The Pursuit of Better

Murph, SK, Sully, and Lana in The Pursuit of Better

What does the Pursuit of Better mean to you?

I'll be honest, when I first saw the tag line attached to the TRX brand I wasn't blown away. In fact, I probably saw it in a hashtag on Facebook and spent more time trying to decipher what it said than what it meant. Ok, pursue your better. Well, obviously. Everyone wants to be better. It wasn't until this weekend at the TRX Trainer Summit that it FINALLY hit home. 

Maybe is was the Under Armour Performance Center we spent the weekend at. A one of a kind, first class training facility. Maybe it was the black and yellow everywhere you turned. Maybe it was the opportunity we took as a staff to learn from the best in a field that we all feel so passionately about. Maybe it was all of those things all rolled up into one but the idea of Pursuing Better rang loud and clear and this is what the Pursuit of Better means to me. 

Pursuing better requires effort. Pursuing better demands your BEST effort every time. What is "The Better"? It could be anything! We're all chasing something. A better Squat. A faster run split. Or mastering the balance between family and work. Regardless of what we're chasing our BEST is required. Not every day will demand an all out effort but it will require us go to a place that calls upon excellence. A squat isn't about lifting the most weight possible. It is about mobility, core strength, and neuromuscular control. A faster run split isn't just about going faster. Discipled training that works on form, technique, mobility, and the different energy systems make fast faster. Balancing family & work...well, we're all still trying to figure that one out but I'll go out on a limb here and say it's nothing more than time and effort. Pursing Better is as much about going as hard as you possibly can, as it is taking time to slow down and breathe. 

I've attached the TRX commercial introducing The Pursuit of Better. If you don't at least get a few chills after watching then something is wrong with you. The idea is genius, now get out there and don't just pursue your better, EARN IT! 

SK 

"We are all...Hell on Wheels, Speed Freaks, and Poetry in Motion. 

We are all chasing a better version of ourselves." -TRX    

Make Eye Contact and Say 'Hello' (Round Two)

I came across this site today that I have provided below but it immediately reminded me about Amber's post from almost a month ago.  So I decided to piggy back that and add some visual representation to what I think she was saying.

A photographer took random everyday pictures of people doing everyday things and going about their lives as usual.  What he did though was very interesting.  He edited out the electronics from the pictures, more specifically cell phones, iPads, iPods, tablets, e-readers, etc, etc.  What you are left with are some pretty interesting but also pretty startling photographs.

Take a look and see how it makes you feel.  Did you realize anything?  Can you relate to any of the photos?  Do you think it's an accurate depiction of how people are today?  Do you think that you will make any changes after seeing the photographs?

I'm challenging you:  Take a look at the photos and then share it with someone you know.  Here's the hard part, have a discussion about it, engage someone in an actual talk about it, call someone, go have coffee and talk about it, go for a walk and chit-chat, whatever it is have a meaningful interaction with THE PERSON.  Unless you are having an actual phone conversation, leave your cellular devise out of your reach while talking about the pictures.  Go, talk, interact!

Isn't that kinda the point?

-MS

http://www.earthporm.com/photographer-removes-phones/?utm_rcreplace_392=4650

An Inch Makes A Big Difference

SK posted this picture that one of her former players sent her, and it spoke to me. Not only is it one of my pet peeves, I think it can be broken down into other aspects of how you go about your life. 

From the obvious standpoint: Just touch the line. One extra step won’t kill you, you’re already running. 

Moving on: Respect the task at hand. The guys who touch the line have the awareness of what it takes to not only win but to succeed. Even if they take longer getting to that line, they are not cutting corners. Their honesty and commitment of completing the task is fulfilled. 

As for the guy who is cheating himself and his team, all of UMass women’s lax would be glaring at him from down the line. When our team is running, if anyone false starts before the whistle or does not touch the line, we have to do extra sprints. This player, whether he realizes it or not, is creating more work for his teammates- and I am not referring to the extra running. He is creating more work in the bigger scheme of things. When that effort is needed and, count. If he is cheating now while he is surrounded by teammates, who is going to hold him accountable when he is alone? It is up to you to create high standards and ensure you put in the discipline needed to win. What we don’t give in the times we are preparing, will not be perfected for the moment we need it. Whether that be a game, competition, test, business meeting, you name it it can be applied all over. 

