Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

I was 18 years old and putting in some serious work. While I was preparing for college football with one of my best friends, Scott, who was preparing for the Marine Corps, we were in a weight room around folks we had never worked out with before, and we had drawn a crowd.

I was very strong at the time, and the younger guys were watching in awe as I moved the bulky weights as fast as a scorpion’s tail. (according to my memory)

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

They were impressed, and I was loving it. They kept asking questions, and I kept adding more weight.

While doing another set, I saw a grown man walking across the street. He peered through the large storefront window and saw me lifting for the crowd of onlookers as if I were filming an instructional video like Tom Emanski. He ascended upon our location like a dedicated member of the SWAT team.

He swung open the door. “What are you doing?” he demanded.

Ahhh. Another fan of my impressive skills, I thought. I felt proud as a peacock as I rested my foot on the bar and boldly proclaimed, “They’re called ‘power cleans.’”

“Yeah! I know what they are! Why are you doing them without a mat? You’re going to tear up my floor, you idiot!”

~~~~~~~~~~

People are always watching you as a leader. They just aren’t always watching for the reasons you may think.