What You Know About That G Code?
The G Code : Lessons for Living an Extraordinary Life in the Real World is a nod to the unwritten rules that govern urban street life. Part autobiography, part blue-collar success manifesto with a dash of legacy building instruction. It’s written by Gregory “G Diesel” Santarsiero who I met roughly three years ago at the Arnold Sports Festival.
G is a prolific writer who has challenged, exhorted and encouraged thousands with his writing so I had high hopes when I bought The G Code Vol 1. I read it in one sitting. I thought enough of it to pass it on to my oldest son, James, who thought enough of it to pass it on to his 17 year old brother Marshal when he was done with it. Marshal, who is an indifferent reader at best, is one chapter in and already plans to get his own copy of the book to read and re read in the future. What’s the big deal?
In 65 pages, Santarsiero challenges you to examine and rethink your beliefs, motivations, work ethic and even habits. For example, in one essay, he points out the illogic of rushing to complete things that are important in your life, so you can rush home to watch NFL employees go through their assigned workflows on Sunday afternoon in hopes of out performing a rival business entity so they can motivate fans of their brand to spend more money on products licensed by their employer.
Read that sentence again and think about it.
I’m a thinker as well, or at least I like to believe I am; but I never looked at Sunday afternoon football from that perspective. Why am I putting my life and goals on hold to watch other men achieve their dreams week after week? Shouldn’t I pursue my dreams so that those men will be motivated to watch me achieve my goals as much as I want to watch them succeed?
Read that sentence again too.
65 page conversation starter
While driving Marshal to work, he and I discussed The G Code. The conversation flowed naturally into many other things: From reading philosophy on the toilet and wrestling work ethic to Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and the Manly Virtues versus being a virtuous man. We ended up with discussing how building a local support network à la House Atriedes in Frank Herbert’s Dune is the best approach to thriving financially in a West African business climate. Seriously. In a twenty minute drive.
That’s huge because Marshal is a thinker. To paraphrase KRS-ONE, he thinks very deeply. This makes him your typical opinionated teenager. But unlike many who lament how their kids don’t listen to them, or those who complain that kids nowadays think they know everything, I want to harness his headstrong nature for good. Given how our generation and those before us have made a shambles of so many things, can young people be blamed for thinking that they should be in charge? That no matter what they do, it can’t be much worse than what we’ve done?
I’ve lived twenty years twice on this planet, so I know that being a deep thinker doesn’t automatically mean your conclusions will be correct. Aristotle was a smart man and a deep thinker, but his limited information made him draw the wrong conclusions about the structure of the solar system.
It’s my job to pass on information to my son to prepare him for the day when I give him a sword, a bag of coins and send him out to seek his fortune. Grateful to G for giving me another tool to aid me in that task.
The G Code retails for $12 at gcodenutrition.com. You should buy this book.