"Better to Live Your Dreams Than to Dream Your Life"
The USC Cert is a life changing weekend, for those who attend and for myself.
I get to meet hungry Strength Coaches.... hungry to turn their passion into profits with a burning desire to leave behind a life that feels unfulfilled with a job that makes them miserable. Been there and done that and it damn near killed me.
I am NOT a believer in "Just Do It" without some planning and a strong foundation. I DO, however, believe in making the jump and putting yourself in uncomfortable situations that push you to elevate your game, whether it be life, business, fitness, etc.
Ya gotta push the envelope or you'll end up living a life of quiet desperation, wishing you did this or that. A close friend of mine once told me: "Why tell people that you dream of this day or dream of doing something, why not life your dreams instead of dreaming your life?"
He musta told me that when I was in high school, I was 15 I think, some 20 years ago, and I never forgot those words.
Food for thought....
Hope you got fired up and enjoyed some highlights and feedback from The USC Cert.
Next Cert is around the corner at The Underground Strength Gym, check the details HERE
Question for YOU: The quote at the very top was shared to me MANY years ago, perhaps when I was 15 or so by a friend while I was in Israel. I STILL remember the day he explained it to me and it drives me to follow my passion. What is Your Favorite Quote that has resonated with you for many years?
Peace
--Z--
PS: Do what you love. Find a way to make this a reality, rather than a dream. Time goes waaaay too fast and time is one of the FEW things you can NEVER replace once it's lost. If you're a Strength Coach or warehouse gym owner or aspire to be, then YES, that means making the trek to NJ a life changing weekend.
PPS: For updates on upcoming certs, business info, biz coaching, etc. please click HERE
12 Responses
Coach!
Love the poster, GREAT way to kickoff this posting! Before I share the quote that has most inspired me to push through and continue this journey of becoming, I want to address one thing; the USC Certification.
This is a cert that is NOT optional. I have said this before in my postings on this site – this one cert has changed my life! STRAIGHT THE F#CK UP! I didn’t gain training knowledge, I didn’t gain business contacts and a network of acquintances – NO!
I gained an invaluable mentor in Coach Z, membership to a brotherhood that is more akin to the crazy cousins that crash the family BBQ every year and have the best of times and precise knowledge in how to make my business soar – what was most critical is that I learned how to do all of these things by staying true to me and who I am as a coach and more over as a person.
Zach has taught me how to build a business around “WHO” I am and what I believe in – in knowing those things, yeah times were and will be tough but those tough times never last when you’re pursuing a passion and that passion becomes PURPOSE.
The one quote that has always stuck with me I stumbled upon on a road trip to the CFL combines in my draft year back in 2004. I had always been the type of guy that would push and take strides forward but would also always be looking back for affirmation that I was doing the right thing and that I was on the right path – quick aside there is no “right” path, there simply is the path, thinking makes it either good or bad … that’s something for a separate posting.
Back on track; while on this road trip I had one of the most influencial people in my life to date with me, next to my mom and grandfather, my mentor Mark. Mark was a former CFL Pro himself and had been training me since the age of 15 (I was now 24) and over the course our time training I learned so many invaluable lessons from him both in the weight room and in life but nothing stuck with me more than what I am about to share.
We were on the drive in and Mark turns to me and says … “Reed what happens if you don’t make it – then what?” I looked at Mark stunned, for the past 9 years this is what I had been training for – for me, there were no other options, the CFL was home, I was meant to play pro – I had to play in the Big Leagues there were no other options this is who I was – period (or so I thought). I said in shock ” What do you mean, if I don’t make it – I try again until I do make it, and keep pushing.”
What was said next stuck with me at the tryout, in school, in business and in life since. Mark said in reply … “Never let what you do define who you are; define what you do with who YOU are.” <- that has given me mental freedom - I now live my life forward, never do I look back or around for approval. As long as I am true to who I am things will happen as they should and will work out the way they were meant to, I now believe that with unshakable faith.
When you attend the USC Cert, don’t go there searching for an identity – you have one; too many poeple out there have already pirated Coaches sh*t; not cool, BE YOURSELF but know that investing in this certification WILL make you better – PERIOD.
Great quote Zach, I couldn’t agree more.
Here’s two that have always seen me right;
“Bored people are boring people”
And
“It is better to regret the things you HAVE done than the things you HAVEN’T”
But of course, I live my life without regrets regardless!
My dad use to always tell me and my brother, ” can’t never could and won’t never would”! I think Yoda got his, “there is no try, do or do not!” from my dad!!
This is part of a poem written by Dan Severn that has inspired me for some time…
“I am not average,not like the rest,
I will rise above and become the best.
It is my goal to reach the top,
no matter what, I will not stop.”
Can’t lives on won’t street
A quote I use often at the blog comes from the last Rocky movie. More like 2 paragraphs actually.
ALWAYS inspires me to push and do work.
“You, me or nobody’s gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit – it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward! How much you can take and KEEP MOVING FORWARD! That’s how winning is done!
Now if you know what your worth than go out and get what your worth – but you gotta be willing to take the hits! And, not point your finger and say you ain’t what you wanna be because of HIM OR HER OR ANYBODY! COWARDS DO THAT AND THAT AIN’T YOU! YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT!” -Rocky Balboa
It’ never too late to be what you might have been!
“There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do.”
Freya Madeline Stark
For years I have liked
“Unquestioning respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth”
Albert Einstein
Keep up the good work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2k1uOqRb0HU
Do you know what the secret to live is ?
Just One thing…
What is that “one thing” ?
That’s what you gotta figure out…
City Slickers
A closed mouth gathers no feet! Think about this one it applies to more than you think it does.
A wise man learns from other mistakes, a smart man learns from his own mistakes and a fool does neither. Who are you?
When you choose a career in Law Enforcement you give up the right to be unfit.
Or
You never know how STRONG you are… Until being strong is the ONLY choise you have.
I use these two while training recruits at our academy and as tag lines on my emails.
Stay safe.