The Neptune Warrior

I remember an advertisement from the Army back in the late 80’s, “We do more before 9 AM than most people do in a day.”

My military experience was just that.

Up at o’dark-thirty for PT, shower, chow, first formation. Then transport to the range, start your duty day, then some point its back to the DEFAC for chow or a “bag nasty”. Doing more before nine. Getting it done weather it was prepping weapons for transport, maintaining vehicles, running an obstacle course, or learning new tactics.

I don’t understand people who don’t grind. People who sleep in. People who snuggle in, people willing to let the day slip by while they stay in bed, crash on the couch, zone out in front of the TV.

I remember running past base housing in the early hours and not being allowed to call cadence on the run because we would wake those still in bed. Sickening. Asked to squelch our moments of smashing the day so others can waste away in slumber.

Its simple, if you want to get stuff done you have to get out of bed. Get out when you don’t want to. Get up when others won’t. Get up when you are begged to stay under the covers. Get up when its raining, snowing, windy. Get up when it’s inconvenient.

Often I’m on the lake before the sun is up ready to swim or dive and if not I’m working out my body, feeding my brain with knowledge, or taking care of or modifying dive gear.

Then its off to a job that provides me with the lifestyle and things that feed my diving obsession. First in the office or on-line getting to emails, building out training designs, setting up coaching sessions, kicking ass, and taking names. All before nine when most of my co-workers are signing on or walking in.

Getting up and smashing the day before 9am gives you the edge you need to be better. A better diver, a better worker, a better provider.

Better than your competitors, better than your enemy, and better than yourself.

Be better. Get your ass out of bed and make opportunities. Do more before 9am.

More Before 9