A few years ago, I remember writing down “work harder” on a piece of paper.
I was going through a tough time, and I was trying to figure out what I needed to do to get to where I wanted to go. I didn't know it would turn into the gym name or the brand yet, but after I wrote that down I was thinking, “What does that mean to me? Like how would I describe that?”
And I wrote down “hardcore work ethic, no-quit mentality.”
I think those words are why this gym exists.
Write It Down
Putting words on paper or saying them out loud is important. When I put a lot of things out there ahead of time, things I want to do, things I’m going to do, plan to do, I do that for me. Because once you say something, then it matters.
Some people, you know, they say “Oh, one day I might do this, it would be cool.” For me, if I say, “One day, I'm going to do this,” it's going to happen. In my eyes, it’s going to happen. I don't care if it takes me til 50 years from now or if it happens tomorrow, I just want to prove myself right, that whatever I say, I can do.
We're Gonna Get Two
It happened at the two-year anniversary party. I was getting ready to squat. My goal was to hit 555, anything over 550 would be fine. And I knew I could hit it for one. But it was a two-year party, so why not hit it for two?
I wasn't going to say anything to anyone cuz you know, there is that chance of, you may hit it one time and not be able to get it again.
Well, I opened my mouth, and I told Justin McManus, “Hey, I'm going to try for two,” and he told me, “No, we’re gonna get two.”
So I told each one of the people spotting me, we're going to go for two. And that's what I did. And the second rep was every bit of everything I had to get, but I said it, and I said it in front of the entire gym. So I wanted to back that up.
Lead By Example
My goal is, if I'm going to lead people through this gym and what we're doing, and what we're trying to do, then I better stand for everything that I'm putting on the walls, everything that I'm posting. I have to be the example first.
So how can I say, I'm going to go hit 555 for two and I just get it for one? Some people may be fine with that and walk away, just say, “Eh, he was going for two but just got one,” But for me, that would have killed me. That would have eaten me up because I said two. And if I say it, I want to be able to do it. I want to back up what I say.
Just Don't Quit
"Hardcore work ethic, no-quit mentality." The day I wrote those on paper is when it all really started to feel real. I just tried to describe what I wanted to be, or how I wanted someone to see me. I wanted them to see the work ethic that I had, and know that's how I achieved my goals. And the mentality is simple, it’s just, you don't quit.
When you finally get going the direction you want to go, you can't let anything stop you.
Write down the words that guide you. Write down your goals, create a plan and send it. Forget about the rest.