It's been a whirlwind few weeks. The type of adversity that doesn't give a shit how much weight I can squat or deadlift. Living a STRONG Life transcends the weight on the bar. The STRONG Life transcends what "everyone else" thinks about you or even what they THINK they know about you.
THAT is why you must be strong. Because life is a test, every single day.
Take pride in being STRONG. This starts from within. Resiliency, Durability.....
The ability to rebound......
I have gotten good at that. Welcome to the REAL world, right? I used to NOT be good at this. It was all part of the journey of finding myself. You don't get good or great by avoiding the challenges, you FACE them. You
I hit a fork in the road where I realized I need to be The LION. Feed yourself first.
What I thought I was put on this earth for I came to realize was wrong. I had to take a different path.....
This is the time of year where I need to teach this lesson of being a LION to some of my athletes.
[youtube width="700" height="400"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUh1NhlzylU[/youtube]
Some of these athletes have trained so hard and consistently (YEARS of training at The Underground Strength Gym) yet still came up short of their goals....
It's easy for them to get sucked into a whirlwind of negativity and depression. Their friends are mostly "normal". They think it's crazy to train on Friday evenings, pushing yourself to the limits. Dragging sleds in the cold weather..... Carrying stones, kegs and throwing sandbags. The story goes on and on, week after week, month after month..... The Years of work add up.
The key is to ensure they're not 30, 40 or 50 something years old with regrets. NO regrets.
The jackals and hyenas will tell you differently. They will try to suck you down to their level. They will take from you and make you feel like it's wrong to take care of yourself first and foremost.
Personally, I have been laying low lately.
Many are asking me about the last USC Cert, some thought it was a joke that this is the last LIVE Cert.
NO joke.
Concentrating.
Focusing.
Working "behind the scenes" on what is most important to me, NOT what everyone else wants. Lions understand this, hyenas and jackals do not understand nor do they care. They want from you and simply care solely about themselves.
Doing what needs to be done for ME is a rare experience because from my heart, I am a GIVER. It is Powerful to walk this different path after always giving, giving, giving and lots of thankless takers.
It sounds selfish, but I realized it's not selfish after speaking with a friend of mine who was also coaching others while splitting his time, energy and passion into running his multiple gym locations and most importantly, time with family.
He left a LOT of money on the table BUT we both discussed that it doesn't matter because now we can be better Coaches, better Gym owners and most of all, better for our family. This is the right path.
As a Lion, I realized my friend and I don't run a "coaching of other coaches business" because it's just another business opportunity, we make our choices because we do what is right on all fronts. I don't coach other coaches because it's a "business opportunity". That is what jackals and hyenas do, they do for the wrong reasons.
It's easy to shout from the roof tops telling others what they should do. It's a completely different truth when you're actually DOING the thing.
Ignore the jackals.....
Ignore the hyenas......
Be a LION.
[youtube width="700" height="400"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWlXsEj1RpM[/youtube]
The only thing you're "supposed to do" is the thing that isn't fake.
Be true to yourself and you can be true to others.
Live YOUR truth.
Live The Code 365,
--Z--
6 Responses
Zach,
It took me a long time in life to realize that being the lion was the way to live. It started for me when I went through my divorce and I realized I needed to be unbelievably strong for my son Max. I didn’t become the lion over night either. There was a lot of stumbling blocks along the way, family, friends, you name it, but when i decided to get the negative habits, people and places out of my life is when the lion in me started to grow. Both you and Nick have been a big part in that growth and I thank you. Keep hanging low and attack when you need to brother.. Thanks Michael,
Life goes too fast to be doing anything you’re not super passionate about!
I HAVE passion for educating coaches, BUT, there’s been too much unethical BS that has shown me I honestly can’t change that and I need to stop thinking I can change the world bc that’s the ultimate way to be disappointed on a daily basis.
Gotta do what is good for ourselves and not feel bad about it.
I’m always giving and giving and I hit a wall with it.
Spoken like a true leader of a pride, Z! Focusing on what matters most is at the heart of leading a purpose-driven life. It can be challenging to let go of control of things that we think need our undivided attention, but cutting away dead branches always makes the plant stonger and more vibrant.
Yes, perfect analogy!
Zach, I am so glad you made that choice! Thank you for all you have done for all of us over the years!
I am blessed to be able to live a life I love.
I love what I do every day at the Cave.
Many people have thought I was nuts for running a small gym all these years, but I don’t give a rip about having a big gym with hundreds of members and a staff of assistant coaches or the nightmares that can create.
We are debt free, the house is paid for, the cars are paid for, and there is no external pressure to live for the dollar,
I love spending time with my wife, all the kids are grown up now.
Every day is a gift.
I hope you and your family have incredibly good times together doing what you love to do!
Frank, you;re living life on your terms brother AND doing GREAT things for others! Sounds awesome to me!!