I just got back from an amazing trip to New York and New Jersey volunteering (on the coaching/support team) for a self-improvement workshop, and attending a mastermind meeting within my industry. In my mastermind group there were 5 of the biggest names in my industry and it was amazing learning from them. Simply put, they gave me a much needed kick in the a$$ to move forward on projects that I’ve been putting off due to many excuses – or as James Arthur Ray likes to say “Good Stories”.

You see, so many of us have the passion to pursue things but lack the drive and discipline to keep it in our sights. We let “ourselves” get in the way, and blame the lack of results on “life” getting in the way. Whether you agree with me or not, we are always responsible for our results – ALWAYS. If that pushes your buttons, I have three words and three fingers pointing right at your face simply telling you to “Get Over It”. That’s right, I said it, “Get Over It”.

“Pointing fingers (photo credit: cowbite)”

I’ve learned that who we are today isn’t a determiner of who we will be, but is a direct result of our past actions. By now you’re probably saying, “Rommel, what the heck does this have to do with fitness?” Everything! Every week I hear clients telling me every “good story” or excuse in their book as to why they’re not achieving the results they want. They point fingers at others when they should be pointing the finger at themselves. Only you can push yourself harder in a workout, only you can put non-nutritious food in your mouth, and only you can control your time to dedicate to your fitness plan and achieve the results you’re looking for.

As fitness professionals/coaches we’re here to help motivate you, and to provide you the tools and the “map” to your fitness goals, but we are definitely not the ones to drive you there. It’s not our place. So get over yourself, stop complaining, and just get done what needs to be done. Take small steps if needed, but just understand that every small step achieved is a victory not a challenge. At least you took action, and that’s better than 90% of the individuals out there. Take inspired action, get it done, and before you know it you’ve achieved the results you’ve been looking for.

Do you agree or disagree with this post? Are you taking inspired action? Questions/comments about today’s post?

- Rommel

Photo credit: cowbite

This last weekend was very physical and enlightening.  My martial arts group had the world-famous Grandmaster Richard Bustillo up here from L.A. for a seminar.  It was fun, physical, and a great learning experience.  I learned some things from Sifu Bustillo and from my teacher Mr. Kamara.  It’s funny how people think Martial Arts is all pounding fists and kicking things in.  It’s an outlook, a way of life, a dedication to something.  It shines with the warrior in us who fights the battles in life, that attacks us from all realms.  

Now most of you know who Bruce Lee is.  He was a phenomenal man.  He was a great martial artist, and a strong human being (and I’m not just talking about the physical sense).  Well, my teacher asked Sifu Ted Wong once a question that impacted him greatly.  He asked Mr. Wong ”Sifu, how do I achieve Bruce lee like moves?”  Sifu Ted Wong simply replied “If you want Bruce Lee-like-moves, you have to put in Bruce Lee-like-time and effort.” 

So many people want results quick, fast, with no real effort put into it.  This applies to business owners, clients, fat loss programs, trainers, our strong and sexy bootcampparticipants, or inquiries about them.  I get phone calls from people asking about our Bootcamps and training programs in Bellevue, Redmond, and Woodinville.  I get asked by trainers how to maximize their business and get more clients.  I get pre-qualification phone calls or evaluations from people who want to achieve certain goals.  On our website, we have pictures and testimonials of others who have achieved phenomenal results and people want them NOW NOW NOW!  Just last week, someone showed me a picture of a woman they WANT to LOOK like!

Reality check – You cannot get the results if you do not have the quality time put into it.  You think Bruce Lee showed up to train once a week?  You think he magically landed film roles and made millions accidentally?  Success didn’t fall from the sky and Bruce Lee just so happened to be there.  In the same way, Element 5 Fitness did not achieve a level of success without hard work.  Our clients with their tesimonials did not lose all that bodyfat without hardwork.  If you want to emulate their success, or anyone for that matter, well Success leaves clues.  Pick it up and be a student of the masters.  Learn from them and be diligent.  I never said achieving your goals was going to be easy.

Sifu Bustillo ended the seminar with a story about Bruce Lee (who was his teacher).  He said that Bruce Lee made a statement in 1969:

Here is the ultimate aim of Bruce Lee, as he stated in 1969:

I, Bruce Lee, will be the first highest paid
Oriental super star in the United States. In
return I will give the most exciting
performances and render the best of quality in
the capacity of an actor. Starting 1970 I will
achieve world fame and from then onward till
the end of 1980 I will have in my possession
$10,000,000. I will live the way I please and
achieve inner harmony and happiness.
- Bruce Lee
Jan. 1969

That all happened in about a year’s time. Wow……

So for those Eastside Trainers out there reading this who need more business, or the clients who want to reach their goals, or the business owner who is struggling, I have one last thing to share with you.

