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Above, former Edison, NJ homeboy, Mike Vallely – must be something in the Edison Water!
As soon as I moved to Edison, NJ, I built some tight friends in my neighborhood, now we’re more like brothers. That was 1980, some 31 years ago! We fell in love with BMX and Freestyle and we lived for getting up early on our bikes and meeting up to tear up the streets and BMX tracks all through the day and night.
We read the BMX magazines, bought the BMX & freestyle VHS tapes and even attended the pro competitions to be inspired. If it was raining we still rode, snow never stopped us either.
I have MANY vivid memories, such as getting my first new bike stolen in front of my face at the age of 9. I poured every weekend allowance and every dollar I made from my paper routes into that bike, a chrome and blue Schwinn Predator! A crew of high school kids rolled up and tore the bike away during a Football game. I’ll never forget that moment and how it felt to be weak AND helpless.
Before I bought my Predator, I would jog to the Ford’s bike shop every weekend and SIT on the bike, grip the handle bars and pretend it was mine. I put the bike on lay away and deposited money every weekend after collecting from my paper routes. I can only imagine what the owner thought of me. Every weekend got me closer to making enough money from my paper route to pay that bike off in full!
I now guard my bike with a deep rooted attachment that brings me back to the days of having my bike stolen. If anyone tried to steal it again, I would probably bring them close to death and have no remorse about it. It ain’t easy to let go of a few select things in life, my bike memories are certainly ONE of those things.
I was also an avid skateboarder. Not as die hard as my bike though, I felt FREE on my bike, able to travel anywhere I wanted with NO boundaries. Through backyards, trails, streets, down flights of stairs…..My skateboard was able to travel with me on family vacations, which kept me sane if I was bored.
If we were at the beach my parents would always take me to a surf and skate shop where I could buy some 
cool skate shirts and check the surfboards, which I always dreamed of doing. My first shirt was a Mike McGill shirt from Powell & Peralta. I owned that bad boy through college, that shirt was to tough to let go of 
Then, early in 8th grade it seems like the passion for BMX, Freestyle and skateboarding disappeared somewhere, somehow. Bikes became less and less about self expression and more about a mode of travel. My skateboard collected dust in the garage.
Not sure what spurred on this removal but man, the itch came back and even when no one else was out there on a bike or board I would here and there take my Dyno out for a ride.
Enter my early 20s and I picked up my first ever Mountain Bike and began riding with friends at Cheesequake State Park.
Life got busier and there went my bike riding days.
It angered me as I looked back, time was lost and time is the ONLY thing you can’t get back. Lose money, no sweat, you can earn it back. Lose time or waste time, it’s gone…. forever.
I decided those days of passion were not to be lost ever again. I began bike riding again, I now have 3 different skateboards, 2 mountain bikes and 2 surf boards which I will learn to ride.
Just because you get older doesn’t mean you need to let go of childhood dreams and passion. I ALWAYS have immense respect for the coaches who attend my USC Cert AFTER being in a career for 20 years or more and STILL want to get after their passion of being a Strength Coach. They don’t need the money, they just wanna do what they love.
It sounds cliche to tell you that it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about you but it’s the truth. At least it’s the truth in my world.
I do what feels right for me and my family, same goes for my business. Integrity is # 1. If you give me a headache or don’t meet my standards I cut you loose. Every day is about doing what I love with those most important to me and my family and friends.
I don’t follow the proper or most perfect business methods nor do I care to. I am happiest when I take care of my fans and clients knowing I am giving the best I got to make them happy and make their lives better.
I don’t feel comfortable amongst the norm in this industry and sometimes (actually often times) this “industry” seems like a bunch of con artists and bull shitters. The far and few left with integrity and quality info earn my respect, the back stabbers and bull shitters have been crossed from my list.
Passion. Time & Integrity.
With my love for the action sports and being outdoors I had dreams of living in California. I took a 2 week trip to Cali in my early 20s. I was CLOSE to having my parents send socks and underwear and starting over. I had an amazing job in NJ and LOVED it.
I thought I would NEVER be fully happy living in NJ, I felt Cali was IT.
Years and years later my wife took me to the Manasquan Beaches and town. I LOVED it. I saw kids AND adults riding beach cruiser bikes and skateboards, surf boards were on top of countless cars and the town was chill and non pretentious.
