Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays, I like to share experiences from my week—both with patients and in my personal life—that have left a meaningful impact. My hope is that these reflections offer you something of value, a bit of insight or encouragement that resonates with your own journey and inspires you in some way.
Something I heard this week that resonated with me:. “It’s better to know a little and do a lot, than know a lot and do little.” This simple phrase reminds us that while gaining knowledge is valuable, it’s the application of that knowledge that truly creates change. In every area of life – health, business, fitness, or personal growth – we’re constantly learning. However, when we wait until we know everything or feel fully prepared it holds us back. Progress doesn’t come from understanding everything; it comes from taking action with what we already know.
Putting knowledge into practice, even imperfectly, begins the growth process. Mistakes become lessons, and experience becomes our most powerful teacher. The real transformation happens not in what we’ve learned, but in what we’ve done with it. Thus, think about one thing you already know that could make a difference and take a step to apply it. Action turns information into impact, and that’s where true growth begins.
A memory I often reflect upon. During my college football career, I dropped a pass in a scrimmage, and my coach let me have it. I then allowed that mistake to consume me, and over the next two days, I could not have caught a cold, never mind a football. Finally, my coach pulled me aside and said, “Matty, you know what your problem is? You let a simple mistake compound into something bigger—don’t do that.” His words have stayed with me for over thirty years because they demonstrate a truth that goes far beyond sports: real failure isn’t in the mistake itself, but in letting it take root and grow.
No one enjoys making mistakes, yet they are an inevitable part of growth. The key is to isolate the error, correct it, and move forward with focus and confidence. When we do that, mistakes become valuable teachers. However, when we dwell on them, they can spread like a cancer—eroding confidence, feeding self-doubt, and turning one small setback into a downward spiral. Before that dropped pass, I had caught hundreds successfully. There was no reason to question my ability, only a reason to reset and keep going. The lesson is never to allow one misstep to define you—learn, adjust, and get back to work.
Something I believe. Stress is unavoidable for all of us. We encounter it at work, with our families, financially, health-wise, and plenty more. Worse, if we are not careful, this will only intensify. That is why I feel it is imperative to always deal with the biggest magnifier of stress that there is, inaction.
Stressful feelings and times are not there one second and gone the next. Rather, they must be dealt with in such a manner that their burden upon us is steadily reduced. Therefore, the best thing we can do is begin taking steps to assist with whatever is affecting us. For example, if we are worried about health, committing to a few dietary changes and a week of mild exercise would help. When we do nothing about our stress, we tend to feel helpless, powerless, and increasingly anxious. Whatever is bothering you must be dealt with head-on if you want to feel better and improve your predicament.
An acronym I love. While watching an Instagram video this week I heard a woman named Julie Voris use the acronym, TNT for “takes no talent.” She said her father was a football coach and would use this often to represent the little things that create major progress that anyone can do yet many do not. For example, arriving early, being positive, remaining open to feedback, maintaining a great work ethic, preparing well, and more. As someone that does not consider himself particularly talented, I agree that these can make an enormous difference.
My feeling is that in any endeavor or situation you can imagine, there are many variables. Luck, weather, the economy, how others behave, you name it. Largely, those things are out of control and not worth worrying about. Therefore, we must focus on the variables that are within our control like the ones mentioned above. By regulating our attitude, approach, and commitment to something we set ourselves up for success. These things do not require skill or resources, merely a desire to pursue them. Regardless of what you may want to achieve, put that “TNT” into it and watch how it explodes into something amazing for you.
Some quotes I Love.
“True ones don’t switch sides; they hold the line when it matters most.”
“You either go through it or someone else will.” – Julie Voris