SPARTAN SERIES #160: “WHEN PEOPLE ASK, “WHAT DO YOU DO?” TELL THEM,”WHATEVER IT TAKES.”

This is a tough truth to internalize and even tougher to execute. When we are faced with a problem, a challenge, a threat, a chance to recover, or to destroy we instantly have imbedded in our psyche the limits that we cannot or will not cross. Unfortunately, in all of us there is a base part of our characters that struggles to be set free when the time is right to preserve our lives or to deter and destroy that which threatens us or our families. A strong man is the guy who has tremendous base instincts, power, and emotion and can control each of them until the time when they are needed. Never does he use them or allow their expression indiscriminately, especially on those whom he loves.

Bodybuilding teaches us to dare to unleash these instincts in the gym during our prep, and on stage—–to win! Training enables us to project these base instincts onto steel and machines to forge a body that will cause us to be better than we are. It can’t be any other way. The lessons we learn in the crucible of training transfers to almost any other part of our lives. We have to carefully select the base character traits needed to accomplish the things that we have decided are important. Think of your wife. Your kids. Your job. Your academic achievements. Your other athletic wins. Each of these took something more than we thought we had. But, somewhere from deep inside we pulled the correct spirit out of hiding and we put it to work. When the battle was over, we put away such things until needed again.

For us, who head for the stage as our end point, we have to look deep inside for that character trait that makes us stand head and shoulders above ourselves and our competition. We engage it boldly, without fear of failure, or regret. For the bodybuilder in each of us there is only the final product and the stage to define our victory, loss, or lessons learned.

Bottom Line: Go to the mat to win, but only after you have defined what victory means to you and then select the warrior portion of your personality that has to be engaged. Remember, controlling these spirits is real strength. Applying them judiciously is wisdom. Self mastery is the ultimate name of the game. There are no substitutes. This is your time! Play big, play wise, play tough—-a great many people depend on you to do your calling well.

A very good and wise friend of mine, Doug Andrewski said to me once, “All we have is today, and YOU have a lot of potential.” See you on the other side of the winner’s circle!