As I stand in front of my family, my training partners, my admirers, my critics and the curious, I have to be more than motivated to accomplish the things I say I want to accomplish. I have to be prepared to back it up. The first thing is to realize that it’s not going to be easy, but then nothing ever is. We begin the journey by developing or adopting a mind set that is confident, focused, and ready to pay the price to have that which we seek. We have to “DISCIPLINE” our minds, hearts, and efforts to travel this road and to win. Let’s look at some things that have to be overcome first.
Opinions of Others: This is one of the strongest detractors in the beginning especially. When we have decided to pursue something (anything) we feel compelled to explain ourselves to each and every person who ask or we choose to tell about our anticipated journey and why. After tons of explanations we eventually discover that some people can never be on your side. It’s very discouraging and it’s also hopeless. It’s here that we determine that only hard work and discipline are the only things that will demonstrate to our critics that we are committed and that we don’t really care what they think. Time to get organized and lay out the plan for attainment which will, undoubtedly be a massive daily effort from the start to the end.
Time: It has to be determined how you are going to arrange your own schedule. Time is the only thing we cannot save–it has to be spent and each wasted moment is a moment we cannot get back. I like to work within a simple principle/formula. I call it the formula of “1.5 X 6”–Explained it means I train 1.5 hours per day x 6 days per week. What we do inside of the 1.5 Hours of training is our business but we aim the effort at the goal we have selected to accomplish. We train daily for 6 days because consistency is the name of the game. It’s the daily grind that develops all that is needed to arrive on stage to win. Work hard with an eye toward improving a little at a time. However, consistent effort to lift more, do more reps, extend conditioning is the hallmark of our focus and determination. Time is irrelevant only if we choose to waste it or not learn as we go and make appropriate adjustments.
Excuses: It feels so good to explain away our lack of effort or the total abandonment of our goals. As somebody said: “YOU CAN HAVE SUCCESS. OR YOU CAN HAVE EXCUSES—BUT YOU CANNOT HAVE BOTH TO WIN!” We have seen in these last 10-15 years a propensity to believe that if we say something that it will suddenly appear just because we describe it or say we want it. Not in my generation! We learned very early as kids that if you say (or brag) that we are going to do something we had damn well be ready to prove it. This mind set that is driven into us to say little and let our effort and results do the talking. So, advice here is to shut up and work. Let the results do the talking. If you live by this credo there will never be a moment of regret.
There are a million things that will get between you and your winers’ circle. It’s our responsibility to block them and never let them dominate our minds, our hearts, our journey. Each of these excuses crushes us with discouragement. So, give no place to things that cause us to give up or to quit or to regret what we seek.
Bottom Line: Never listen to “CLOSE FRIENDS, RELATIVES, AND KNUCKLE HEADS!” All of these people think they have your best interest at heart but on “SIMPLE INSPECTION” they don’t. They want to eventually gloat over your failure and be able to say, “I TOLD YOU HIM SO!” These are allegorically just like the three friends of Job and his wife. They all advised him to defy God and quit….Wow! Never listen for encouragement from those who demonstrate their ability to discourage you and to watch you die or fail.
Six Pack and Senior 