Welcome - Game On!

Welcome to Game On - my attempt at public accountability for the challenges of life faced with a neutral yet optimistic mindset. A new weekly standard to hold - sharing my perspective in hopes of helping others. 

Why Game On? I recently had a conversation with a family friend and he repeated this phrase at least 10 times in 30 minutes. He, like me, is a former collegiate athlete and still holds insanely high standards post-athletic career. Any challenge or adversity I mentioned on our call was met with a simple and solid response…”game on man!” 

If you say “game on”, you mean that you are ready for something challenging to begin. Each day presents challenges regardless of our expectations. Changing my perspective from “why me?” or “why this or that” to “game on” has made a measurable impact on the actions that follow. I want to share those stories and hear from others. 

My name is Mike McGee, I’m a husband and father of 3 little girls, a former Division 1 swimmer, and currently run Operations, Stores, and Customer Experience for Mugsy - the pioneer in stretch denim and the most damn comfortable jeans on the planet. I’m also a devout follower of Jesus Christ, a member of The Post (the largest private membership network connecting athletes turned business leaders), an intraprenuer / aspiring entrepreneur, and wanna be fitness influencer. I attempt to cram all of these into a weekly schedule and habits and routines - threading the line between balance of some and obsession of others. “Game On” rings through my brain from the second I wake up. 

My latest “game on” moment and maybe most challenging to date…having our 3rd baby girl…how do I maintain routine, workouts, goals, etc.?!?!

Having a child is an Earth-shattering experience. First, a real-life human grows for nine months as you patiently wait for a new responsibility to begin - one you are 100% not prepared for. Next, you gear up for delivery, an event that you are completely out of control of, your sole job is to advocate for your wife and give support, but your actions are minimal at best. You watch as monitors beep and buzz, none of the numbers make sense, your stress and anxiety at an all time high - yet you literally can do nothing.

The baby is born, all the worries and stress is gone and you are in awe. You don’t sleep for more than a few hours at a time on a hospital chair, then you bring that life out of the hospital and into the crazy world, scared as hell to drive the speed limit.

You get home, and your new life starts. New routine, new habits, but a different kind of fire for growth and support trying to provide for a brand new life…

My need for routine has only grown with each new birth. Each new face, an adjustment to our schedule, and more balance needed to maintain standards for both myself and my wife (former D1 lacrosse player). We’re 14 days in, sleepless and brain fogged, but we’re figuring out this new routine one day at a time. 

So far, here’s my solution:

• Home Gym - Cardio & Weights for 30 minutes

• SIMPLE workouts tracked on WHOOP

• 10,000 steps per day

I invested in a home setup back when COVID kept everyone at home and away from the gym. It’s been a game changer with kids and I’m always looking to add new toys. For now I have enough to keep me busy, and with WHOOP I can track specific movements and gauge the workout. Today’s 20 minutes got me a 14.0 strain score - pretty unbelievable for some push ups, pull ups, and bench press.

My goal here is to highlight the challenges and talk tactics to navigate them. In most of these “games”…I’m not winning, and that’s not the point. With each “game on”, the goal is not to win, but to keep playing the game. Everyone is a work in progress. If I had to judge, I’m losing most, but I’m still in the game.

Come back next week as I dive back into work post paternity leave to the crazy e-commerce world of Mugsy, start two kids in school, and get back into our new family routine.