • BTTW – 10 Count
  • Hand Release Merkins – 10 OYO
  • Roll #2 – 5 reps
  • BTTW – 10 Count
  • Tempo Merkins – 5 IC
  • Roll #3 – 6 reps
  • BTTW – 10 Count, courtesy of Leatherman. Recount courtesy of Doubtfire
  • Prison Cell Merkins – 6 OYO

Times up…and good thing because somebody’s pain was starting to become “special.” Lol. Plus, PAX had to have time to name our FNG>

COT/BOM:

  • Number-Rama
  • Name-O-Rama
  • Naming of FNG – Welcome FNG Jeff Chorman, now known in F3 circles as Woodstock
  • Announcements:
    • Softball games Saturday in Milton to raise support for Delaware Food Bank: Bring your non-perishable food items to the ball fields (Suggestion: You could ruck them to the ball fields.)
    • 2nd Annual Shamruck: Family Ruck this Sunday (3/15). Stepping off from the Big Lot’s parking lot in Milford at 3:17 p.m. Rucking 1 mile to McDonald’s for Shamrock Shakes. Rucking 1 mile to return to parking. Bring a ruck (40 lbs if you weigh over 150, 20 lbs if you weigh under 150. If the kids can’t ruck pull ’em in a wagon, bring friends, etc. Let’s just enjoy some time together under ruck and having some quality 2ndF and giving our families the opportunity to get to know one another.
  • Prayers: Stafford Family, effected by cancer. Family of Trion’s M’s uncle, Roger. YHC’s friend, undergoing brain tumor removal tomorrow. Other PAX’s families battling for the marriages, etc. P.S. – don’t forget to pray for Quattro, who is sick.

Grateful for the beautiful weather and the amazing full moon to workout under. More than anything, YHC is grateful for the HIM who posted and the accountability that is available (for all who are willing) through this special esprit de corps among F3 brothers. Thanks for posting men!

~ Chappie, out!

Pretty Colors

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DATE: 02/25/20

QIC: Chappie

Eleven PAX posted at CHOP this Gloom for a beatdown hosted by YHC himself. Some wonder was expressed over where the other (potentially) 12+ PAX were at on such a perfect day, and for the first beatdown of F3 First State workout week.

YHC has been trying not to be a “numbers watcher” but, hey, you’ve gotta understand there’s been just a little invested in the past 3.5 years to put a shovel-flag in the ground here in the First State and get this mustard seed growing. So, yeah, there’s this tendency (because of ownership) to watch the numbers and want to see both F3 PAX and more and more FNG’s welcomed into the fold. Put it this way, if you’d been the one to put the first shovel-flag in the ground in the First State, you’d very likely want to see all the guys out, all the time; you’d want to see every man consistently win over the fartsack in order to sharpen others and make F3FirstState the best it can be. That’s a pretty high expectation, yet YHC is aware of reality too. Nonetheless, he merely wants to see that ownership spread [ownership in a healthy way…as in responsibility]. Still, we had 11 who broke the grip of the fartsack this morning, and it was the perfect number for a beatdown in honor of Faye Marie Swetlik.

YHC saw the post last night calling PAX across the F3Nation to wear the brightest colors we had to our workouts on Tuesday, Feb 25th. Known for wearing our dark colors, the bright colors instead were worn to honor Faye, a 6-yr-old girl who loved pink and purple and brought sunshine into the lives of all those around her. You likely saw on the news that Faye was recently abducted from her front yard in Cayce, SC. Sadly, she was found deceased 4 days later near her home.

YHC used to land-survey all over the community of Cayce, but F3 PAX from AO’s in that area have both family and friends familiar with the family—some of their 2.0’s went to school with Faye.

