“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”
- Edmund Burke -
"I used to be like you.....Until....."
- Until I started this business
- Until I got married
- Until I had kids
- Until I got a job
- Until I had no time
Why do some people climb while others fall?
Why can some people train alone while others need a cheer squad to train?
Why can some wake up early and train at 5 am or 6 am while others would rather be weak and skip train altogether?
Why do some succeed and others toil in mediocrity or fail altogether?
It's the mind set, plain and simple.
I said simple, not easy.
You must WANT to be a Bad MoFo and leave yourself no choice but victory. Tired, overworked, stressed out, beat up and beat down - you must still rise above.
That's life my friends. Those who succeed know they can count on themselves to get the job done.
Sure, you might agree, and on the flip side ask me why I talk about Navy SEALs so often who encourage the "team life" and relying on your buddies.
That is true, but those brothers got to the top because of their mind set and attitude. They were surrounded by like minded brothers who came together to achieve greatness, vs coming together to pull from one another and ride on one another's coat tails.
At age 38 with 2 gyms, 2 kids, an online biz plus traveling I'm supposed to be weak, fat and out of shape.
I choose NOT to be the norm. You can choose the same, you just gotta have the attitude that no one and nothing can hold you back.
[youtube width="640" height="360"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K49Gpf8EZKU[/youtube]
Last year at this same time, mid December, 2012, I became very sick.
It was unlike anything I had experienced before and for longer than I ever experienced. I was stressed out from some shady business problems and had pneumonia for the 2nd time.
I was sick for about 3 weeks, rebounded a bit and then 2 weeks later got sick again.
That shyt knocked on my ass for about 3 weeks the first time and then 2 weeks the second time. I was worried and scared. Concerned why my body could not rebound and if something deeper and more dangerous was brewing inside of me.
I rebounded to strength and health by changing my attitude and getting back to my warrior mindset.
I knew that life could knock me down and it was entirely up to me to stand up and get back to my ways of kicking ass and taking names.
[youtube width="640" height="360"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uyTAfX7cniI[/youtube]
I was pissed at myself.
I got knocked down and was stuck in bed and on the couch. My back was killing me from laying down, literally, and NOT standing up. I had to use a heating pad to remove my back pain for a few days.
Even sleeping hurt my body. My back was hurting so intensely from the virus brewing inside of me it caused muscular and skeletal pain.
I started changing my mindset aggressively.
I began eating cleaner and started training even when my body felt weak, I forced it to develop strength. I thought about my kids and my motivation started getting on fire again, BIG time.
I wasn't worried how long I trained, I just got something done and knew that I had to get started. If I passed by a Kettlebell I hit a few presses and snatches. I kept a barbell loaded in my cold garage at 275 - 325 lbs and I would deadlift 1 - 3 reps at a clip, a few times a day.
I would grab the heavy kettlebells and farmer walk them for a few laps inside my gym.
I didn't let life knock me down. I didn't pussify myself by caving in to life's stress. I got knocked, but I got the fuck back UP. Like Rocky said, that's how winning is done.
I'd been down before.
This wasn't foreign territory for me.
I'd been in some stressful times when I was in debt, trying to start my business from a house I didn't even live in and was trying to get anyone to listen to me so I could show them my training methods.
I knew that momentum was key and stopping would put momentum against me, not in my favor. So I kept dialing it all in.
I kept doing the shyt that always worked for me.
Loving my family.
Standing strong for my kids.
Getting back to intensive coaching of my athletes vs being someone who spent more time behind a computer, eating weak foods and telling other people how to train.
F**k that. I was gonna LIVE everything I spoke about.
Reading Navy SEAL books before bed every night. Resetting my goals on my white boards and locking down my schedule 3 - 5 days in advance along with my Certification schedule.
Being strong is a choice, my friends.
You either get back up and smash anything that dares stand in your way or you make a laundry list of excuses.
The gym saved me. The gym is what led me to research and learn from men like Arnold and Navy SEALs. The gym inspired me to have the desire to learn from men who overcame obstacles and achieved greatness.
So, to end this blog post. How does one achieve a strong life, a successful life, a life where obstacles get smashed vs a life that pushes you around?
