Steve and Kristen at 10 a.m.
I’ve been told I need to have thick skin many times throughout my life.
A little over a year-and-a-half ago, I scored an interview for what turned out to be the best job ever. I was up for the position as copy editor in CrossFit’s Media Department. During my interview, Director of Games Media Tony Budding told me that I had to have thick skin to be successful in the company.
Honestly, I would have had scaly skin if it meant working for CrossFit, so of course, I said I did.
Working for CrossFit eventually led me to CrossFit Santa Cruz. After hearing all of the positive things many of my co-workers/friends had to say about the affiliate, I was intrigued, and then convinced.
As it turns out, thick skin would come in handy here, too.
A few weeks in, I went to a class coached by Hollis. The workout was a couplet — deadlifts (ugh) and box jumps. Mid-workout, Hollis stopped me.
“Nope,” he said. “Take some weight off.”
Cue thick skin. I stripped off 10 lbs., and continued.
“Nope. Still not it.”
This happened once more until I was finally able to achieve the form he was looking for. I started the workout with 123 lbs., on the bar and scaled down to 93 lbs., by the time I was finished. Talk about a blow to the ego.
But Hollis was right. And at that moment I made the decision to swallow my pride and work on my deadlifts.
As siblings often do, Coach D and Hollis share a few traits.
If something sucks (like my double-unders), Coach D will tell me — in those exact words. Her tough love bounces off my thick skin, and you know what? I eventually improve.
Sure, I got my first muscle-up through hard work and determination — but also by not crying myself to sleep every night of every day that I failed at trying for one.
In the words of Walt Disney, “You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.”
So suck it up, put on your thick skin and persist.
-Nicole Evans
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Workout
"Grace"
135 pound Clean & Jerk, 30 reps
"Two hands any how from the ground to overhead"- Greg Glassman
