Good afternoon all YAG team,

I wrote on the YAG Dashboard about 4 weeks ago about the principle of resistance.  Do you remember?  Do you remember the principle of resistance and the good things about resistance?

I related a personal example of resisting going outside of my comfort zone.  Oliver, the rock climber, had asked me many times to go climbing with him and I choose to turn him down or make excuses for why I could not go.  Well, I told you I would go the next time he asked to face my fear and use the principle of resistance in my favor.  The next time he asked, I accepted and we went for an early morning climb in Ogden on the Gollum’s Traverse and up a steep slab called “the Great Slab.”  Well, I thought it was a little spooky and tough, and of course it was an easy climb for Oliver.  But, nonetheless, I went, I did it, and I had a great time doing it.  So, the principle of resistance is accepting the challenge, meeting the resistance, and the next time it will be easier and you can conquer more.  Just like going to the gym, which I know many of you do — and why?  To get in shape by doing resistance training.  It is the same principle.

So, my challenge again…  again, to you is to quit thinking of the fear, or the scare, or the hurt or whatever, and take on the resistance.  It will make you stronger, better, and make it easier the next time.

Okay, so let’s put this into everyday practice examples;

Let’s say there is something at work that you do not like to do or are not good at.  Say maybe, approaching people and talking with them, whether it be customers, vendors or other employees or your manager.  You need to take action.  You might need to plan your route or what you would like to say, approach or ask.  Then DO IT!  Accept your own challenge and use the principle of resistance. The more you accept and DO IT, the easier it will become until you become an expert at it.

Okay, let’s take another example:  Let’s say you would like to do something with your spouse, friend, or partner.  It could be any number of things, e.g., taking them a special surprise, doing something kind for them, reading together, or any number of things that you feel uncomfortable with, are out of the habit of, or maybe are outside your comfort zone.  Well, the same thing applies.  First, plan out what you would like to do, then accept the challenge, plan the route, and DO IT.  It may feel uncomfortable at first or even for a few times and then, ultimately –just like going to the GYM and exercising — you’ll get good at it, it will makes a difference, it will make you stronger, and you will change yourself in this particular area you would like to improve.

I handed out some resistance bands to a group of YAG team members a couple weeks ago to press this principle.  If you use these resistance bands on a daily basis over and over again you will get stronger and more flexible.  I wonder how many of those twenty have tried them?

So, I again challenge you to use the principle of resistance to your favor.  DO IT.  Accept a challenge from me or yourself and try something new that is outside of your comfort zone and DO IT several times until you feel more comfortable.

In the YAG Center of Excellence there are many principles that are taught.  I know some do a few of them and some do none of them.  Life gets busy, we get distracted, and we forget.  Again, I challenge you to use the principle of resistance and try these well used, well-tried career and life management principles.  It is uncomfortable at first, but if you keep turning yourself down for the challenges, you do not improve yourself as quickly and as strongly as you could.

By the way, the YAG had a good August and just finished a better September.  We are still rising and shining as a group of great team players in a very competitive business environment.  Many of the stores are setting records. You as a group are winning awards and hitting benchmarks that we have not hit before. That comes from Great people, working together and rising together in hard work, diligence, trust and loyalty.  Keep it up.  We have a great year ahead of us and the business projection into the future looks bright and good.  Let’s have a GREAT fourth quarter.

Sincerely thank you all,

Spencer Young SR