The Power Of The Stiff Arm

With the Superbowl right around the corner, football has been on my mind. I’m a football nut. Whether it’s NFL or NCAA, just not Canadian, I could watch football ALL DAY.

One of the best things I love about football is when a player delivers a vicious stiff arm to an opponent. For those who don’t know, a stiff arm is when a player fends off another play by extending an arm aggressive and rigidly.  Basically, you’re pushing someone away or off of you so not to get tackled.

A stiff arm is the verbal equivalent of: “Yo! Back up. What are you doing? Get off of me!”

It takes an incredible amount of upper body strength and balance to deliver a stiff arm, especially when you’re playing with the best of the best in the NFL. When executed properly, the stiff arm is an amazing weapon for player.

So this got me to thinking in a metaphorical sense. In what ways can we use a “stiff arm” in our day-to-day life so not to get tackled? We could stiff arm:

• Negative thoughts
• Procrastination
• People that don’t make us better
• Saying yes to something we don’t want to do
• That extra slice of pizza

On the flip side, we have to identify what we’re stiff arming that we truly want. Those things worth getting “tackled” for. Are you stiff arming:

• Important goals
• A healthy diet
• Doing what makes you happy
• Committing to something important
• People who are trying to help us

Knowing what and what not to stiff arm can make a big difference in your life and career. Sometimes the things we don’t give the stiff arm to and allow to “tackle” us are the things we want least. And sometimes the things we give the stiff arm to are the things we want most.

What will and what won’t you stiff arm today?

Bonus: Watch below NFL feature on stiff arms.

Antonio Neves is a professional question asker and opportunity identifier. He is the founder of THINQACTION where he works with young entrepreneurs to produce exceptional results in their work. Work with Antonio. Follow Antonio