Article Rundown

• The power of underachievement
• My regrets in athletics
• Lessons learned
• Transitioning to powerlifting
• Retirement from powerlifting
• Chasing excellence

The Power of Underachievement: Fuel for Growth

In this video, I discuss how underachievement can serve as the ultimate catalyst for reaching the next level. Looking back, I don’t believe I ever reached my true potential while playing baseball. I struggled with self-confidence and positioning in the field, although I was a strong hitter. That sense of underachievement motivated me to pursue powerlifting, with the goal of never feeling that way again. I worked hard in baseball and had some success, but once it was over, it was over. You can read more about my transition from baseball to powerlifting in my book, Gift of Injury.

Regrets in Powerlifting: Reflecting on Missed Opportunities

While I had opportunities to play community college baseball, I couldn’t see it working out. When I reflect on my powerlifting career, I often feel frustrated by things I did—or didn’t do. There are instances of meets where I bombed, areas where I cut corners, and the fact that my best lifts totaled 1,306 lbs in the squat, 825 lbs in the bench press, and 800 lbs in the deadlift—giving me a combined total of 2,931 lbs. Yet, my highest competition total was 2,730 lbs—201 lbs less than my personal best.

If I were to name my biggest regret, it would be the eight meets I competed in during the span of one year, from 2007 to 2008. The first was the APF Southern States (where I won Best Lifter), followed by the APF North Carolina (Best Lifter again), Orlando Barbell (Best Lifter), Senior Nationals (second place), APF Intramural Meet, IPA Pro Am (second place overall), WPC Worlds (where I won the bench-only category), and finally, Southern States NO8. That’s eight full meets in one calendar year—far too many for anyone’s body to handle.

What I Should Have Done Differently: Lessons Learned

I tend not to see the glass as half full. In hindsight, I should have slowed down, refined my approach and form, exercised more patience, and focused on strengthening my core earlier in my career. I regret the amount of time I spent on bending and twisting core exercises, as well as the excessive use of reverse hypers. Instead, I should have been training my core in the way I later learned from Dr. McGill. I regret not adopting that smarter approach sooner, as it could have allowed me to lift more, stay healthier, and push my limits further.

In both baseball and powerlifting, I feel that I vastly underachieved. However, my underachievement in baseball became the driving force that propelled me into powerlifting with a relentless desire to avoid that feeling ever again.

A Relentless Pursuit of Excellence: Powerlifting as a Coping Mechanism

When I left baseball behind, I immersed myself in the gym and in powerlifting competitions. I moved from one meet to the next, always craving more. In the back of my mind, I knew I never wanted to experience the underachievement I felt in baseball again. I never imagined I would compete in powerlifting from 1999 to 2020. But I had this burning desire to pursue excellence, so I threw myself into weightlifting and competition. My only interruption came in 2013, when I severely injured my back and had to rebuild with Dr. McGill. You can read more about that experience in Gift of Injury.

After taking over a year off to recover, I returned to reality, which was a daunting experience. When your world revolves around powerlifting, all that matters is putting more weight on the bar. It was how I coped with my personal struggles—burying my head in the sand through training.

Stepping Away from Powerlifting: The End of an Era

In 2020, I finally decided to step away from powerlifting. I knew it was time. Much like with baseball, I recognized that it had run its course, and it was time for the next chapter. There is a certain finality in knowing when something is truly over.

In summary, I can’t change the past, and I’ve made peace with that. However, I am proud of what I accomplished in powerlifting. I often compare myself to other lifters I competed against, such as Dave Hoff and Shawn Frankl, who I consider the gold standard of that era. Although my lifting career didn’t last as long as theirs, I can proudly say that I was competitive with them during certain periods. There’s nothing wrong with chasing excellence, and that’s what I did for over 21 years. My underachievement in baseball fueled my determination to push my limits in powerlifting and avoid living with regrets.

Chasing Excellence with a Christian Perspective

As a Christian who is highly competitive and has a Type A personality, I believe that the only way to do something is to strive for excellence. Colossians 3:23 reminds us to work with all our heart, as if working for the Lord, not for men. Yet, the pursuit of excellence can also drive a person to madness. I saw this firsthand during my final run in 2020, when I endured numerous setbacks—tearing my pec, tearing my bicep, contracting shingles, and getting COVID. Despite it all, I continued to nurture my relationship with the Lord, finding peace and balance in my lifting and training. I believe this spiritual connection played a significant role in my ability to walk away from the sport after achieving my goal of a 1,306 lb squat.

While my journey is not without regrets, I’m at peace with the outcome. I competed for over two decades and used my sense of underachievement as fuel to chase excellence. And in the end, that pursuit made all the difference.

BRIAN DOES ONLINE AND IN-PERSON COACHING!

Back Injured Average Mary or Joe who wants their life back

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