The Last Word
By Finn Hibbert | Posted: Tuesday July 30, 2024
When you attempt something - you get out of it, what you put in.
Effort and commitment to any sport, group, or activity is necessary if you want to get the most out of it.
Everyone here has their own things that they put effort towards.
Last year I was lucky enough to attend a 3 week course at Outward Bound.
When I arrived, we discussed this concept - “The more you invest into a group, experience or challenge the more that you will get out of it.”
As the 3 weeks went by, this concept was interwoven into what we did each and every day. Whether it was an outdoor activity like rock climbing, navigation in the mountains, or problem-solving challenges, it was present.
This concept was focused around the idea that the effort you invest directly, impacts the rewards and growth that you will experience - putting in what you want to get out.
On one of the trips, we had to climb 1000 vertical metres through the bush over the course of that day. With our heavy packs on, we made our way up the mountainside. In this situation, choosing to put in a certain amount of effort wasn't an option. There was a base amount of commitment needed to complete that day. I quickly learned that the experience was not just about reaching the destination by the end of the day. It was about the effort and attitude needed to achieve and surpass the challenge. This effort was what was needed to get to the next camp and this effort is also what is needed to achieve any goal and gain results.
Take a moment to think about what you want to gain from something you are a part of. Once you have established what you want from a season, year, or individual practice then you can fully commit to putting in the effort needed to achieve that result.
Each and everyone here will have a different destination that they are trying to get to. It could be high academic results in the classroom, performing well on the sports field, or improving any aspect of their lives. Take a moment to think about how much effort you're putting in and being honest about if this is going to get the result you want.
Another moment where this concept was seen each day was at our early morning runs on the course. Each morning started with a 3km run. A short distance in the bigger scheme of things. A distance that you could run, jog, or even walk. Some people could have taken this as an opportunity to rest or cruise as other aspects of the day were much more demanding, some others put in the effort to improve their running times and became fitter in the process.
Putting in this extra effort each morning helped prepare for the end goal which was a 21km run at the end of the course. It was clear for me the people that pushed just a little bit more each day. Getting out, what they put in.
To finish - simply ask yourself - “am I putting in enough, to get out, what I truly want from it?” Whether in a sporting, academic or service sense. If not, do a little more each day, and eventually you will get the rewards you are looking for. Whatever they may be.
In true Otago Boys' fashion, I’ll leave you with a quote. “Always a little further.” - Mark Billingham
