The Funny Thing…

“Not every problem can be solved by swinging the hammer harder.”
-Jim Wendler

Jim Wendler has had perhaps the most profound impact on my personal philosophies towards strength training over the last 10 years. His 5/3/1 program was the first ‘legit’ program I followed, and did so on and off for at least 5 years. His philosophies, modalities, and idioms have shaped many of my thoughts, and you will for sure see more quotes from him.

The funny thing about this quote though is that it’s encouraging you to ‘not swing the hammer harder’. Sometimes, we must simply admit that there are better ways to accomplish our goals outside of simply working harder. More time, energy, and effort spent does not always equal a stronger outcome. Asking for help when you’re in over your head is one of the wisest ways you can go about life, and knowing to ask for help before you’re in over your head might be considered a superpower.Setting up your training program to get the most benefit without overreaching could also be considered a superpower, especially if you have goals in multiple realms. Following a program, whether pre-made or hand built, is one of the best ways to get started, but plain old trial and error is sometimes needed to dial things in to find the perfect balance. This is also where getting outside input comes in handy, as a coach with an objective eye can help you determine how much to push or when to pull back.