Wearing bright colors was a small thing for our PAX to do this morning, but it was at least one way for us to stand in a shield-lock with F3 brothers, the Swetlik family, the community of Cayce, and all those, especially LEOS, who spent countless hours searching for 6-yr-old Faye. Our hearts go out to everyone effected by this tragedy. YHC appreciates all the PAX who read the post last nite and came dressed for success at today’s workout…

Leatherman
Quattro
The boys

WARM-O-RAMA:

  • SSH – 10 IC
  • Imperial Walkers – 10 IC
  • The Motivator – 10’s Single Count IC (YHC still has to figure out how to properly end this heart-pumper)
  • Crab Flippers – 10 IC (A legit local favorite, cousin to the Cherry Picker)
  • Hillbilly Walker – 10 IC
  • Windmill – 10 IC

Patriot Run to “Merlot Hill” (a.k.a. the end of Behringer Street by the park, so named after a PAX by the same name. And, yes, you know why!)

THE THANG:

YHC introduced the conspicuously placed Restrictor Plates (20lb sandbags) lying in the shade beside the power pole.

The Workout: 11’s on the hill.

  • Merkins at bottom and top. The sandbags? Only rule was that you could never pass one up (unless you had just carried it either to the top or bottom) 11 PAX, 2 bags…no problem. Everyone got their fair share of carries by the time this series was completed. No one slowed! No one quit! No one passed up opportunities to carry an extra 20 lbs!
  • 110 Merkins total + Racing hearts = Great cardio
  • And…no one splashed!

PAX Circled Up for 3rdF:

The leadership strategy of subordinating your ego.

A few verses I want to share as an underlying foundation for today’s 3rdF:

▪1 Pet. 5:5-6 say, “You younger men, likewise, he subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one-another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives GRACE to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”

▪Critical Quote: Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less.

▪Rom. 12:3 “For through the GRACE given to me I say to every man among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought...”

I’m reading Jocko’s book LEADERSHIP STRATEGY AND TACTICS. In one portion he talks about Subordinating Your Ego. As men we tend to think AND practice otherwise, but subordinating your ego IS a leadership strategy!

Jocko tells of meeting with senior executives from a young and very successful company. He was impressed with all of them! The COO, the CFO, the CTO were all solid! Then he tells of meeting the CEO. The guy had been an NCAA athlete. A 6’5″ beast! He’d earned his MBA at an Ivy League school. Was already running a hundred-million-dollar company in his mid 30’s! Was physically impressive, and had a massive ego to match. His attitudes and the look on his face screamed “I’m better than you are!”

Jocko said there was immediate tension because of the guy’s enormous ego. But after realizing that ALL of the CEO’s senior executives and midlevel managers liked and respected the man, Jocko assumed “He’s got them all fooled!”

At several of the company’s training sessions, Jocko observed the man’s self-important, ego-driven attitudes. He wondered, “what the heck is wrong with this guy?”

As he pondered why fellow executives weren’t bothered by the CEO’s conceit and self-importance, Jocko began to think, “Wait, is it possible the problem is me? Could it be my ego causing this problem? Was there a chance that my ego was intimidated by all this and that I was the one who was acting like an idiot?” His conclusion: “Of course—Our two massive egos were bumping into each other and causing friction.”

At one break Jocko asked the man to step out in the hallway, out of earshot from the other team members, where they could talk. He gave him a quick assessment: “Your leaders are solid. Your company has great morale. Everyone understands the mission here. But the most impressive thing I’ve seen here is you….” He spoke of several more items about the CEO that brought Jocko to the point of telling him he was impressed and that he had nothing but respect for the CEO. RESULT: They talked of their deep respect for one another and both laughed as the tension between their two egos disappeared.

Jocko wrote: “The problem was solved. How? Simple. As soon as I was able to detach and recognize that this was a clash of egos, all I had to do was humble myself for a minute; I had to subordinate my own ego to allow the tension to break. Once I did that, the problem was solved.” “Subordinating your ego is actually the ultimate form of self-confidence. That level of confidence earns respect.” He said, “To put your ego in check, to subordinate your ego, you must have incredible confidence. If you find you cannot put your ego in check because you’re afraid it might make you look weak, then guess what? YOU ARE WEAK. Don’t be weak.

