“If you are unsure of a course of action, do not attempt it. Your doubts and hesitations will infect your execution. Timidity is dangerous: Better to enter with boldness. Any mistakes you commit through audacity are easily corrected with more audacity. Everyone admires the bold; no one honors the timid.”
~ Robert Greene, Author of Mastery ~
I remember when I STOPPED Giving a shit about the perfect workout along with perfect sets and reps. I stopped because I realized that perfection doesn't exist. In addition, I realized that those perfectly dialed in workouts do NOT develop the type of attitude you need to achieve success in ANYTHING you do.
I've heard Dan John say that if all you do is the clean and press you can be awesome. I agree. When I get e mails asking me about the perfect workout to help them do XYZ, I KNOW they have gotten confused with the endless barrage of info out there.
Fuck it, lock yourself in the garage and do crazy shit every workout:
- 100 reps of bodyweight deadlifts
- The Coach Ethan Reeve Wrestling Workout (BRUTAL!)
- 5 Mile Ruck March
- 500 Push Ups In A Day
- Squat Your Bodyweight For Max Reps in 10 Minutes
WHY Don't I care about just muscle building and athletic performance?
Because the REAL key to success is the MIND. Training MUST bring the mind to a place that pushes you FAR outside your comfort zone and helps you become a Warrior.
When I see athletes training in air conditioned settings, using the perfect exercise selection and not training outdoors in the elements I KNOW they won't be ready to truly represent when the shyt hits the fan in sports OR life.
Train yourself to be well prepared for life's obstacles, NOT just the stuff in sports. This is when perfect sets and reps work against you. What we do at The Underground is a blend of science AND hell. Pushing the body, pushing the mind, creating a dominant human being as the end result - dominating in ALL that YOU do.
[youtube width="640" height="360"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g39nryWMmk[/youtube]
I am often asked how to achieve success, how to overcome obstacles and how to get motivated.
Let me tell you...... I battle the same battles you encounter as well. For me, those used to be a daily battle. But, I searched and searched, not just within myself but I searched from other "Masters", "Mentors" & "Gurus". I wanted to learn from people who learned how to conquer obstacles.
I learned aggressively from those smarter, stronger and better than me, then applied their teaching to my own life.
Every day, more and more I realize that I am here to help others avoid the pain I experienced in life, business, sports, etc.
Training with a perfect training regime won't help me and it won't help you.
I'd say the TWO BIGGEST Lessons learned this year and perhaps in my life have come from two men:
One HUGE lesson I learned from Dan Sullivan, creator of Strategic Coach, is to avoid the GAP.
This video is where I do a quick explanation of "Avoiding The Gap" along with a touch of 20X and how BIG of an influence Mark Divine has been to me.
Unfortunately, I lived in the GAP for a loooong time, it f**ked me up quite badly, scarred me intensely and here and again, I get stuck in the GAP, but I know how to avoid it and I know how to get out of it rather quickly nowadays.
I'd be a liar if I told you I never experienced the gap anymore. I'd be a liar if I told you I am always 110% motivated, fired up and firing on all cylinders. Perfection doesn't exist, and once you accept that you can begin conquering obstacles.
I am in a way grateful for my painful past though, as it motivates me to learn more so I can pass on to others and help as many people as possible avoid my painful past.
But, as Bruce Lee said, "Knowing is not enough, we must apply, Willing is not enough, We must Do!"
[youtube width="640" height="360"]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAOtsmj0zK4[/youtube]
Here are 6 Simple, Yet Powerful Lessons In Life & Lifting...
1) A 20 X mindset helps you achieve greater success and helps you conquer obstacles.
2) Avoiding the GAP keeps you happy, energized and constantly rejuvenated. Perfection doesn't exist. Measure your progress against where you used to be, NOT the perfect ideal.
3) Training hard makes you a stronger person mentally, which is equally, if not more important than developing physical strength. You are better prepared for adversity and can face obstacles with confidence, knowing you will fight for the win and NEVER quit.