That little length the player missed the yellow line can translate into little ways he goes about other things in life too. Vince Lombardi once said, “There is only one way to succeed in anything, and that is to give everything. I do, and I demand that my players do. Any man's finest hour is when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle - victorious.” This has been one of my favorite quotes to try to live by. To me, it speaks way beyond success in a sport, business, or in school. I see the “field of battle” as life, as succeeding as an individual. If you want to be successful, you need to apply for yourself. It takes more than just the bare minimum to get by. Everyone can get by, it takes hard work and passion for standing out. When most people hear the word success, their mind immediately goes to business or profession. Whether it be how successful someone is, how much money are they making, etc., it is just the way the world has conditioned our minds to think. The way I see success is more of a state of being. To be successful is to be so content with who you are, what you do, and how you treat others that you don’t have time to think of failure. It isn’t an option. Because even when you fail, (which will happen a 954 more times than you succeed) you grow. There is always a silver lining that comes from it. Character builds from each experience, even if that means finishing out your sprints 100%. Eventually at the end of the day, the guys who touch that yellow line will end up lapping the ones who don’t. 

Stirring The Pot

A topic that bothers me personally and professionally and, unfortunately, comes up all the time, is when people ask me my opinion about another fitness professional OR establishment. They ask in an attempt to draw me into a scenario where I will say something negative about the business or scathing about the coach/trainer/instructor. The truth of it all is that I don't believe in any of that. Truly. Any person that has a personal, or professional, relationship with me knows that I never have, nor will I ever, speak ill about another individual or business to make myself or CPC look better. No professional should have too! Having the confidence in your skill set, the trust in your strategic mission, and the passion to go after it is all you need. I am fortunate to work with a team of professionals that I respect immensely and learn from constantly. Not a single one of us says something negative about the other nor do we discourage someone from working with another member of the team. It's not that we are incapable of handling that client, it's that you may match up better with their skill set or personality in its what is in the best interest of the consumer! This is what makes CPC great. We are all at ease every day and encouraged to be better.

I thought about how silly this line of questioning can be. It happens within all industries, but unfortunately people make the fitness competition personal.

Professional parallels - Service

Think about it this way. How many different salons are immediately around you? Honestly, there are too many locations around us to keep track of them all. When you stack them up, none of them are bad - just different. Prices vary of each based on the overhead costs, the number of staff, products they offer, the number of chairs (employees or rentals) and what services they offer. All of this will directly play into your experience. And ultimately you are going to go to the place that makes YOU feel good, comfortable and fits the experience you want. And you can't underestimate the relationship with your stylist/masseuse/esthetician that you have established a report with. There are so many parallels between this field and ours. First, the service. It's not just a service but an experience. And it's not just an experience it's your body. So when weighing your decision know that I'm sure that every hair die company, shampoo manufacturer and hair sheers company has their training in which they encourage professionals to attend. I am an advocate of constantly seeking out continued professional development, but I also look at it as children's sports and participation medals. "Hey, good for you. You went and continued your education in your field securing yourself as a professional. Do me a favor. Update your resume, bio on your website and move on with your day. No, it doesn't make you instantly better than the next person." How are you going to take that knowledge, apply it to your daily routine, coach it effectively and make an impact? Now you're qualified.

Professional parallels - Product

There are five places in a five-mile radius of CPC that "specialize" in burgers - Max Burger, Plan B, Lux, Five Guys and Red Robin. Not to mention other places that make and serve some quality burgers (plug to my boys at CSG in which every burger is a blend of top quality meats. Boom!). So again, five BURGER places within five miles. Not restaurants just burger places. All of which are providing food, providing jobs and doing what they set out to do. We all have our favorites for different reasons. I don't feel one is better than the other just a completely different burger, experience, and varied price. Be an educated consumer and make your pick accordingly.