You learn to be strong and get back up no matter what the circumstance. You learn to face the devil if that is the person that wants to stand in your way and you don't back down.
We've all heard the saying "Life goes fast...." - well, I can comment on that and write a story about my life memories from the late 70s yet it feels like yesterday.
In this lifetime, you must live with the belief that you ain't got time to be Weak.
Live this Code every day. Period.
Don't be the excuse making cry baby.
Blaze your own path.
Ride the wave of no one else.
Stand for what you believe in.
Be prepared to walk alone.
Strength starts from yourself and without your own foundation of strength there is NO team, friend or buddy that can help you rise above.
In a nut shell, you gotta dig deep and grab life by the balls.
If you don't have the balls, then grow a pair.
It starts when you give yourself no choice but to emerge as the victor, day in and day out.
If you're A Strength Coach or aspiring Coach and you want your biz and your life to kick ass and take names, then you must have the proper mindset. The Warrior mindset.
You'll get this inner strength and Warrior mindset when you attend The USC Cert. Sure, I call this a certification but truly, this is an experience. An experience to change your life.
NO training program or system works unless the Coach and the people have the right attitude. If you're too good, smart enough, don't wan to travel, too busy and bla bla bla then this experience is NOT for you.
The USC cert is about Training for Life. Strength and Life go hand in hand. Time to rise above and be the success you want to be.
To learn more about The USC Cert Click HERE
Live The Code 365
--Z--
16 Responses
I love the term weak foods. That is so true!!!! Weak foods for weak people! result is WEAK results!!! That is powerful!
Weak foods makes a weak person!
After going through what I can say was THE most traumatic event of my life (being a first responder, accidentally, at the marathon in Boston) earlier this year, and trying to recover through PTSD, my body breaking down over and over from my stress, sleepless nights, panic attacks, and just really coming out of it in the last few months, this post really resonates with me. Realizing that you are ultimately the decider of your fate, and that the ones you love can give so much and ask so little, yet be that rock and foundation is amazing, and life changing. I’m moving forward like I’ve never been able to before, because I’m full of purpose. Kudos to you for keeping the warrior mindset day in and out, it’s a pleasure working with you.
Amber, you’re awesome! You are an ass kicker! I understand the stress portion, Hurricane Sandy threw me for a loop and I found myself stressed about the way people acted, etc.
Keep surrounding yourself with positive people, time with your friends and husband and loves ones, do some form of fitness every day and read great books / watch inspirational movies
You can revamp it all by your environment 🙂
Great post that I know comes from the heart. Many of us can relate to such circumstances. I know in my life stress and responsibilites have accumlated on a daily basis. While sometimes I fall like many others do and become weak. I fight with my mind, body, and soul to become stronger than my oldself. It’s a constant battle to progress in all aspects of life. The truth is all we have to do is take one small step forward at a time.
Josh yo homie, you’re right, small steps, NO need for a battle…. believe it can be smooth and awesome and see what I wrote for Amber.
Your environment is THE ticket!
I tell my wife all the time that she has to have a better mindset. I made a mistake a couple months ago, actually last April. Got my license taken away and felt like I let a lot of people down. I had a killer mind set at the start, I was going to use this experience to make myself better, learn from it and become more focused from it. Recently though the challenges and different things I have to do for the courts have been waring me out both mentally and financially. They have been exhausting especially when I have to choose to pay fines instead of buying presents for my family. It feels like someone is kicking me in the balls every time I have to inconvenience someone, interrupt there day to day to help me because of my shitty choice..
I told my wife the other day we need to realize a lot of these situations that get us down are very temporary and they are truly short term. They may be important but they are temporary and important by who’s standard! WE have a roof over our heads, we have food to eat, and we have each other plus so many other things that really a person does not need. Yet we are sitting here feeling sorry for ourselves, I’m feeling like I’m letting them down.
Bullshit, I am letting them down because I’m being a pussy and feeling sorry for myself. Step up to the plate and start working to get shit down. There are many ways to make more money but there is no way that money is coming my way unless I get off my ass and work for it. I always say money doesn’t make you happy but it can make things easier.