Subordinate your ego. Build relationships. Win the long game” (Adapted from Leadership Strategy and Tactics 72-78) …a great read, get it!

▪Philippians 2:3-4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind let each of you regard one another as more important than himself; do not look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”

I love that: Don’t be weak! Subordinate your ego, its what HIM do!

Patriot Run back to the CHOP AO: Shovelflag + two 20lb sandbags. YHC said next time we’re taking the backstreets. Moseying back up Union was a bit of a clusterbanger (Rush hour in Milton!)

Short round of Mary complements of Leatherman, Beeker, & Fireplex (Flutterkicks, LBC’s, and Crabjacks respectively)

COT/BOM:

Announcements:

  • Saturday, March 7 workout moved to Crossroad Community Church @ 6 a.m., instead of the usual 7, followed by breakfast and Operation Timothy Men’s Conference at the church. (See Quattro for details)
  • Lucky Rucker, March rucking challenge by @ruckingchallenges. Whoever is a HC and wants to roll the dice for accountability, stick around because YHC has the BIG dice available…see results below
  • Sunday, March 15 @ 3:17 p.m. Annual Shamruck Family Ruck. Park in Big Lots parking lot in Milford. 1 mile around industrial park loop to McDonald’s for Shamrock Shakes, 1 mile return. Bring the M, the 2.0’s, and friends and family. Bring the wagons and strollers! Recommended weight: Over 150lbs, you carry 30lb ruck; under 150, you carry 20lb ruck. The weight, however, is not important—the 2nd F is!
Nothing like a ruck with a reward: Shamrock Shakes!

Prayers:

  • Hoffstetler family
  • PAX’s Marriages
  • Swetlik family in Cayce, SC
  • Chairman’s mom, ankle surgery
  • Semi’s M, Leah, going for job interview
Chappie: 6 Rucks, 4 miles each
Leatherman: 5 Rucks, 4 miles each
Ruxpin: 3 Rucks, 5 miles each

That’s a wrap! Honored to lead the workout and offer a little something for transformation as HIM. Thanks men for posting! Remember: Don’t be weak!

~Chappie, out!

21’s & 4 Years

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DATE: 02/13/20

QIC: Chappie

The Grit Mill was 5 solid this morning with HIM who won THAT FIRST BATTLE by overcoming the fartsack, dropped the DRP, and posted in some soggy weather. It was a celebration beatdown at the hands of YHC for a 4-year “Manniversary.” (Details will follow in the 3rdF below…read on!)

WARM-O-RAMA:

If you don’t know Jack, you do now…

  • SSH (a.k.a. – Jumping Jacks) – 18 IC
  • Smurfjacks – 18 IC
  • Swartzjacks – 20 IC (forgot to stop at 18!)
  • Plankjacks – 18 IC
  • Splitjacks – 18 IC
  • Sealjacks – 18 IC
  • Sorry Fireplex…no Crabjacks.

Mosey to Arena’s parking with 2 sandbags being swapped between PAX along the way. Here’s a freebie: YHC explained along the way that parking at the Milford Senior center was completely filled last night, as were surrounding streets, and the entire lot at Arenas. YHC had to park a block-and-a-half away to get to the NRA-ILA meeting held at the Senior Center–proud that it was very well attended!

Upon arriving at the Arena’s parking lot (now all but empty) YHC explained the concept of “21’s”. At one end of the lot PAX would perform 20 Merkins, at the other end PAX would do 1 Gas Pumper. Rinse and repeat all the way down to 1 Merkin and 20 Gas Pumpers.

