I tried to ignore the bullhorn in the black “trainer” shirt this morning. It was hard, but I was managing. I was managing until my wife forced me to focus on him. Rocky said, “If I were the person that guy was supposed to be training, I’d be pissed.” Over the course of the next 45 minutes, it occurred to me that there were three distinct kinds of people in the small side room, which, in that moment, had just magically transformed into a social networking lab.
The “Guru”
Turns out this “guru” trainer was not even paying attention to his client. He was having a ridiculous, loud conversation with someone else while his client was busy acting like she was working out. He was paying only casual attention to his client and when he did, his instructions were cliche, at best. None of his instructions were specific to his clients needs. Not a single one. He was loud, exuded cockiness and was doing absolutely nothing to help his client.
The Pretender
The client’s form was horrid and her level of intensity was below average at best. But there she was, paying a trainer to get her in shape. She wasn’t saying much. She wasn’t working hard. She was just going through the motions. I’m sure she left feeling like she had accomplished something. Perhaps she did, but not nearly what she could have. The same was true of the lady holding the attention of the “guru.” She was there, but her mouth was moving more than any other part of her body. They will probably both tell people they had a “great” workout today. They didn’t.
The Inspiration
To our left was a woman singularly focused on one of the most amazing yoga/gymnastics/core strength workouts I’ve ever witnessed. And I’m not overstating this. I wish I could have videotaped it. She was working out in a way that made me feel honored to be in the same room with her. Both Rocky and I engaged her and she politely engaged us back, never once breaking form or altering her workout. It was a thing of beauty. Her actions and her polite engagement around her workout inspired me to work harder.
Universal Social Truth: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
The small, glass room we were working out in this morning contained about 15 people. We were, in that moment, a very small, very open social network. People from outside our network could see us and choose to come in, or not. Inside the room, everyone could hear everyone else. We were free to engage or not engage as we saw fit. In that setting, I desperately wanted to mute the “guru” and his chatty pretender. I desperately wanted to go save his client. I couldn’t do either in a socially acceptable way.
I also desperately wanted to be better as a result of watching this one woman display a level of commitment to her workout that was truly amazing. I know many who passed by outside the room felt the same way. I would have gladly paid her to be MY trainer. I would seek her out, without her having to ask. Her public actions were harder to ignore than the loud banter of the the “guru” and the pretenders. And they spoke volumes about her knowledge and her character.
As you move through your social networks, which person are you?