I have been posting to this Blog for well over a year now.

There are a few names I recognize from the comments, and there is 1 who is ALWAYS joining in on the conversation, asking questions, dropping comments, showing his genuine interest and passion to learn and succeed.

So, while driving home earlier today, I decided I want to reward this person as best as possible….

with a FREE Underground Strength Coach Certification (Valued at $1,500)

Perhaps, once again, we can call this “Pay it Forward”

Never heard me talk about “Pay it Forward”? Watch below….

I have mentioned this before, I will always Pay it Forward, somehow, someway.

In the past, I held an essay contest offering a scholar award to attend The USC Certification for free.

I got pretty f**ing pissed off, when, after announcing the 2 recipients, 1 of the guys who did not get accepted complained and e mailed me stating that he too should have composed a sob story about how he lost his job and his family is in jeopardy.

Ironically, or maybe NOT so ironic, he complained when he was enoucraged to become a member of http://UndergroundStrengthCoach.com (a measly $12.95 / month), to invest in his education and to contribute.

I guess some people can’t help it, they’re just assholes plain and simple.

I am not holding any contest this time around, not have I ever alluded to what I am doing now.

In a nut shell, I hate assholes

So rather than hold a contest and deal with assholes and complainers, I decided to do whatever I wanted to do to avoid the noise of complainers, whiners and cry babies….. oh, and assholes  

So, without further adue, let me announce the man I think has been REALLY Kicking Ass like Bruce Lee and contributing to the Blog and shows true, genuine, hardcore passion to succeed.

His name?

Christopher Reed.

Chris, anytime you wanna come to the Dirty Jerzee and kick ass for a full weekend of training, business, life lessons and plain ol’ kick ass times, you’re invited.

Feel free to bring 2 guests with you

You can Pay it Forward by helping out 3 people yourself.

And the 2 guests your bring, of course, they must also Pay it Forward, helping 3 more people.

Our Underground Strength Coach Certification dates are linked HERE - Choose the one you like or await until further dates

Let the Pay it Forward cycle begin….again

Peace Bruddahs!

–Z–

PS: Comments or questions? Drop em’ below, and of course, the 1 and only rule, NO Assholes

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Next Tuesday, Joe DeFranco and I will be releasing our last Lost Secrets of Strength Seminar on DVD, along with a KILLER Bonus Audio on CD – the entire seminar reveals our most effective training and business strategies.

People flew in from around the world to attend and invested a lot of dinero and time with all their travels and time included. To protect and respect those who busted their ass to make it happen, Joe and I will release 50 copies each, and we are unsure if we will re-release this seminar on DVD – CD.

Check out Joe DeFranco on video below, revealing his top methods regarding program design and athlete training. Drop a comment after you watch this bad boy.

Joe was the first Coach I invested in for coaching. Ironically, about 5 years later we’re working together. But I understood something VERY, VERY important: To become the best you must learn from the best. I knew that I wanted to be where Joe was and do what Joe was doing.

You MUST invest in your education if you want to be the best.

This is why I have invested heavily in learning from guys like Joe DeFranco and Alwyn Cosgrove.

The learning never ends, which is why I continue to make BIG strides in my business and my training.

Soon, you will have the chance as well. Next Tuesday, The Lost Secrets of Strength will be released – as always, Go Getters and Action Takers will rise to the top.

Drop a comment with your thoughts, comments and questions.

Peace!

–Z–

PS: I unleash ALL my training and business secrets at my USC Certifications. Your investment will come back 10 fold IF you take Aggressive Action.

The USC Certification is right around the corner. If you want to WIN, then step up and make it happen!

August USC Certification: http://zacheven-esh.com/1DayCert.php

September & October USC Certificaitons: http://zacheven-esh.com/coaching.php

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Part II of the http://LiftSTRONG.com fundraiser, the strongman log!

High school bruddahs rocked the 100 lb log and college athletes cranked the 160 lb log.

