I was recently asked on The Super Strength Show for a favorite quote (shared above by Ohio State Wrestling Coach, Tom Ryan) and it brought me back to a memory of 2 guys who showed up to NJ after flying across the country, 1 of them who had JUST lost his brother.
Talk about fighting the way you NEED to vs the way you want to.
If you're reading this, you're into lifting weights and being strong, not just under the bar but also in life.
Perhaps you're a Coach, an athlete, a parent or someone passionate about pursuing excellence.
Or, perhaps you're NOT passionate about excellence.
Let me explain......
I was recently rethinking where my daughter goes for Tennis. She is very serious about Tennis and my wife and I are supporting her every step of the way.
We travel every week for great Tennis instruction. Sometimes 30 or 45 minutes away, each way. Every few months we're in Florida for a week for very high level Tennis Coaching.
The local Tennis coaching is hit or miss. Sometimes good, sometimes bad.
Excellence Is Rarely Found In The Same Sentence as Convenience.
I've said the above quote (I came up with it myself) many times to parents who tell me The Underground Strength Gym is too far away. So, they opt for a more convenient gym even if the coaching is sub par.
The same thing goes for Strength Coaches.
The USC Cert can be within 45 minutes of their gym but they will NOT go to the cert unless it AT their gym.
Arrogance, Laziness, Excuse Making..... It will be the death of your Success.
This story explains the story of 2 men who taught me a HUGE lesson on commitment to excellence, following through and an undying commitment to Standing for What you Believe in!
[youtube width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcWBe37TjVI[/youtube]
Some will take this lesson and apply it to their life.
Others will brush it off and pretend it does not apply to them.
Again, arrogance will be the death of your success.
[youtube width="640" height="360"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIZ8CqGtRdI[/youtube]
The price you pay for success will never be easy or convenient.
That is the truth.
Live The Code 365,
--Z--
The USC Cert - NOT Coming To Your Own Backyard, Details HERE For Ass Kickers Who Pursue Excellence
The Encyclopedia of Underground Strength - Inspiring People Around The World to LIVE Strong In the Gym And in LIFE! Details HERE
6 Responses
Everything is a decision. Decide and live with it. No excuses. Before I came to that realization I blamed everything but myself for everything. That breeds Arrogance and Laziness, and I will have none of that. Thanks for the reminder. Peace bro
Mike, absolutely correct, brotha. We become more successful through responsibility of ALL things.
Turning Pro started 1 Mar 2015 … finished 5 March 2015.
Probably going to re-read it!!!
Some great stuff in there.
“Ambition […] is the most primal and sacred fundament of our being”
page 9 “Turning Pro” by Steven Pressfield
This book is awesome and I am psyched you read it, brotha!!!
Zach, read your The Encyclopedia of Underground Strength and Conditioning via Kindle 3 weeks ago. I couldn’t put it down! Great info that I can use for my training and for my boys. I have been following you via your websites, FB and Twitter since then. I know you like stories of inspiration, especially about wrestlers, and I have one to share. Also, according to his FB page, he set his 1PR of 240# on bench a week after this story aired.
http://www.10tv.com/content/stories/2015/02/26/circleville-ohio-wrestler-shares-inspiring-journey-of-overcoming-cerebral-palsy-to-embody-the-true-meaning-of-resilience.html
Keep up the great work! I am learning a lot from you and you are inspiring so many people
Thanks for loving the book, brotha, and, that story fires me UP!!!