  • EXTRA RULE: PAX could not pass a sandbag. If a bag is free carry it to the other end of the lot. If you carried one there, you didn’t have to pick one up. Good tool to extend the suck a little. Here’s what it looks like on paper:
  • 20 Merkins – mosey to other end of lot – 1 Gas Pumper
    • mosey back picking up sandbag…
  • 19 Merkins ………….2 Gas Pumpers
  • 18 Merkins…………..3 Gas Pumpers
  • 17 Merkins…………..4 Gas Pumpers
  • 16 Merkins…………..5 Gas Pumpers
  • So on and so forth to we got to…
  • 1 Merkin…………….20 Gas Pumpers
  • When PAX got to 10 Merkins and 11 Gas Pumpers YHC called for a breather to share the following 3rdF about his Manniversary:

3rdF:

Four years ago I walked onto the parking lot at an AO called “The Dragon.” It was the parking lot of the York Comprehensive High School near where I lived in SC, and I’d showed up for my first F3 workout, after being EH’d by my buddy Wade — whom I would come to know by his newly minted F3 nickname, Nunchuk.

Wade had called me after his first workout and said, “You gotta come check this out!” He told me, “It’s a military style bootcamp workout. They do a lot of the exercises in cadence, etc. and it’s a great group of guys.” He was actually EH’ing me. Though I didn’t know it then, I would come to learn that an EH is called an Emotional Headlock. If you want to see F3 grow right here in Milford, the most effective way to make that happen is for you to make contact with other guys you know and invite them personally.

So anyway, I posted with my buddy Nunchuk and I was hooked! And it’s true: The fitness brings men out, but the fellowship is the glue that keeps them coming back.

That first time I was lost! I was familiar with exercising in cadence because I had served for nearly 12-years in the Army National Guard, but a lot of the exercises/names really threw me off (for instance, the Imperial Walker), so I spent a lot of time watching guys next to me in the COP’s.

That first day after the warmup, our Q ran us around to the other side of the high school where in a long alley-like concrete stretch between two wings of the high school we did 21’s!. It was tough! I wasn’t out of shape but I certainly wasn’t in shape either. In fact, I never finished the 21’s that day because the Q finally moved us on to something else. Thank God! I was gassed! Yet I was invigorated at the same time.

Here’s the thing that got me: The whole time guys were running past me going in the same or the opposite direction, they kept encouraging me by saying things like, “You got this! Good job! Keep it up! DFQ! Hang tough.” I knew in that moment I’d found a special brotherhood because they demonstrated that they’d never leave anyone behind. I’d found out they called it “picking up the 6.” That Saturday…I WAS THE SIX!”

Somewhere mid-workout the Q circled us up and shared a brief devotional message. Then he shared a little bit more about F3 mission, which is: “To plant, grow, and serve small workout groups of men for the invigoration of male community leadership.” Every aspect of what I was experiencing was exactly what I was looking for as a man! The physical fitness, the camaraderie with other men who are striving to be a better men and better leaders at home, in the workplace, and in the communities in which they serve, and the opportunity to lock shields and be strengthened and sharpen one-another in our faith “as iron sharpens iron” (Prov 27:17). And the Coffeeteria that followed was as awesome with about 10-12 guys.

So this week marks my 4 year manniversary! I’d only been in F3 for 4.5 months before I’d move here to Delaware, but for that period F3 became such a part of my life that I knew I had to bring it to Delaware where it didn’t exist yet. The group of guys I was leaving behind threw me and my wife a going away party, at which time they also gave me a shovel-flag and said, “Go plant that thing in Delaware!”

Here we are 3.5 years later, with 4 AO’s and a day dedicated to rucking: Roving RuckF3st Friday. F3 First State has touched the lives of more than 50 guys so far, we are seeing nearly 20 guys working out regularly, and we’re growing because HIM like yourselves continue to value the fitness, fellowship, and faith. We’re growing because HIM like you continue to own the mission by striving to be better leaders at home, in your workplaces, and in the communities in which you serve. F3 First State exists because of HIM like each of you! So keep up the good work! DFQ! Keep EH’ing guys around you, not necessarily so that F3 First State will grow (it will), but because you know that through F3, MEN will grow and become better leaders. “Leave no man behind, but leave no man where you found him!” LET’S KEEP PLANTING, GROWING, AND SERVING, MEN!

