STRONG Life Episode 115, QnA from Instagram. This episode unfolds in a unique manner as each and every question keeps bringing me back to WHY we must stand our ground for Excellence. None of this "good enough" BS and figuring out how to make things easier for everyone. I am at a point where I am not going to refuse for wanting excellence. My ability to accept weak excuses has dwindled to nothing. Your excuse is your excuse. ALL in, ALL the time. Here's some of the Questions I … [Read more...]
10 Things I Learned Interning at The Underground Strength Gym
Intro: Zach here and I wanted to share a small project I gave to Andrew Prascak, who is finishing his internship at The Underground Strength Gym. Some notes of my own are below and interspersed into this blog post to preface & compliment Andrew's list of lessons learned. First off, I openly admit and even warn people, I am tough to work with. As I always say, "Good enough is the Death of Greatness". Sometimes I wish I didn't care as it IS emotional stressful to find yourself more … [Read more...]
STRONG Life 105: Training to Be Dangerous & Why Convenience Is Your Enemy
STRONG Life Podcast Episode 105 - Training to Be Dangerous & Why Convenience Is The Enemy. This episode comes to you from a question that came in from a Strength Coach who attended a business seminar I held some 6 or 7 years ago. With my fires charging, I had just handed in my key after clearing out and moving the FIRST ever Underground Strength Gym. It brought to me many memories of the Savages we worked with at The Underground. Here's what I cover inside this 25 minute, power … [Read more...]
Overtraining VS UNDER-Training Your Mind
The mind is the key. Let me explain. I began training in 1989...... Experiences from my own training and in training 1,000 + athletes, I have seen some crazy SHYT happen. How can a lazy athlete who lives a poor lifestyle accomplish sports accolades that the hardest, "perfectly" trained athletes can't come near achieving? The Answer: Mindset / Attitude Going back 1995, I was preparing for a bodybuilding show and training with others who were "chemically enhanced". I let it get to my head a … [Read more...]
The TRUTH About Success, Excellence & Convenience
Last weekend was a whirlwind of emotions as we had our MOST successful Lift STRONG fundraiser for Leukemia & Lymphoma. Since 2007 when it ALL began, the growth has been amazing! When the reporter asked & said to me, "This is amazing! Almost 100 people here which started with only 12 or 13 people, did you ever think or imagine it would get this big? My answer..... … [Read more...]
Take Your Excellence & SHOVE IT: The Strength Coach Standard
I had some interesting conversations recently with Strength Coaches. Conversations that run the spectrum from "Holy sh*t, I can't believe that happened....", to "He now trains people in his garage & texts our clients, telling them to come train with him...." These random thoughts that I'm going to talk about really came to my mind after I saw my close friend & world renown Coach, Travis Mash talking about how he is turning his weightlifting team into a non profit. I LOVE that … [Read more...]
Why The World Would Be Different If I Never Wrestled
I wonder if the world would be different in my eyes if I never wrestled? My older brother told me "It's the most awesome sport!" I was in 8th grade at the time and he was a sophomore in high school. Of course, I wish my parents knew this to get us all involved in wrestling much earlier. My older brother started wrestling his sophomore year in high school and I began my freshman year. My younger brother began in 1st grade. Before I rant, I want to preface this and say that NOT all wrestlers … [Read more...]
Why That Short Cut Is Killing Your Success
This Blog Post is gonna get intense. Why so intense? Because I don't accept or encourage mediocrity. Mediocrity sucks. I can't stand it. Even more so, I get pissed off how passionate people get reprimanded, lose their jobs, etc while mediocre people and even worst than mediocre people get jobs and get accepted into society. I would rather be hated and get fired from any job then to settle for mediocrity. Success requires intensity, dedication, passion, commitment, durability … [Read more...]
Iron Sharpens Iron & The Success Illusion
This post is inspired after seeing The Carolina Panthers earning their way to Super Bowl 50! Joe HOUSE Kenn is The Head Strength Coach for The NFL Carolina Panthers & I've been lucky to know House since my early days on The Elite FTS QnA staff. As an independent Strength Coach I am transparent about the struggles we face. People see instagram videos or youtube videos and assume the gym is always pumping. You might assume that because I am recognized internationally that I have a … [Read more...]
Excellence Is Your ONLY Option
It goes back to my days of getting my knee injury checked out in high school and Dr. Medina would ask me what I was going to do with my life. WHAT was I going to BE? Of course, at age 16, I had NO clue. I answered him as such and he told me that whatever I do, I will do it to be the best. "I'll tell you what you're going to do, Zach....." … [Read more...]