After every beach trip I would drive around and check the homes for sale. We put our home in Edison for sale in the down market when the recession was hitting us hardest, it was TIME to stop losing TIME and focus on passion and doing what would be best for the family.
We made it happen during a time of imperfection and uncertainty.
I don’t wanna ever look back and wish I did this or that. Instead, I just do it, I’m suggesting the same for you but then again, it’s your life, not mine
Now my kids can grow up in a place where it’s OK to be a kid no matter what your age, where the air is clean and the people have manners. I can look back on all my mistakes and know I did at least ONE right thing in my life.
Question for YOU: What passion have you let go of that you plan to reignite? Perhaps it’s not a hobby, perhaps it was a friend or someone you loved. Drop a comment, let’s see some action HERE. I’d love to see 100 comments, yep, 100 comments.
Peace
–Z–
Passion for becoming a Strength Coach? Time to stop dreaming and start doing, click HERE for a life changing weekend with me.
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Category: Articles, Kick Ass Business, Kick Ass Life, Monday Motivation, Success, Videos Tags: bmx, edison, integrity, manasquan, mike vallely, nj, passion, soul lifter, soul lifting, surfing, time, underground strength coach certification.
29 Responses to Passion, Time & Integrity
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skateboarding. I skated heavily for 15 years, from an early age in the 80′s to the early 90′s. It was a big part of my life, and still is, all of my friends from home are/were skaters. I was feeling like hot stuff last year and started skating pools and parks again, since they are everywhere now. rolled my foot… couldnt walk for a month, had to stop everything in my life, sucked! but I still love it. I should probably surf more
its funny, I dont really get injured training, lifting or crossfitting. I dig the skate culture and events around the city, but its tough to not participate and just skate, because when I was into it that was all that mattered anyway. kind of like being interested in crossfitting without actually doing it, the same passion and interest level just is not there. i still know a lot of older guys who still shred, but they never quit.nice predator! I wish I still had mine.
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Mateusz says:
Sine a little kid I trained martial arts. That was my biggest passion. But as I saw it’s hard to do it on a pro level, I changed to basketball. Now I’m gonna play for my college team. My biggest focus is to get better in b-ball but some day I’m gonna get back to the martial arts world. But for now- I have to focus on becoming the best in my team.
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pic of my predator (this one not actually mine) earned from a mid-80′s paper route. traded the bike for a Diamond Back II, which I subsequently broke the frame.
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b49/JHrabe/My%20Schwinn%20Free%20Form%20EX/100_2192.jpg
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David Maswary says:
I think Zach is saying that he found what he thought was only available in California Manasquan (?). I hope so.
I moved to Brazil after college to become a pro MMA fighter, married a Brazilian girl and I founded a fightwear company called Mazwar, both facts which I will advertise shamelessly in any conversation. “So, Mr Maswary, what seem to be your symptoms, has the hemmoraghing stopped?” well, doc, “I’m getting ready for my pro MMA debut and my website will be up in 2 weeks, you won’t amputate will you?”. I’m preetty good about childhood dreams. I always wanted to be a pro fighter and I have run around the world to do it. I also always wanted to recover my Israeli heritage and I did that and discovered I am a natural polyglot much to my happy surprise (and got my my Brazilian wife to agree to come to NY with me and convert to Judaism SCORE!” I guess my childhood dreams of Jennifer Connolly, Xuxa (anyone in Brazil knows who she is:-) ) and a coupe of girls from my high school graduating class will just have to suffer without me. The one dream I won’t fulfill. U2 will also be disappointed to not have me as a rhythm guitarist either.