Professional parallels - Fitness

Let's talk about it directly. It's out there and being discussed so here's my take. I believe that CPC is a superior coaching facility. I believe in what we do. We apply it daily and bring to our subscribers, athletes, and community. I do not believe for a second it is the ONLY quality facility in the area. We all have ways of being superior. I don't need everyone to come to CPC, and quite frankly we wouldn't have the capacity to remain great and provide quality programming if they did. We have a structured way in which we establish our class schedule, rotate content, and intake new one-on-one clients. Our progressions and style are different than other facilities, but it works for US and OUR target consumer. I KNOW we are not the least expensive, but I never set out to be, tried to be, claimed to be or adjusted our mission to be. I am very comfortable with that fact. I also know the business end of it and what we do to re-invest in facility upgrades, new equipment purchases, continuing education reimbursement, and insurance. There is a tremendous amount of pride that goes into what we do, and we are all career oriented professionals that call this facility our full-time home and our full-time career. I know what CPC is about.

I do NOT for a single second have a problem with competition and, in fact, I know it has made me a stronger operator, manager, coach and entrepreneur over the years. I respect the classes or group instruction provided by Donna Chalfant and her team at DC Fitness | Thrive. She has been a rock star in the fitness world and a part of this community for decades! We do not deliver our programming in the same manner, but that doesn't mean I think she or her team is wrong. Just a different experience.

Mike Zolkiewicz and his team at PowerClean Fitness - no issues at all! Mike knows his stuff and is a VERY knowledgeable coach. PCF has been very successful in helping individuals transform their bodies and wellness over the years. PCF and CPC run different operating models, and there is some obvious crossover. We both want to wake up and help people get better, safely, every day. I'm right, and he's right. How do I know this? We both have successful, loyal clients the enjoy the way we do things and businesses making an impact in the community that have been overlapping for 3+ years. That's how.

Blue Diamond - oh Crossfit. Do me a favor and stop assuming I have a problem with Crossfit or the staff of professionals over there -- I don't! Can Crossfit be dangerous? Of course it can be but so is riding a bike, eating undercooked meat, driving without a seat belt and drinking to excess. Doing any of them once, twice or many times does not guarantee you are going to get hurt - but it's possible. News Flash - You can get hurt anywhere you exercise. These guys at CFBD have done their training and are certified professionals that will get you into Crossfit safely and effectively. No, I am not telling you to go. Can the coaches at CPC teach you those movement patterns? Yes. Do some of our subscribers enjoy a met-con or two during the week? Yes. Do we ever try to be Crossfit? No, but not because I think it is wrong or unsafe! When an individual comes in looking for a Crossfit facility or Crossfit style workout, I don't stand there like an intimidated assclown and try to convince them that's not what they are looking for and they should train with us. Instead, I immediately enlighten them on where they can find CFBD or Crossfit Ironwill in Ludlow.  

When someone walks through the front door of CPC or calls, I go into my "speech." I confidently explain to them what we are all about and if anything they have heard interests them? If they'd be willing to try a class or a one-on-one? If they start to explain that what they are looking for is something different, I'll send them to a competitor. I send them to the one I feel matches up with what they said they were looking for and hope they let the other facility know I did so. How can I send them to the correct facility? I know enough about them to make this informed decision. Not because I am trying to be them or undercut them because it's called market research. It's in every industry, and if you're not doing it, then you're dead in the water. It's not me creating battles rather it's CPC remaining proficient as industry professionals making a living doing what we love to do. Do we have direct competitors? Of course, we do, but we don't have enemies! So yes. I know what DCF, PCF, BDCF and everyone else are up too. I'm doing my job. Please stop thinking that it's personal and stop phrasing the question or comments in any other assumed probing manner.

CPC is not nor have we every tried to be everything to everyone. I ask you kindly to stop assuming that is our intention. Don't put words in my mouth and don't ever assume you know what I'm thinking. There's a great deal of time and energy spent on our strategic mission and focus. Want to keep up? I play chess ...

Always Strengthening. Always Conditioning.

Within the last few weeks I've encountered a reoccurring theme and it made me think of a line a former player of mine used to say, "Always Strengthening. Always Conditioning". It has been some time since I heard it but the line returned to the surface of my brain as I've been paying particular attention to attendance and frequency of our subscribers in class. Training frequency & training volume, it's a fine line to walk when striving to get the results you want. Too little = no training effect. Too much = over reaching or worse...overtraining. As great as the line is "Always Strengthening. Always Conditioning" is does little service to the all to often ignored training component REST. 