Check it and drop a comment, thought, question or random anything

Soon it will be time to tone down the strongman training we do and get away from all the beatings it can give the body.

Football season is around the corner and our Gridiron Gladiators are ready to run through their competition.

The time is NOW.

Make it Happen!

Peace!

–Z–

PS: Tonight, at midnight, The Truth About Quickness is ON! If you snag a copy from my link, forward it my way and I’ll send you a FREE copy of http://GripExperts.com.

I want you man handling and running through people – Strong AND Fast as Hell, a lethal and powerful combination.

PPS: Save THIS Date ==> AUgust 22nd. I will be holding a special, 1 day Underground Strength Coach Certification. It will be solely focused on training, not Business like the 2 day certifications. Attendees will also have the option of stopping by Friday afternoon to see how I run the Underground Strength Gym. If you want in, e mail me and I’ll get you squared away.

My E Mail: ==> UndergroundStrengthCoach @ Gmail.com

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Let the games begin.

Here is the beginning moments of The Lift STRONG Fundraiser, and yes, there will be MORE footage to come!

You saw high school athletes, collegiate athletes and NJ state troopers competing in the above video, tearing it up.

This was an AWESOME event and together we raised $ 1,476 – ALL of which went towards http://LiftSTRONG.com

I would love to see all gyms and strength clubs holding some form a fundraiser every year going towards a foundation of their choice which helps do good in this world.

Would love to hear your comments so feel free to post them below or ask your questions bruddahs.

Peace!

–Z–

PS: A few BIG announcements and happenings here at The Underground HQ:

1) The first ever USC Gym License is going down this weekend, July 18 – 19, you can still sign up & I suggest taking action FAST before your territory is taken! Sign Up HERE

2) In a few days I will announce the special, 1 day Underground Strength Coach Certification, set to roll for Saturday, August 22nd with an optional Friday afternoon drop in to see how I run the biz and train with my athletes! This will go FAST so watch your e mail closely!

3) The Lost Secrets of Strength Seminar w/Joe DeFranco and I was off the hook and it’s about to be ready, hot off the press, for YOU! Limited to 100 copies or 5 days availability, and then I’m taking this bad boy down! Stay tuned – it’s jam packed with the best of the best in training and real world biz information, reserved ONLY for Serious Strength & Conditioning Coaches.

PPS: There are extra dates listed for The USC Gym License at the bottom of this page and you can secure your spot ahead of time, click HERE and check it out!

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This Friday we will be holding our annual fundraiser, ‘Lift STRONG’ – everyone is invited to watch and support, our athletes will be competing and battling to say the lives of others.

It will be a WAR come this Friday, make no mistake about it.

If you would like to attend, it would be great if you also made a small donation so we can add to the support we will be sending to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Take a look inside The Underground as our Gladiators prepare for Battle….

If you are new to the Blog, take a look at some of the previous posts made here regarding “Lift STRONG” and “Alwyn Cosgrove”.

You will learn exactly why we do what we do.

Drop a comment or question below.

And hey, lemme know whatcha think of those BAD ASS Gladiator trophies!!

Looking forward to seeing your comments bruddahs and sistas!

Peace!

–Z–

PS: If you’re not in the area but still want to support us, check out http://LiftSTRONG.com and make it happen!

PPS: We still have space available for The Underground Strength Gym License. Yesterday, territory was secured in Oklahoma and Michigan! Will you be the NEXT bad ass to go Underground? Click HERE and make it happen.

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Please read this letter in its entirety.

If you have know me for some time, you’ve heard me speak about this guy, who I had never met in person before, yet he took me under his wing like a little brother, or, like he was my Uncle taking me under his wing.

Not sure what it was, but the guy thought I was alright, and I was sincere and genuine, and he saw I was super passionate about becoming successful and helping others by sharing with them what I do.

We exchanged e mails frequently, and one day our e mails became instant messages, and from there, it became a phone call….a 4 hour phone call.

This guy was doing something called “Pay it Forward” – because when he was an up and comer, everyone he asked to help him turned him down.

