Nice Job… So Far

At different points in my life, I have used P90x to get into shape. Even though I mostly do CrossFit now, I still enjoy P90x for a change of pace.

Tony-isms

One of the things I love most about P90x is that Tony Horton provides an endless supply of cheesy sayings. I have done the videos so many times, I have most of my favorite “Tony-isms” memorized. They never get old.

I was doing a workout the other day, and it was a repeat workout, meaning you go through a series of exercises, take a short water break, and then go through the same series of exercises again.

Nice Job… So Far

At the end of the first set of exercises, Tony says, “Nice Job… So Far. Nice Job… So Far.”

I laugh every time, mostly because by that point in the workout I’m exhausted and feeling sorry for myself that I have to repeat all the exercises a second time. But something about the saying rings true for me. It’s a lot like my life.

High Energy at the Beginning

Often, I get started on something and have a lot of energy at the beginning. I might get a few steps into a new project and feel pretty good about myself. I might even pat myself on the back for a job well done.

Roadblocks

But at some point, I usually hit some roadblocks. Maybe the project encountered an unexpected setback. Maybe something happened that I didn’t anticipate, and I have to regroup. My energy starts to wane, and I can get discouraged. If the discouragement gets too intense, I might even give up and move on to something else.

Balance

I like Tony’s saying, “Nice Job… So Far,” because it’s balanced. It acknowledges and celebrates the work that was completed. It’s good to pause and recognize our progress. But Tony also counters the celebration with the recognition that the job isn’t over yet. There’s still work to be done. It’s important to finish the workout (or whatever you are struggling to complete). No one wants to see a partially completed project. People want you to deliver the finished product.

Discussion

What do you think of the saying, “Nice Job… So Far?” Do you struggle with recognizing and celebrating your progress? If so, maybe it’s time to take a break and reward yourself for what you have accomplished so far. Or, do you have difficulties following projects through to completion? If so, maybe it’s a good thing to remind yourself that there’s still work to be done, and it’s important to finish the job.