Occam's Razor
I wrote a post earlier during the week about how much things have changed since I first started working out. Link here>>>
I mean have you really worked out unless you've used every damn machine in the gym and put a running commentary on instagram for the tribe?
We seem to run out of elastic bands before we run out of weights or machines to use at the gym these days. This can go horribly wrong though - see here>>> Or here>>>
What I would like to impress, however is that Occam's Razor (Ockhams's Razor) paraphrased above states "It's vain to do with more what can be done with fewer"
Heuristics or rules of thumb however you've come to know them I love them. They're the shortcuts or pattern hacks of life that help speed up decision making.
Who doesn't want simple?
But life is complicated I hear. Damn right it is.
In the gym environment it has become complicated. Do the bands I need to use match the colour of my trainers?
Is the machine I want to use facing a mirror so that I can get a decent Instagram selfie?
Coaching has become much more complicated and scientific. And this is a good thing!
But here's the thing. If you're going to pay someone for their expertise I believe that the least you should expect is that they're able to convey their knowledge in a way you'll understand.
The clients that I like to work with, yes that means you, reading this are clever enough to grasp the complexities of training in the gym. But it's unnecessary to know everything to achieve your fitness goals.
A story about a woman who attended a dinner party with Gladstone and Disraeli illustrates my point, I think.
Gladstone and Disraeli were vying for position of prime minister of England at the time and the woman in question was Winston Churchill's mother.
When later questioned of her impression of the two men she replied -
I mean have you really worked out unless you've used every damn machine in the gym and put a running commentary on instagram for the tribe?
We seem to run out of elastic bands before we run out of weights or machines to use at the gym these days. This can go horribly wrong though - see here>>> Or here>>>
What I would like to impress, however is that Occam's Razor (Ockhams's Razor) paraphrased above states "It's vain to do with more what can be done with fewer"
Heuristics or rules of thumb however you've come to know them I love them. They're the shortcuts or pattern hacks of life that help speed up decision making.
Who doesn't want simple?
But life is complicated I hear. Damn right it is.
In the gym environment it has become complicated. Do the bands I need to use match the colour of my trainers?
Is the machine I want to use facing a mirror so that I can get a decent Instagram selfie?
Coaching has become much more complicated and scientific. And this is a good thing!
But here's the thing. If you're going to pay someone for their expertise I believe that the least you should expect is that they're able to convey their knowledge in a way you'll understand.
The clients that I like to work with, yes that means you, reading this are clever enough to grasp the complexities of training in the gym. But it's unnecessary to know everything to achieve your fitness goals.
A story about a woman who attended a dinner party with Gladstone and Disraeli illustrates my point, I think.
Gladstone and Disraeli were vying for position of prime minister of England at the time and the woman in question was Winston Churchill's mother.
When later questioned of her impression of the two men she replied -
"When I left the dining room after sitting next to Gladstone, I thought he was the cleverest man in England. But when I sat next to Disraeli, I left feeling that I was the cleverest woman."
Who do you think won the election?
My point is that it doesn't have to sound so complicated. If it does then it's likely that the person speaking is trying to ensure that you understand just how clever they are.
It's the job of a good coach to remove those complications, barriers or roadblocks that you encounter en route to your fitness goals.
More fitness knowledge, more information, more education! Nope I'm pretty sure that you don't need any of the above.
More DOING! Yeah! more doing that would be good.
K.I.S.S!
Keep It Simple Steve