Our four hour phone call layed out the foundation and the blue print for my business.

Yes, I am serious, those 4 hours shot me to the top ASAP!

The shocking thing about this was that the entire time we were on the phone, I didn’t know that my friend was taking away his rest time to chat with me.

Why did he need to rest? He had tubes sticking in and out of his chest from plenty of angles, and he was going head to head, toe to toe with Stage IV Cancer.

Yea, you think you’re tough – you ain’t shit compared to this guy.

The man’s name is Alwyn Cosgrove – man or machine, not sure which he is, but this guy is beyond what my words can describe.

Whatever I try to say or do doesn’t mean or amount to 1/100th of a fraction of what this man has done for me.

In fact, if it wasn’t for Alwyn, you and I would probably not have the relationship we have. I would not have this Blog, my gym, or the knowledge to spread my wisdom your way.

Alwyn has left a legacy inside of me.

In addition, he has helped spread the knowledge and passion that has allowed him to be successful.

More importantly, he has followed the adage of “Pay it Forward”

Every year I run a fundraiser called ‘LIFT STRONG.

It was created by Alwyn, just like Lance Armstrong has LIVE Strong.

There is also a CD Rom of approx. 800 pages with AWESOME strength and conditioning articles.

100% benefits The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

If you could, please Pay it Forward and picking up 1 copy of http://LiftStrong.com

Please spread the word by sharing this link or Blog Post or doing anything you can to spread the word of http://LiftStrong.com

In Strength,

–Coach Z–

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5 years ago I spent over 4 hours on the phone with a guy by the name of Alwyn Cosgrove.

I’m talking 4 + hours straight, not an hour here and there.

I “met” AC through special business forums that Ryan Lee created, which were membership forums. The most motivated dudes were on this forum, and back then, as they are now, these were industry leaders.

I was living at home, die hard passionate about doing what I do now for a living. Guys like Brian Grasso, Lee Taft, Jason C. Brown and Pat Bieth were members.

Back when AC spent time on the phone with me, he helped me create a system to run my business, which at the time was being run from the garage of my new home.

Except, back then, my home was being worked on – it was getting a complete overhaul, but, the first thing that got the overhaul was my 2 car garage, ha ha

I lived with my parents for a YEAR as the house was getting rebuilt, and I payed our contractors through the money I made with my training business.

Little did I know that the smartest man in the fitness industry was lying in his bed with tubed sticking out or his body as he was fighting Stage IV Cancer – you see my friend, AC NEVER told me he had cancer.

He was so passionate about helping me do what I love, he didn’t mention a word about it.

I speak with AC regularly via phone and e mail, and aside from his Coaching group , there isn’t much chance you can connect with my mentor.

But, his Blog kicks serious ass and he gave me permission to borrow a recent post which you will see below. It’s quite powerful and if you have any inkling of a thought that you want to run a fitness business, then you better read every word of what’s written below….

“The business model has changed and will continue to do so. The old ways no longer work and what was driving business two years ago is also not going to work now. For success you need to know how to thrive in change or better yet lead in change. In tough markets the rules are different but basic values will always guide the way.

I do feel there will be a lot of gyms, training centers and personal trainers who will not make it past 09 but the reasons will be their own fault for not embracing change but fighting it.” – Dave Tate

“It’s time to reinvent ourselves. The time has never been better or more urgent in which to question every truth, belief, premise, product, service and price of your business. This is a time of transition to a new economy which you are going to participate in, willingly or reluctantly, successfully or unsuccessfully” -Dan Kennedy

“There has never been a chance for greater growth in the fitness industry for those willing to reinvent their businesses and grow with the coming consumer“ – Thomas Plummer

“You’ve got to reinvent your business to fit the realities of the new market” – Seth Godin

“Reinvent your business constantly. The end goal may be the same, but the tools and methods are constantly evolving.” – Ken Tucker

If you are a trainer or coach in this field – ask yourself if your business practice is the same as it was last year, or two or three years ago. Ask yourself if your programming has evolved to meet the demand’s of todays consumer. If you haven’t changed your model radically – you will be left behind in today’s economy.

