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 that motivates me. There’s a scene in Rocky IV I think about often. After taking punishment round after round, Rocky finally lands a clean shot on Drago that opens a cut. Up until that moment, Drago was thought to be an invincible machine. Seeing him bleed changed everything. It reminded everyone, especially Rocky, that he was human. That small crack in the armor shifted the energy of the entire fight. Confidence grew, belief returned, and the tide started to turn. Even though it’s fiction, the lesson is very real – sometimes all it takes is one small win to prove the giant in front of you isn’t unbeatable.
I’ve carried this mindset into coaching, business, chiropractic, athletics, and life. When things get tough, I don’t expect one huge breakthrough, I look for the “cut.” This can entail a small victory, productive day, tiny improvement, or any glimpse that progress is happening. Those little moments build belief which builds momentum. Stack enough of them together and suddenly the difficulty in front of me doesn’t feel so impossible anymore. Whatever you’re facing, don’t wait for the knockout punch. Look for the first cut and then keep swinging.
Something I believe. Most of us grew up hearing the phrase, “Just do your best.” It sounds simple and logical because what more can we give than what we’re capable of? The problem is that we often convince ourselves our “best” is whatever effort feels comfortable in the moment. Trying “pretty hard” has quietly become synonymous with truly giving our best, yet the two aren’t even close. Real effort requires honesty. It forces us to look in the mirror and question whether we’re pushing our limits or just protecting them. Growth begins the moment we stop settling for what’s easy and start demanding more from ourselves.
A strong start is important, but when challenges and complications show up effort alone won’t carry us through. That’s when we must refine our approach, sharpen our habits, and raise our standards. It’s easy to get frustrated when we’re trying but not succeeding. However, that isn’t a signal to quit; it’s an opportunity to re-evaluate. Could we prepare better, stay more consistent, or try another strategy? If the answer is yes, then we haven’t given our best yet. Continually redefining what “our best” looks like elevates everything we do, turning small improvements into meaningful progress and creating results that once felt out of reach.
An important concept. Years ago, I heard a story about Coach Bill Belichick conducting end-of-season evaluations with his staff. One by one, each assistant coach proudly talked about how well their individual players had performed and gave glowing reports. Finally, Belichick stopped the room and said, “We only won eight games and apparently we have all amazing players, so I guess I need to fire all of you.” The point hit the staff hard. Soon, the emotions and excuses were stripped away and the real conversations began. The lesson here is that things only Improve when we tell ourselves the truth, not the version that protects our ego. That same standard applies to our own lives.
Every so often, we need to step back and evaluate ourselves objectively but not defensively. Am I truly being the best parent, spouse, teammate, or leader I can be? Or do I just want to convince myself this is the case? Usually, there’s at least one habit to adjust, one effort to increase, or one behavior to change. Emotions are part of being human, but they can’t be allowed to cloud our judgment. Honest self-assessment creates clarity which can lead to growth. When we’re brave enough to critique ourselves with truth instead of comfort, progress becomes inevitable.
Something coaching has taught me. I’ve been fortunate to be part of many successful football teams over the years. Talent, strategy, and work ethic all matter, but one lesson has stood out above the rest: before you learn how to win, you must learn how not to lose. That might sound like semantics, but it’s not. Winning often starts with eliminating the simple things that beat you such as penalties, missed assignments, poor effort, sloppy fundamentals, and mental mistakes. The best teams don’t just make big plays; they consistently avoid self-inflicted wounds. They handle the basics so well that they give themselves a chance to succeed every time they play. This same premise applies beyond the field and into life.
Most setbacks don’t come from a lack of talent but rather from avoidable mistakes: poor communication, inconsistency, low effort, emotional reactions, or neglecting small details. When you focus on cutting out those “losing” habits, you control the variables within your power and free yourself to give your best to what you can’t. If you feel stuck or frustrated, start small and fix the little things that trip you up. Tighten your fundamentals, processes, and focus. Doing fewer things wrong is a simple shift that can create enormous success and change everything.
Some quotes I Love.
“Circumstances don’t make the man, they reveal him.” – James Allen
“Your life won’t change from one big moment. Your life changes from your consistency when no one is watching. Put the work in. Trust the process. Stay focused. Keep going.” – Jeff Moore