To be honest and all joking aside I am about to fulfill the first half of my life vision, which was to become a professional MMA fighter with a business on the upswing , married, natively fluent in Hebrew and many other languages. I made a promise 9 years ago in front of the Wailing Wall (seriously – no joking)to not come back to Jerusalem until I did so and after I have my first pro MMA fights and launch the career and business together officially, as I have been doing it for years (in BJJ ,Submission and unofficial MMA fights)then I will put a prayer in the Wall and thank God for letting me achieve my dream. The second part is to bring my wife back to NY, start a family, be a HUGELY successful MMA fighter, start a family and develop my fight career, language career, business (mazwar) and investing career somewhere in the tri-state area close to my family and live with my birth heritage (Israeli) and adopted one (Brazilian) My only question is knowing where in the NY area I can find the sort of life Zach is mentioning so if anybody knows what cities in Nj, NY or Connecticut are in striking distance of Manhattan and have that chill, beach oriented please let me know either on facebook (dmaswary) or by email dmaswary@gmail.com. I want to bring it home I just don’t know where? Zach has been a huge inspiration for me, I will definitely say that much. I had to laugh when he mentioned if anyone had the desire to learn to surf. I’ve always wanted to surf. I live in Brazil fer cripes sake – I just know what has happened to me every time I’ve tried surfing, swimming or any beach type sports. It usually involves resuscitation and a lot of embarrassment. Oddly enough I love anything in th4 air. I’m perfectly happy to drop out of an airplane, hang glide, anything in the air. Put me underwater and I do very badly. Ask any of the emergency rescue departments from NY through South America and one or two in the Middle East.
I’m looking forward to a strength certification from Zach when I am in town to do one. I love Zach’s passion for teaching strength and I enjoy teaching strength, even though I don’t think I want it as my primary business. All I know is that I’m 99% of the way to fulfilling the first half of my dreams and now, I need to figure out to go next. Zack mentioned one thing that’s very true. First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, and finally they try to stop you. I think of U2′s song Acrobat, where Bono sings “in dreams begin responsibilities.” If I can tell this story withy my neautiful wife and children somewhere in NY/NJ?Connecticut while preparing for my next big UFC/Strikeforce match then I’ve brought the dream home. I just bought the traintopin course yesterday, so I’m definitely following the right sources. This blog is a nice place to find like-minded free spirits and warriors I think.
I think I’ll come around more often. Does anyone know any great chill towns in NY or NJ? email me if you do or post here. This blog really rocks. I’m feeling introspective at the moment so I’ll sign of before I go Oprah on everyone here. Keep on coming on everyone. Make dreams happen
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correction – I just re-read my post (essay) I said
think Zach is saying that he found what he thought was only available in California Manasquan (?). I hope so.
I meant to say Zach thought he would only find that life in Cali but he found it in NJ in the beaches by Manasquan.
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Paul H says:
Zach, this is incredibly inspiring, keep it coming. So are you actually moving to cali and leaving NJ?
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ty says:
lifeguarding at the beach…being more of a waterman…we have a United States Lifeguarding Tournmant this August in Cape May, NJ and everyone on our staff is training hard for it. I’m trying to play catch up because I haven’t been in the ocean much this off season. And this may be my last chance to participate in a USLA National Event.
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David, you’re an animal bro, conquering ALL goals you set out on, I still remember the home gym pics you sent me of the heavy barbells and the milk crates in your bedroom!
Deadly stuff, my man!!! Keep on dominating!!!
And yes, Manasquan is amazing, found it here and will still travel to Cali although I always love being home, it’s just an amazing town and place!
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Raymond Lee says:
Articles that you wrote about LIFE has changed my attitude and meaning of life. compared to the past of myself who was full of pussification and negativity, now I feel myself as a totally new man with positive mindset. Preparing, learning, and doing what I love, everyday kicks ass.
Thanks to you Coach Zach! Rock On! -
Mike says:
Zach,
There are a few things that I want to reignite again. I was a vivid comic book collector, and that is still something that I cherish to this day. I wanna get back into competitive football again, I have been asked to play for the past 4 or 5 years, but turned them down. Why? You ask? Who knows why I turned them down. I’m 27 about to turn 28 and I feel great, 2012 will be my return to the field,
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Zach,
There are a few things I wanna reignite. Comic book collecting was huge influence on me as a child and so I am now starting to collect comic books again. I am going to make a comeback to football (pads and all), even though I’m 27 going on 28, I feel great, really great. So in 2012 will be my RETURN! WATCH OUT MOTHER F**KERS!!! Competitive wrestling is something I have always enjoyed and getting back on the mat was something I have been dying to do for so long and get back into, well, its time to make another comeback…with a vengeance!!!
