Effective Habits

i wanted to share this list about the highly effective habits of BMX pros...thanks jim boswell for writing it. to be a "pro" anything, check out the real list for all the insights and details.

#1. Effective Pros take care of their bodies.  

#2. Effective Pros take care of their bodies. 

#3. Effective Pros don't fiddle with their bikes too often.

#4. Effective Pros maintain their bikes properly.

#5. Effective Pros don't waste their time griping about other riders.

#6. Effective Pros study their competition.

#7 Effective Pros study themselves.

i need to be organized. it's not a matter of "like." i need to be organized, so lists work well for me. i'm a visual learner too, and if i can see an uncluttered, broken-down list, it feels like my purpose becomes more clear. any list under 10 is manageable and memorable. i have this one memorized, and i'm going to start living by these simple declarations, or a modified version of it them anyway.

i work at REI, and i'm a level 1 bike tech. i'm just starting out, a baby in the world of bike mechanics. in the old-school way of learning about bikes, i would still be changing flats. from now until next year, probably. but in today's world, i get to learn about bikes and their mechanics by actually working on them. lucky!!! in the three months since i started, i've learned a lot, but i still have a TON to learn. so...

get good rest, eat right. don't smoke, don't drink too much--that should keep my head clear, so i can think better and keep my brain cells chugging along.

don't mess with new tools and techniques too much--learn the basics and pratice what i know till i'm solid.

maintain a clean workspace--keep things well-stocked and in order so i don't waste time searching for tools or running out of supplies at the last minute.

don't be a complainer--there'll always be a conflict with supervisors, managers, employees, customers. just deal, and don't be a whiner.

study your co-workers--learn from the masters you work with. they know. they've been around bikes a long time. they are patient and generous teachers with their knowledge.

examine myself--look at my habits, good and bad. listen to my heart and my intuition. ask for help when i stumble; don't be afraid to try and to look inept while trying.

it's a good start.

 **cheers to seth for whooping all our butts at the time-trial the other night, on a schwinn predator BMX**