The Machine and the Operator

The Machine and the Operator
Written by Travis Ewart

Kids and adults alike can have a natural ability to learn difficult and complicated skills in the amount of time it takes to drive a lesser talented athlete absolutely crazy. Sometimes these seemingly lucky individuals appear to be blessed with the easy road in life, gathering as much skill and technique as a hard-working veteran in a fraction of the time, and it just doesn’t seem fair.

Learning How to Operate

When I was in construction I spent a lot of time on an excavator. I didn’t know how to operate the machine when I first sat down, but with a little direction, an open space to move around freely where I wouldn’t damage anything, and some time, I began to understand how the machine worked with all of its controls. It was really awkward at first, but I picked it up pretty well and as time passed I gained more skill and accuracy and eventually felt so comfortable operating it that I could perform difficult tasks – pushing the limits of the machine and my skill and concentration in my work.

But, this did not happen overnight.

Kids Say the Truest Things

I have to explain something that I tell my students in order to go on with my story, and while coaching a class I like to bring up some simple principles and use the group’s predictable answers to make my point.

To the group of kids I ask to have “Chloe” come stand with me in front of the class, then I take Chloe’s hand and ask:

“If I take Chloe’s hand off and set it “over there”, where is Chloe?”

The group points to Chloe (not where her hand is).

“Okay, so if I take Chloe’s arm off and set it “over there”, where is Chloe now?

The group still points to Chloe.

“So what if I take her legs and her arms off and set them over there and it’s just her head and body left? Where is Chloe then?”

They still point to Chloe, usually a little confused by now.

“So what if I take Chloe’s entire body, arms and legs and set them over there and it’s just her head left? (You know, but she’s still alive and can talk and all). Where is Chloe then?”

The kids point at Chloe’s head.

“So can we can agree that Chloe is not her body?”

And the kids agree, “Yes.”

The Machine and the Operator

And this is exactly my point – You are not your body, you are your mind. Your body is just your machine and, though you are attached to it, it is just the machine that does the work that you make it do; the Machine and the Operator.

Now back to the excavator story.

Even though I was getting pretty good at operating the excavator, I would occasionally have brain farts or hiccups. It would be frustrating, because no matter how much time I spent on the machine I just wasn’t perfect, but it wouldn’t cause me too much frustration because I knew I was actually pretty well-versed when it came to operating the machine.

Who’s Fault is This?!

Next job, we get rental equipment. Yes, it’s still an excavator but the controls are different! I sit down with confidence but realize quickly that what would move the equipment on my excavator one way would actually move this one completely differently! SO FRUSTRATING!

I could sit there and blame myself, but is it really my fault that the controls are so foreign to me? I could blame the machine, but is there actually something wrong with it?

No, and no.

The Learning Curve

There is such thing as a learning curve, and if you don’t really understand what that means, let me put it in perspective for you:

When you get directions to a location you’ve never been, and you are literally driving around a curve on a mountain, you have no idea what is on the other side. You may find that there are unexpected things that tend to slow you down, but nonetheless, the directions will get you there! If there’s a fallen tree, get a chainsaw. If there’s a deer, hit the brakes. If there’s a rock, carefully swerve around it. But if you stop and stare at the tree, no matter how frustrated you get that your path is blocked the tree still won’t move. Problem-solving skills and creative thinking will move the tree, but emotional turmoil will not do a damn thing.

In Conclusion

Try to find the non-emotional and mathematical way to look at the situations that slow you down or seem to be holding you back.

If your path is blocked by a tree (tight muscles; injury; improper movement; poor diet) and you figure out how to rid yourself of that problem (bodywork; doctor; lifting coach; nutritionist), you may have the number of a buddy with a chainsaw on speed dial and be able to clear your path in the fraction of the time it took the first time.

Sometimes we focus so much on where we want to be we forget to take pride in what work must be done to get us there. Take pride in your work and all the obstacles you’ve learned to remove from your path, and most of all take pride in the calm and understanding demeanor you exhibit when faced with such obstacles because that builds your character as an athlete and even more so as a person, allowing you more confidence to learn something new in the future.

The example you set may inspire others to find some sort of tranquility in their own obstacles creating a more supporting and commutative environment for all those on the same path in life.

Also Check Out…

An Invitation to Stillness

Pre-Workout Skill Honing

The Problem With Like-Minded People