Zach, is was one person whom I did love and care for very much. Due to unfortunate circumstances (being 160 miles from one another) things didn’t work out. I have not heard from her in 5 years, and let alone its been nearly impossible to contact her. Maybe one day, Zach, maybe one day I be able to hear from her and SEE her once again…but…only TIME will tell.
Mike
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Raymond, hells yea, homie! Did you snag my 37 ways to kick ass in life & lifting at http://UndergroundInnerCircle.com?
Get it, homie!!
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Man the days of Skating was the best and free-ist time. Grinding away in parking lots trying not to get kicked out. Getting as much time as possible, failing and failing and failing for hours until you finally hit and stick the move you read about in Skateboarding Magazine.
Man great post Z!
Im actually wearing my Vision Psycho Stick tee shirt as I read this…funny
That was my first board. Thanks Bill and ted’s Excellent Adventure.
Thanks for conitnuing to put out amazing content -
Zac,
For me, it’s playing sports with my friends. We used to get out and tear it up every Sunday morning playing Ultimate. When it was snowing it made you feel like you were in one of those old highlight reels from Fantastic Finishes. I just found a Saturday game near my house and reconnected with some old friends, so I am STOKED! I also love sand volleyball, and that’s been a regular part of summer for the last few years. So, if I burn a few extra calories and stay a little leaner than I’d like, have to modify my lifting to allow for all of this, but I’m HAPPY, then that’s all that matters. -
Torrey says:
Hey Z,
Man, you put out some inspiring stuff! I love how you roll!
For me, I’ve always had a passion for working out, martial arts and combative athletics. I’ve been blessed with good genetics, hard work ethic, and determination. My Dad was a blackbelt instructor when I was young and he got me started. I dicovered wrestling in 8th grade while in Vegas. Now, Vegas ain’t nothing like NJ for wrestling, but I had early success, beating a kid in the city championship finals who had tec-falled me earlier in the season.
I got to spend the 1st semester of 9th grade wrestling for the dominate Eldorado Sun Devils under the great Coach Jim May before moving to Alaska where in my senior year won the state title and the OW award by beating an undefeated returning champ. I loved wrestling, but lost my passion for it while wrestling in college in CO, where I spent much of my spare time skiing the Rockies. I was an avid alpine skier having aspirations of becoming an extreme skier.
As a kid, I always loved boxing and was able to pursue that passion after wrestling. I had a goal to win another state title and made that happen in the local semi-pro boxing when I returned to Anchorage. I got married to the woman of my passions while still boxing and she was a big supporter until I accomplished my goal. Then she encouraged me to hang up the gloves, which I did.
In addition to raising a family, next up for me was bodybuilding because that was another thing I had been doing since high school. I set my sights on a third state title in a third sport. Although I have yet to win the overall, I’ve taken 1st in the men’s open light weight at several shows including the state championships.
I made a brief attempt at the mma seen while in my late 30′s, but I quickly saw rhe reward not worth the risk to me and my family. I have come realize that our passions must be guided by our values and may change over time. It’s ok to shift your pursuits and develop new passions in life. Athletic endeavors must at times be set aside, or put behind us. However, never lose your passion for life. Pursue your passions with with belief.I still love to train and challenge myself physically and mentally, but my main passion and pursuit in life is now for my family and fitness business. I run a Fit Body Boot Camp and personal training business part time while working a full time day job. I’m setting myself up for retirement from the day job to pursue my business full time. On the side, I’m still training, and still in my mind is the unfinished goal of winning the overall for a natural bodybuilding show.
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Jonathan says:
Zach… man! Where did you find that Predator. I had one EXACTLY like it in 1983 and kept it until 1997 when it got stolen from my house. I had planned to give that bike to my kids (when I had them) – fast forward to today Jan. 2nd 2012 and my 7 year old son is learning to ride. – I really want to find that bike.. where did you find yours?
Thanks!
Jonathan
It’s funny, Zach. My passion has always been fast cars. Ever since I was 13, I would sneak and drive my dad’s 1980 BMW 320i and later his 1986 528e. Before I left my “real” job to start SICFIT in Austin, I finally had my own 3-series but I sold it to facilitate the move. My passion has always been to drive fast and take corners low to the ground. On the track and in life. So I look forward to reliving my moments with my dad by living them with my daughter. Just driving with the top or windows down.
Soon, I know that I will be able to do what I missed about my childhood, once again.