The only constant in today’s world is that everything is changing.

Your marketing has to be different. Your sales script has to be different. The services you offer have to be different. The actual workouts you put clients through have to be different (today’s client is physically different and has different goals from even ten years ago).

It’s time to evolve and reinvent.

This year for Perform Better I am speaking on the Evolution of the Fitness Profession – “tested Methods to Transform your Personal Training Business – and am sharing proven strategies that will allow your business to evolve and grow in 2009. Hopefully I’ll see some of you on the road.

We are also releasing a book this month called “55 Fitness Business Strategies for Success” – which could also be tiled “how to avoid all the mistakes we made when we first opened”…

The book will launch at the first Perform Better event of the year and will be available online early February.

–
AC
++++++++++

Wow! That was profound!

I receive e mails from countless people on a daily basis who are excited to make a business out of their passion but what’s the difference between a regular guy like myself, and why AC was willing to help me, and 99% of others?

The BIG difference is relentless action. I NEVER gave up, never quit, kept on keeping on and I made it happen.

The e mails I receive 99% of the time say this:

- I don’t have the money

- I’ll do it when ________ (fill in blank with lame excuse)

- I’m waiting for ___________ (fill in blank with lame excuse)

Look, I had NO money when I bought my first product from Ryan Lee. I invested with a credit card because I knew the return would come back 10 fold.

Things are changing, but, things won’t change for YOU unless you get off your ass and take action.

The repercussions of NOT tkaing action for me would have been:

- Being stuck at a dead end job forever

- Not giving my kids what they wanted

- Telling my wife we can’t afford that

- Looking myself in the mirror 10 years from now hating myself for being chicken shit

The price of success is FUCKING HARD! I will not lie.

But, the price of losing, especially if you never try is 100,000 times worsed.

Because once you “try”, the game changes, and you are in it to WIN, and then you get the same attitude I have, which is to kick ass 100%.

Alwyn Cosgrove and I used to talk about life’s top 10%.

The more we spoke it became life’s top5%…

Yesterday we spoke and we realized that it’s Life’s top 1%, and, we also agreed, it’s probably less than that!

What repercussions will you face if you don’t do “it”?

Kill it!

–Z–

PS: I have 1 more Underground Strength Coach Certification coming up in February. Spaces are filling up. Look at what attendees said in their videos over at http://zacheven-esh.com/Coaching.php

PPS: For the February Underground Strength Cert. we have attendees coming from Canada and all over the USA. We’ve had attendees travel from The UK as well.

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The Underground Strength Gym, located in Edison, NJ, was a gym built off “nuts and berries”.

I literally started this place with less than $ 1,000 and little by little added equipment, most of which is used or home made.

Most people think that in order to start a kick ass Underground Gym would require financial assistance from a bank, a business partner / loan, all types of fancy equipment and 5,000 sq. ft.

The Underground Strength Gym is just under 1,500 sq. ft. I could have stayed in my garage and played it safe while others told me how tough running my own business would be. The BIG difference is that I had the balls to do something about my passion, while other cry, complain and make excuses about it.

I have invested thousands of dollars in Coaching and Education because I know that it is an INVESTMENT. Others call it spending.

Too many personal trainers who want to kick ass fear the “investment” because they feel it is spending.

I have hired guys like Jim Labadie, Alwyn Cosgrove, Ryan Lee and even others outside of the fitness industry, often paying $ 1,000 for an hour of their time.

I understand that my investment will translate into many, many multiples of my initial investment.

I don’t fear, I act. I make things happen, and if I need help, I am not so egotistical to ask for it and pay for it.

I pay for my education, as did my Coaches. I don’t expect FREE advice, handouts or anything else for FREE.

I have bene helped by many, and this is why I immediately e mailed Ryan Lee after he announced he would scholar someone for his upcoming Ryan Lee Boot Camp.

