"I Will NOT Be Broken"
Above, Mike Valley at The T&F Outdoors Sports Shop from Edison, NJ. I bought my first Ugly Stick fishing pole from that store, which no longer exists.
I've known of pro skateboarder, Mike Vallely, since I was in elementary school and he was a teenager tearing up the streets and roof tops of Edison, NJ. I'm not sure there were any places Mike V did NOT skate. I've seen him skating roof tops, BMX ramps, the walls of buildings and anything else that was in his way.
I began to lift the same way Mike skated, lifting anything that was on the ground in front of me and around me.
Above, getting my new street surfer skateboard from world famous skateboard shop, SHUT NYC, with Jonny Hinds & Gavin VanVlack in Alphabet City / East Village
Although he's a pro skater, I can relate to his mindset almost identically. He doesn't care for winning trophies, he skates for his love, passion and self expression. Skating is PART of him, just like lifting and training is part of me.
He doesn't give a shit what others think of him, neither do I & neither should you. I am NOT trying to appease big companies, sponsors, etc. with my training style, the equipment I use, where or how I train. The Underground came about as I either left or got kicked out of most gyms I trained in.
They told me....
"Don't drop the weights...."
"Don't wear work boots...."
"No chalk beyond this point...."
"We don't play music like that...."
"You're too loud....."
Training is an art form, it's YOUR art, and art has NO boundaries, so do NOT allow others to set boundaries for you.
I KNOW there are haters hatin' on me who are out and about in droves. There are probably people telling you NOT to train a certain way, NOT to do this or that. Your training is YOUR meditation, your time to lose yourself and find yourself. If you allow haters or control freaks to alter your training then you're allowing them to control YOU.
Some hate from jealousy, others hate with intention to control me or slow me down yet none have the ability to stop or control me.
That's how ya gotta deal with naysayers and haters - just keep charging, keep doing what YOU know is right in your heart to do.
When I lift, it is my self expression, it is my thoughts, feelings and instincts being expressed. This is why I don't care as much for the numbers as I used to. Instead, I chase the experience, not the numbers. Strange but true. That is me. It doesn't have to be you. Ya gotta connect with what sits right in your own heart.
When I listen to Mike's interview below, I think to myself not caring about being hated by others in the industry. Yes, it happens. My goal is never deterred by those who have issues with what I do or how I do it. My goal stays on target, helping others experience the powerful life changes I have gotten from training, and, if you're a Strength Coach or aspire to become one, my goal is to help you become the best YOU, not to copy someone else and lead yourself down a dead end road.
I was asked what or who guides my BIG decisions when it comes to business.
My answer was simple, no hesitation at all: My family, my heart and my gut instincts.
I ask myself if my decisions will make my family proud and if I can stand tall and go to sleep at night with pride, knowing I did the right thing.
Ask yourself: Who shapes your training? Who or what shapes your decision making? If you're trying to make people happy who truly have NO clout in your life and deep down you are not absolutely positive about your decisions, then you've chosen the wrong path.
What's the bottom line? Be YOU, not someone else or who/what someone wants you to be.
Two Renegades from Edison..... Although Mike is a die hard skater he actually trains damn hard as well, very much like an Undergrounder does. And although I train the way Mike skates, I too have a passion for my skateboards. I ride them often. I'll be buying The Elephant Long Board, and, ironically, Mike's long boards are called the 'NOSIDE", which spelled backwards is Edison, the town we both grew up in yet aggressively sought to escape from.
I don't always have tips or specific points laid out in stone for you EVERY time I write or make a video. The gist of this post is to do what I always encourage: follow your heart, trust your gut instincts, train for the mental AND the physical benefits. In the end, the only people who matter are those that love you and befriend you unconditionally, that means what 99% of people think of you means NOTHING.
Let me know your thoughts and drop a comment below.
Peace
--Z--
VIP Coaching with Zach
18 Responses
I like the sincerity in that post 🙂 keep it up.
Thnx, My brutha, I speak from the heart, it’s the only way I KNOW! Peace, Brutha!
Badass blog post bro! Can totally relate to this bro… thanks for posting this! Being true to the core about who you are and not some Stupid looking trainer walking around with a sleeveless shirt trying to flex ya guns!
Honey Badgers just don’t care!
Yo, homie, das right!! How about just be YOU… your own everything, be inspired by others but look those U love in the eyes and tell them honestly, “I am being the best person I can, nothing less, being ME.”
Love ya, bro!
Hell yeah! I’m growing my Rat tail back out just for me!
ha ha ha, I hope you DON’T!!!
It’s been a while Z … It’s always refreshing to see people doing what they love for the sake of doing it because it defines who they are. When you can find something that makes you happy and doesn’t compromise your morals and values you are begin to understand the true meaning of happiness. Great post — and for the record, as different as you and Mike Vallely are you guys are one in the same — in a league of your own.
Franco, HUGE thnx 4 the kind words, you are also so right, just be YOU, don’t compromise values and the happiness will come, doing what U Love!
Zach,
Mate I love reading your stuff…especially ones like this, where there is very little information overload but something to be learned from your words. I’ve just opened my own gym (The Gym Yamba) in the small surfing town I grew up in, and have gone against the grain to provide a gym where people want to train properly. There are a few other gyms in town running the mill with the commercial gym type setup and one crossfit box / PT studio. With a popn of only 8000, it’s tough to make a dollar with 4 other gyms in town. But you know what man, I’m doing it my way and it’s different to all the others. We drop weights, yell as loud as we want, play music as loud as we want (set up in the back of an Industrial Estate next to a mechanic, so no probs for noise!!), throw shit, push/drag heavy stuff and just train like we should. It’s taking the locals some time to realise that I’m the real deal and will provide the ground rules for their success, they just need to bring their A game each day!!! Word is spreading, and people are beginning to commit!! Being myself, doing my own thing, even tho stacks of people said it wouldn’t work! Underground! Loving it!!!
sounds to me like you’re gonna be pretty darn successful, take care of your members like family, it’s more than just training my brutha
For biz tips, make sure you’re at http://UndergroundBizJournal.com
keep me posted!
Love this Z,
You never fail to help pick up my days with inspiration and on point advice.
Keep inspiring
J
Thnx, Josh, gotta keep inspiring the Warriors and Underground Strength Nation!
Life just gets better the more you consistently practice and improve on the things Zach is talkin about in this article… full proof! Killin it!
You know, it brutha, consistency and aggressive action and an undying belief in what you do, who you are and what you stand for.
Killer post Zach. Really encouraged me to solidify the reasoning behind the things that I do…thanks for always being true coach!
I came across your books recently when looking for stuff on sleds, sandbags etc. All good stuff, and can relate to what you say above, I’m not in this for anything but my own satisfaction. I left the gym 2 years agho, and have never looked back, train up in my shed, my way, my time! Keep it up, love your stuff!
We are oddities! Even when compared to others that “train” we look like crazed beasts. Attacking everything in front of us, and not caring what our muscles look like in the mirror. Not caring if our shorts have so many holes that you can see our underwear. Shirts so stained with black/white/red (tire/chalk/blood).
Rise up and scream! Underground Nation!
I don’t know how you do it man, but this was another sick post! This blog is unlike any other (I say that bc I subscribe to 20 others) in its approach. Not trying to suck up or anything but you’re doing an awesome job!