But then again it isn’t bout the money its about the mindset needed to push the boundaries, the confidence to get out and speak about my beliefs with other people. Time to refocus, set some knew goals and rebound like a animal that can’t be stopped!
Thanks for the Inspiration Zach!
Daniel
Daniel you need to do better, my brother.
Get another job, volunteer at a gym and clean the floors if you have to.
Find a way to step up and do better. The holidays are here and yes, be happy for a roof and food, BUT, step up and find a way to give a gift to those you love!!!
Make it happen!
I admire your transparency. Most people on the net make themselves out to be perfect, and we all no this is not true for anyone. I chose to forgo training clients when my son was born, but I never stopped training. Like you I set up KB’s, and barbells in strategic locations. My workouts might be 30 minutes or 5 minutes, but I keep doing them. My training continues and will never stop, always staying in shape and growing stronger. The mindset I have built through my training is helping me in my creative pursuits. Whether it be hands to barbell or pen to paper, it’s all about busting through that last rep you think you can’t do, but MUST.
Keep up the great work Zach!
Mike G.
Hell yeah, Zach!
I can totally relate to your post. In this very moment I’m going through the roughest time of my life. Period!
I’ve been there before but never so deep and with kids in the background. With having a family it becomes a whole different ball game as I constantly have this burden on my back and the nutkicker in front of me that I’m letting my closest family down as I barely can provide for the food. Right now its winter outside and I cant provide for my family to have a heated home. We’re literally wearing ski outfits inside as the temperature is below 45F in the house.
I cant even remember when I had my last warm shower. I usually do 100 KB snatches before I enter the bathroom so I have enough heat in me to shower. Its one thing to be cold once in a while, another to be freezing most of the daytime and then take an ice-cold shower in a freezing bathroom.
Life is rough right now – but that is life. Got to embrace it as life is beautiful – still.
The worst thing of it all is the kick in the stomach that you’re letting your family down and also the pity that you’re getting from other people.
But this situation also drives me more than anything. After a long depressive phase when it all came tumbling down, I choose not to give in. Life sucks right now but I’ll be damned if I let things stay this way. Fuk that!
Training under these circumstances is often hard. You’re beat down – mentally more than physically. But once you step up the intensity is there immediately. Even more so as I carry all this anger inside and let it all out in training. Got to be strong to follow through – No time to be weak. If anything I want to go down fighting harder and be the fittest mofo I can be.
Cheers
a bit of the record –
Just came across this amazing video of a true champion who overcame his biggest nightmare and fear:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uOE-kH32so
Zach,
It’s so great to hear from you that you have to make the same choice that I have to make every day. Whether I am going to be weak or not. I know that is what is keeping me going even though I am working as a teacher, working as a pastor, going to school full time, and trying to start a coaching business. Thanks for the motivation, and thanks for being so real. I hope I’m still killing it like you when I’m 38 years old.
Zach, that is the attitude that made me want to start learning from you back around 2005, and to this day I am still doing that.
The Underground Cert can change your life, it did mine at the age of 65. Almost two years ago I was at the USC Cert in Austin TX. I went in with some bad knees, a little heart rhythm problem and worked as hard as I could. The atmosphere was electric, Zach was on fire as usual. What I learned was that enthusiasm, and inner fire is contagious, you can not give it if you do not possess it and Zach and the crew there had it. Six months after the cert I had a reaction to an anti-biotic that threw my world into a tailspin, it was like a walking coma and brain fog that would not go away. I kept thinking of Zach, living the code and never, ever giving up. Well as of two months ago the fog lifted and I can now train and coach with the fire that has always been there but was temporarily diluted. Even an old Warrior can learn, and folks I gotta tell you if you anyway can make his Cert. DO IT!! You will learn, and have an experience you won’t forget,
Great post Zach. It’s all about being steadfast, focused, and looking to climb in anyway possible. There’s some good ‘ole truth to the theme of all those Rocky movies. I just turned 37 so I’m right there with you!
In one way or another in one fashion or another we all have to choose to roll up our sleeves and make shit happen. Thanks for the share my friend.
One of the best things about aging is, Your mind grows stronger each and everyday. You are building strength mentally thru experience, thats powerful stuff. You Need to look NO further than Jack La Lanne…he was awesome into his 90’s!!