After the 3rd F, PAX got back to it and continued 21’s through to 1 Merkin and 20 Gas Pumpers.

Mosey’d back to the AO.

COUNT-O-RAMA

NAME-O-RAMA

BOM/COP:

Announcements: Annual “Shamruck” will take place on Sunday Afternoon. March 16. Details to follow but this is a family ruck to a nearby McDonald’s to get Shamrock shakes for St. Patty’s Day.

Prayers: PAX circled up and prayed for Chairman, Doubtfire, and Chauffeur and their “home fires”… Prayers also for Leatherman and for everyone else to stay healthy.

YHC appreciates all the PAX who posted in the sogginess of this Gloom; humbled by the opportunity to lead! Thanks men!

~Chappie, out

P.S. – Following the workout, YHC did Eh the Milford Police Officer who was observing our workout from across the street. He took a few cards to share with his peers, said he was watching us, and that it sounds good!

One More for Two – Four!

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DATE: 1/30/20

QIC: Chappie

While dreaming earlier this morning YHC was guided to another world. Time and time again when that happens, at sunrise YHC fights to stay asleep ’cause he doesn’t wan to leave the comfort of this place (name that tune). Nonetheless, it was time to rouse and post at The Grit Mill, for yet another beatdown in the name of #Two-Four…Kobe Bryant. Almost all the reps today were done with a Two-Four rep count simply to remember and honor one of the best ballers to ever play the game in our generation. The idea: Adopt the Mamba mentality which Kobe was so legendary for. Here’s how it want down:

WARM-O-RAMA

  • SSH – 24 IC
  • Squats – 24 IC
  • [Legit] Crab Flippers – 24 IC
  • Motivators – by the 10’s (Shout out to @sunspot and the Lanco PAX)
  • Calf Raises – 24 OYO

Alternating 2 baby sandbags (20-pounders) between one another, PAX Mosey’d to 4′ wall near east end of Gigante International Market parking lot. On this beautiful newly-discovered structure PAX did the following…

THE THANG:

  • Derkins – 24 OYO, Dragon Crawls – 24 Steps, MJB’s – 5 (return to wall)
    • Somebody mentioned going to Kobe’s first jersey number (8) to ease the pain. Lol! Nope!
  • Irkins – 24 OYO, Bear Crawl – 24 Steps, MJB’s – 10 (return to wall)
  • PC – 12 count 2x, Crawl Bear – 24 Steps, MJB’s – 15 (return to wall)
  • BTTW – 12 count 2x, Bear Crawl – 24 Steps, MJB’s – 20 (return to wall)
  • Iron Mikes – 12 OYO, Lt. Dan -24 Steps, MJB’s – “Two Four” (Return to parking lot)

3rdF BREATHER

This morning I’m sharing some thoughts adapted from Jocko Willink’s LEADERSHIP STRATEGIES & TACTICS. A portion of the book is about “The Power of Relationships” (48-51). In it he writes, “Leadership requires relationships. Good relationships with people above you, below you, and beside you…are critical for a strong team. The better the relationships, the more open and effective communication there is. The more communication there is, the stronger the team will be.”

He first talks about having a good relationship with those above you (i.e. your boss/bosses/managers, etc.) and gives this advice when it comes to building a trustworthy relationship with superiors:

▪ The first, most obvious way, (often overlooked) is PERFORMANCE. Your boss expects you to complete certain tasks. So COMPLETE THEM. On time. On budget. Without drama. Get the mission done.

▪ There will be things you might not be in 100% agreement with, do them anyway. It will always serve you well. If the boss wants you to fill out extra paperwork — Do it. If the boss wants you to cover a shift for someone else — You’ve got it! Does the boss want you to clean up an administrative mess that got spilled? — You’re on it! Even take on the nasty, low-reward missions that need executing — Get all over it.