The cost to scholar someone is near $ 1,000, I said so what, I want to give back, to pay it forward, to help a certain someone who has the drive to take action and make things happen, no excuses, no crying or whining.

I think there are far too many complainers, whiners and cry babies out there – want everything for free, or discounted, or adjusted for their pleasure and benefit.

I don’t work with people like that, only with people who want to kick serious ass, plain and simple, and know that it will require work and an investment.

It’s time to look in the mirror, and ask yourself, what kind of person are you?

Kill it!

–Coach Z–

P.S. - The next Underground Strength Coach Certification is on Novemeber 1st and 2nd.

If you want in (I’ll be taking 12 people maximum), go HERE, read the entire letter, and if you are ready to Kill It, e mail me to schedule an interview.

I emphasize, SERIOUS, SERIOUS, SERIOUS inquiries only. No tire kickers, noone just to ask a few questions. This is the real deal. You either want in and are ready to Kill It, or you’re just “thinking about it.” I want people who are ready to kick ass like never before, so if you’re just “thinking about it” then forget it, you’re not the right fit for this elite program.

The last group who went through our Underground Strength Coach Cert. is already killing it!

- Dramatic increases in boot camp numbers
- Beginning boot camps in niche markets
- Opening Underground Strength Facilities
- Training athletic Teams

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Last night my wife and I rented the movie, ‘The Bucket List’ from DirecTV. It hit me hard, REALLY hard, and of course, had me thinking like crazy about a lot of things. The list is on now

But, it reminded me of a person near and dear to my heart, someone who made the biggest difference in my business, and, if it were not for him, there’s a good chance I wouldn’t be writing this. I would likely still be satisified doing what I used to do, and only training athletes here and there on the side, as opposed to actually being in the thick of it, doing what I love day in and day out.

Watch the preview below and then read on….

I started feeling the pain of “what if….” as the movie came to an end.

It reminded me specifically of when I was a featured presenter at Ryan Lee’s first ever boot camp, and the night before, the day of and all freaking day, Alwyn Cosgrove kept telling me, “You better light up that f**ing stage brother or I’m gonna kick your ass!”

That motivated me! HA!

I co-presented that night with my close friends Jason C. Brown and Josh Henkin, both of whom have been HUGE influences on my training methods.

As we presented, every time I was demonstrating and speaking, I saw Alwyn in the waaaaaaay back of the room, staring right at me, with his fist clenched and his head shaking with a big grin on his face, he kept pumping his fist as if to say two things:

1) “You’re killing it brother, keep killing it!!”

2) “You better kill it more or I’m gonan kick your ass!!”

I get goosebumps thinking about that day…..

Alwyn was likely remembering all the hours he spent on the phone and the computer with me, coaching me with how to run my business and, in a subtle way, how to live life.

If you don’t know Alwyn Cosgrove, he is to fitness what Lance Armstrong is to bicycling. He is probably the most respected fitness professional out there, and, by far, the toughest mother f**er in the field, no doubt.

These times of coaching were 3 or 4 years ago, and man, does time fly… where the heck does it go?

When I look at some of my athletes, those who are 18 or 19, I am in shock, because I remember being that age like it was yesterday, tearing it up in the gym. Now, 32, it’s almost half my life time ago…. another 18 years, and I’ll be 50.

Time goes fast whether you’re having fun or not (guess who told me that one , so you might as well follow your passion, go full steam ahead like a run away freight train, and start doing what you love.

If you do not take action and begin doing what you love and begin doing things you’ve always wanted to do, you are doing a disservice to the world, somehow, someway, you’re not only cheating yourself but cheating others as well.

Time to take some action!

Dedicated to your success,

–Zach–

P.S. – Here’s the foundation Alwyn organized to help benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, along with countless other fitness professionals. Time for some action

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A little story about what we did, with the full story to come soon.

Click Here for details.

In Strength,

–Z–

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