Yeah it’s tough out there.  I am pretty sure that you have a legitimate REASON why you can’t “invest” in your health, your business, your education in growing your business, your workouts, your nutrition, your dedication to self-growth, etc.

In my eyes, sometimes….and I say this cautiously sometimes, it’s just an EXCUSE.  So, because I believe you when you say that you have a legitimate reason why you can’t start today, I am renaming your reason to REXCUSE.

What’s your REXCUSE TODAY?

Belton Lubas

Co Founder Element5 Fitness

http://Element5fitness.com

We all know that Thanksgiving is the time to be grateful for what you have, and to celebrate the amazing food, gifts, and catching up with loved ones.  However, with all the chaos of daily responsibilities and holiday commercialism we sometimes forget to take a step back and take in the moment.

Ever since I’ve developed a consistent habit of expressing heartfelt gratitude, which I now employ immediately when I wake up and before going to bed, I’ve discovered many positive situations and circumstances have manifested.  For example, many people inquire if the economy has negatively affected my fitness business.  It hasn’t.  Business is consistently increasing, and we simply do not participate in the mindset of “scarcity”.  In fact, it seems that people pursue our services, because their health and fitness is the last thing to scratch off their list no matter what is happening with the economy – good for them, and I thank them and congratulate them for realizing the importance of maintaining their health.

Ok, back to my main point of gratitude.  In my blog, <a href=”http://acdaflow.wordpress.com/2008/11/22/take-the-transparency-challenge/”>”Take the Transparencey Challenge”</a>, I stated, “I believe that just when I’ve given enough, I need to give more.  The times that I have given more and provided ten times the value, I’ve positively affected those individuals lives, and they’ve rewarded me in ways that I didn’t expect or ask for.  Give more!”

So in the spirit of “thanks” and “giving” I thought I’d share my thoughts of gratitude with my readers and hope it can keep things in perspective for some, but also to encourage others to give more.

<strong>My Thanks &amp; Gratitude</strong>
<ul>
<li>I’m deeply blessed and grateful for my wife Julie and for all her unwavering support and unbending belief in me – like I’ve said before, she truly INSPIRES me!</li>
<li>I’m truly grateful for my parents – Romy &amp; Yvonne, my brothers – Jason, Matt, &amp; Andre, and for all my extended family, and although I don’t get to see you as often as I’d like, I miss you and love you all!</li>
<li>I’m grateful for all the current and former clients of mine.  Thank you for helping me pursue my passion and making my vocation my vacation.  It’s no longer work anymore, I literally get to play and have fun on a daily basis.</li>
<li>I’m grateful for great friends.</li>
<li>I’m grateful for my great health and my ability to live a simple, joyful, and extremely fulfilling life!</li>
<li>I’m grateful for my goofy dog “Buko” for being an amazing listener and for his stress relieving abilities </li>
<li>And last but not least, I’m grateful for my brother from another mother and business partner Belton.  We’ve had some tough times, but now we’re reaping the fruits of our labor – E5 for Life!</li>
</ul>
<strong>My Reflections on Giving More</strong>

There’s no doubt that receiving is fun, but it doesn’t beat the satisfaction of the reaction in people’s faces when you’ve given them something without truly wanting anything in return.  There’s power in the act of true giving!  Like I said earlier – Give more!
<ul>
<li>Start with doing something nice for your family when they least expect it.</li>
<li>Then focus on giving back to your community in some way, volunteer for charity, or donate to a cause that resonates with you.</li>
<li>Within your occupation there’s always some way to add “value”.  It takes some creativity in some occupations, but there’s always a way to provide ten times the value, which in turn makes you more valuable to your employer and clients.  A great exercise to utilize is what’s called the “Mastermind 20″.  For three consecutive days, first thing in the morning you must write out 20 different ways you can add value or create more opportunities within your occupation.  20 ways is the minimum.  I challenge you to give it a try. I promise you’ll be surprised with the ideas you come up with, and can immediately implement.</li>
</ul>
Thanks for reading and the continual support.  Have a wonderful and Happy Thanksgiving Day!