▪ With each set of problems. Be the solution. With each problem you solved, the level of trust the boss has in you goes up.

▪ Over time, as you do what needs to get done, your boss/bosses will know that you’re the man who can be trusted to make things happen; you gain clout with the boss.

▪ Gaining clout with the boss allows you to give feedback or criticism of their plans if that becomes necessary (when time is right, and only when ego is set aside). So ultimately this leads back to one of the most powerful tools you could have as a leader and in the workplace — a good relationship with your boss. This will always lend itself to your team’s ability to BETTER accomplish the mission.

As followers of Christ, this ultimately (first) has everything to do with our relationship with God. God’s Word tells us,

“Whatever you do, do it heartily (with all of your heart), as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.” (Col.3:23-24)

▪ Personal experience. Years ago only a couple of years after I’d joined the Army Nat’l Guard, I got stuck with KP duty (“kitchen police”) during Annual Training at Ft. Drum. I’d been in a few years by this point so quite frankly I felt that it was beneath me to pull KP duty, after all I was a high ranking PFC! KP sucked in a regular mess hall, but what was worse was that we were in the field. The next morning my Sergeants roused me from my fartsack at O-Gawd-Thirty and took me for about a 15 minute drive to the location of our field kitchen. As we traveled the road, images of M*A*S*H episodes were flashing through my mind as I bounced around on the dew-covered back seat of that 1/4 ton Jeep. But it was far from humorous–I was cursing under my breath for getting stuck with a duty that NO ONE EVER WANTED to get stuck with. I was mad as a hornet. As about a “3-yr-old” Christian, I knew the things I was saying under my breath were wrong. Plus, I dared not voice them aloud because I didn’t want to be insubordinate toward either of my Sergeants. Yet, God heard them! Then, about 5 minutes into the ride, the Lord spoke to my heart (His voice came alive in my heart by His Word being hidden there) and I heard that verse: “Whatever you do, work heartily at it, as for the Lord rather than for men…“

Those words hit my like a ton of bricks and changed my perspective and attitude in an instant. As I was dropped off I went to work on KP duty, which turned out to be about a 16 hr day. I did everything you can imagine and washed ever pan, and cleaned everything that didn’t move, etc. in that field kitchen. And I did it as if I were working for the Lord. Enjoyed it. Embraced the suck, if you will. By the end of that non-stop day, when my Sergeants came to pick me, the Mess Sergeant , along with the rest of the Mess crew said I’d done such a great job that they were begging for me to come back the next day. As much as I enjoyed my response was a quick “Uh, no thanks.” Yet two things happened: (1) I’d left a good impression on both the mess crew and with my Sergeants (my “bosses”), and, (2) I’d left a good testimony for serving my Lord — the ultimate pleasure in all of life is giving glory to His name!

Back at it…

Mosey return to AO, alternating baby sandbags between PAX.

Partial round of Mary:

  • LBC’s – 24 OYO (Courtesy YHC)
  • Dolly – 24 IC (Courtesy Ruxpin)
  • E2K – 24 Single Count (Courtesy Loose Wheel)
  • X’s & O’s – 24 OYO (Courtesy Waterfall)

COT/BOM:

  • Announcements: Planning on putting a Site-Q meeting together sometime in Feb to plan into the year a bit.
  • Prayers: For Waterfall, Felicia, and Dee Dee; for both Chauffeur’s and Doubtfire’s families; and for Papa Bears daughter sitting for her nursing boards near future.

Lots of 24 count reps to remember and honor Kobe Bryant. The Mamba Mentality gave us some good motivation to go beyond normal rep counts. The reminder to build relationships with those above us, based upon serving the Lord, gave us good motivation to go above and beyond even what is expected of us.

Always honored to bring the beatdown. Thanks for the opportunity HIM!

~Chappie, out!

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