4) Your motivation comes from your personal "WHY!?" - Find it. There are many ways to do this, the key is, start DOing. Quatro Deuce, former Navy SEAL discusses this in detail HERE
5) I'm just like you. I have my good days and bad days. But I prefer to push for what my friend and mentor, Alwyn Cosgrove, decides on instead, always stating "I no longer have bad days, only good days and great days." This leads me to Tip # 6.....
6) Succeeding in life and lifting is a choice. I CHOOSE to be an ass kicker in life and lifting. I don't understand doing things less than 20 X. As a family man, I go 20X. When I train, 20X, as a business man, I create and go 20X.
Average sucks. The choice is yours.
Live The Code.
Advance & Conquer!
--Z--
Inside The Underground Inner Circle....
19 Responses
This e-mail made my week. i really needed this as i know exactly what you mean when you talk about being too hard on yourself. Hell, i think everyone here on this blog knows how this feels, because we’re all looking to push ourselves to and past our limits. however, we get too caught up a lot of times, and we are not grateful for what we’ve already acheived as we continue to compare ourselves to everyone and everything else. now though, i’ve realized that your training sessions should be a war between you and yourself, screw everyone else.
and every once in a while, we should take a step back and see everything we’ve accomplished and rejoice.
Yo, Bro so glad U loved this blog. Yea man, gotta go You vs YOU and come out as the Victor.
This is what’s UP!!!
Awesome!!!! Everyday at 4:30 am I look in the mirror and I tell myself that I will be 1% better, I will fight myself and become better for it. So many people forget that the best Athlete or person you can compete with is yourself….I’m 41 and I love it when coach or a seasoned Athlete ask me why do you train harder than everyone else? My response is…this is for me, and my family no one else. I will be my best everyday for me, inside and out. Like you say Z average sucks….been H.A.M. since the day I was born and I don’t understand or tolerate average from anybody. I wanna lay my head down at night knowing I’ve done the best I can for me and my family. I want my sons and daughters to not just here the talk, but see it in action!!!! Keep bringing the fire Z!!!! Awesome job BRUTHA!!!
AD U fired me the f**k UP!!! Good living, brutha! at 41, most are couch potatoes, U live the code, legit!!!
honestly I just came across this quote
“Don’t tell me the sky is the limit when there are footprints on the moon” – Paul Brandt
Keep up the e-mails Zach!
#TRUTH
We need to raise the bar, myself included!!
oh man it’s a song
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=trGdbrxIm5k
let’s say I’ve read a lot of quotes
Great insight into what drives our deep cerebrum, primitive, instincts. We have become detached to our fight response. WE should hit challenges, whether they be in training or in a parking lot late at night, full bore, no holds bar, thrashing what we thought our body’s and mind capable of.
Keep Primal Zach,
B
Brandon so true, homie
Every time I train I realize there is MUCH more to give!
Zach,
Keep kicking ass.
I learnt a long time ago, you are going to have your haters and the people who believe in what you are doing.
Keep up the good work,
Jason P Brown
JPB! Thanks for commenting bro, been too long!!! How is life up in Canada!!?? Keep kicking ass, brutha!!!
Great post, you always manage to cut straight to the heart of the matter.
Karl, I’m ALL heart, brutha!!!
Do you do any type of loaded running in your training? In your mental toughness workout report you talk about SEALs running distance with loads, do you emulate any of that?
Nick leading up to the SEALFit / Navy SEAL Challenge Yes, I ran several times a week using a 25 lb ruck sack, distances of 2 – 3 miles were the norm
Since then I switched to sprints, prowler and sled work as my ankle was pretty busted up but I am feeling great and will get back to rucking soon
Ya Zach, speed rucks are a absolute killer. Have you read anything about Frank Matrisciano, currently hes the head S&C coach for Memphis Tigers basketball. Uses a lot of loaded distance running. Check him out you will love his stuff. Move large loads, long distances, quickly
For me, reading your posts on BEING A REAL MAN and also hearing Tony Robbins shouting through my earphones really helps me get up and go every morning. I have a lengthy reading list on Google Reader but I always click ‘Underground Strength’ because I know it’s some valuable stuff on there.
Some may not say it but I’ll say it on their behalf. Zach, you’re helping a lot of people out there… myself included. I struggle with motivation and going through obstacles but I find your writings helpful.
Thanks dude.