I've consistently walked through the lobby in the early morning hours to hear the pre-class banter of consecutive days spent training, fatigue, and muscle soreness. Despite the grumblings (good or bad) I check the same people into class every week. The same soreness persists and most glaring is the overall body fatigue that remains. Alarms are slept through and classes missed. We all know what happens next, panic and disorientation ensues instead of enjoying the extra sleep that your body clearly needs. Your brain spins a millions miles a minute retooling your entire week's schedule to get in the work missed.

Rest & recovery is critical to your training. Incorporating scheduled recovery weeks account for lowered volume or intensity allowing for regenerative workouts. Having, or better yet allowing yourself, the ability to look objectively at the success of your workouts, recovery from one to the next, and sleep patterns is critical to taking full advantage of the hard work being done. At some point your body will stop responding. You'll hit a plateau. The only way to encourage continued success is by not "Always Strengthening. Always Conditioning".

With that in mind here are a few suggestions.
1. Plan a Recovery Week
Assess the last few training weeks. How hard have you been going? Are you tired? Are you sore? Maybe you need a recovery week sooner rather than later. Typically a recovery week is programmed every 3-4 weeks. Schedule your week and use whatever reminder system you use. Post-its. Reminder App. Weekly Planner. Write it in RED so you know it's important!

2. Program your recovery week
Get away from the feeling of OBLIGATION to go to the same class every week because it's what you do. Go to a new class because it's what your body needs. Allow yourself to, dare I say...SLEEP IN or TAKE A NAP! Be okay with the lower volume and intensity because the following week you'll feel fresh and ready to attach the next 2-3 weeks. Plan for FUN because we never get enough of it!

3. Enjoy taking a NEW Class 
Changing your classes for the week not only exposes you to new instructors and new content it allows your body to receive a new training stimulus. Challenge your neuromuscular system and take TRX FUSION or a TRX Blast offering. Take Trigger Point Blast to actually learn how to use the equipment rather than just flop around on the foam rollers pre-class. Reconnect with movement patterns at FMP. Work on your Mobility and finding a few calm moments for yourself at TRX FLOW. 

4. Reap the Benefits
Trust me when I tell you your body will thank you for the change. You'll begin to look forward to every 3rd or 4th week of the month when it's time to transition into a new class/training schedule. Fresh legs. Improved mobility. Increase strength & stability. The results will take your training further than you thought possible. 

Also, starting this Friday October 9th, continue to enjoy the change of your new class schedule with new and old friends at Center Square Grill as you will receive a $10 special meal offer following class. Pretty cool concept if you ask me. Take a class. Get a Break. I'm in! Check our Facebook for more information.

If you need help figuring out what classes would work well for your recovery week goals please do not hesitate to ask me, or better yet just come to TRX Flow on Fridays at 515pm and see how great some spent on the suspension trainer can be when you're not trying to drive your heart rate through the ceiling. 

SK

Full Disclosure

Once again I am giving everyone the heads up on what next Friday is going to look like. I don't have the exact format down right now but I can guarantee that you will be using a barbell. No need to be afraid of the barbell, they are a great piece of equipment. As always I wouldn't have you do something I didn't know you could do or didn't feel comfortable with you doing, certain skills we stay away from because some people to us the words of Tim Murphy "haven't earned your badge". So if you haven't "earned your badge" on a specific movement with a coach in the past, I won't ask you do do it until you have. Modifications are always acceptable, it's my job to kick your ass but also keep it safe in the process. 

For those that were in class last week you probably remember that I made mention of Crossfit, and once again, we ARE NOT Crossfit, nor are we trying to be Crossfit. I did also say that there are some good things that Crossfit is doing. One thing that I like is the measurability, standardization, and scalability of a lot of what they do. It sets standards for everyone to be accountable to and progress towards. 

In a very organic unintentional way I have morphed Friday morning into a more challenging and more dynamic class, bringing different more creative versions to some common workout scemes. I can say with confidence that there has not been a repeated workout on Friday morning for at least the last 5 months or more. With that being said, yes you will see the barbell from time to time, you will see the rower, you will see new and different movements, you will see new takes on some of the standards, and you'll continue to see the kettle bell. You know how we roll in terms of programming, you're not going to get bored. 

For those of you who have been staples on Friday morning, keep it up, you've been doing great and enduring some of my crazy brainstorms. For those that haven't, don't be scared, pull the bandaid and give it a shoot. Yes, it's hard, but it's fun! 

See you next week!

-MS