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Chad’s Blog

The Curse of Success (Or, What Have You Done For Me Lately?)

Published March 3rd, 2015     In Categories: Articles, Ask Chad

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In the 22 years I’ve called Los Angeles home, I’ve had the good fortune of being around some VERY successful people.

I’ve worked with multiple Oscar winners, Grammy winners, Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, and owners of multi-million dollar companies. My own WIFE even has two Oscars.

In knowing people who have literally been THE most successful people in their field, one thing has captivated me above all the others: How do they REPEAT success?

I’m most fascinated by this because of my own shortcomings in that area.

Take writing, for instance. I’ve written exactly 4 guest blogs in the last 2 plus years, and zero blogs since launching my own re-designed website over a year ago…Not exactly prolific writing.

I could blame the fact that I’m busy (who isn’t?), but we all know we are never too busy for something we want to do. So what’s been holding me back?

In part, I think it was the fact that all 4 guest blogs were pretty darned successful. Thousands of likes and shares, and 2 blogs being re-run on Yahoo.  Good stuff.

This modicum of success should have encouraged me to write day and night and put out a lot more content. But it didn’t. Why?

Which leads me back to my sub-title, “What Have You Done For Me Lately?”

No matter how popular or well received something is its relevance is fleeting.

We all have VERY short attention spans, (TL:DR anyone?).

I’ve learned that success is a process, not a place.

It sounds clichéd, but success, like life, “is a journey, not a destination.”

When we are young, we are all about the process of mastering something; perhaps a sport, or a musical instrument, or getting straight A’s.

And we work and we practice and we strive undaunted until we do, indeed, achieve the success we are looking for.

But for some of us, dangerous thoughts creep in. We start to define ourselves by that (now past) success, and we stop working and practicing and striving.

Or perhaps more insidiously, we think, “I’ll never be that successful again, so why even try?”

Which brings me back to my clients.

Once you’ve won an Oscar, or have a multi-Platinum selling album, how do you have the courage to go on, knowing you’ll likely NEVER be that successful again?

I’ve learned that truly successful people do not define themselves by their successes, but by their work.

They are musicians, not “Rock Hall of Famers”…they continue to make music because that’s who they are. They are filmmakers, not “Oscar winners”…. they continue to work in film because it’s what they do!

If I want to be a writer, I have to write, and I can’t be worried about the number of “Likes” or “Shares” I might get.

It works the same way in fitness. If you want to be 6% body fat or have a 300 lbs. bench press, you can’t worry about “what if I never get there”, because surely, you’ll be right.

You must give in to the process and understand that now matter how hard you strive, you may fail.

I am reminded of a favorite quote from President Theodore Roosevelt:

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Who do you want to be?

[Image: Mike Licht]


Ask Chad #7

Published August 13th, 2013     In Categories: Ask Chad

Hey Chad,

So I’ve got this dilemma… I watched this show on fitness that included this skinny guy like me. I was wondering why he was on it- you know being skinny and that- but it turned out he was really unfit and couldn’t save himself or his family in this disaster scenario. 

It got me thinking… I’ve been kinda depressed about being skinny and tall [6”5] for most of my life, now I’m thinking I’m outta shape as well [I eat a lot of junk food]. I want to turn things around but I don’t wanna get skinnier through exercising. Do you have any suggestions?

Thanks Chad.

Yours, 
Russell Landau

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Ask Chad #6

Published August 7th, 2013     In Categories: Ask Chad

Hey Chad,

I need your advice. I started a new fitness program on the 1st of January with the goal of getting rid of my extra 30 pounds of weight. I push some heavy weights 3x a week and jog 5x a week for 30 minutes. I have been really committed but my knee has really started to hurt. I want to keep it up but it’s getting me down. Do you have any tips on how to get around this?

Yours,
John Sowry, Canberra, Australia

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Ask Chad #5

Published August 5th, 2013     In Categories: Ask Chad

Hi Chad,

With the holiday season coming have you got any pointers to help me not put on a bunch of weight! My family love to cook and none of it healthy and I find it hard to resist but this time my new girlfriend is coming with me and she’s hot, I don’t want to turn into a bloat pig! HELP!

Regards,
Luca D’Mayo, Tampa, Fl. 

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Ask Chad #4

Published August 4th, 2013     In Categories: Ask Chad

“Hi Chad,

I work really long hours and have to travel a lot for my job. I have heard a bunch about high intensity training and that its not only good for you but saves time. Chad is this something I can do, especially when I have to stay in a hotel for a couple of days at a time and how do I start it?

Thanks for the insight,
Gerry Cogan, Toronto, Ontario”

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Ask Chad #3

Published August 3rd, 2013     In Categories: Ask Chad

“Help! So I’m a fit guy, I do weights at the gym three times a week, cardio two times a week and I train my kid’s baseball team and I eat clean. Problem is that I can’t seem to bulk my calves up they’re just plain skinny and I’m really embarrassed and don’t like to wear shorts. I just don’t get it I’m ripped from the torso up and look good but no matter what I do my legs let me down. Chad can you help me? Thanks in anticipation.”
– Luca Di’Martino

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Ask Chad #2

Published August 2nd, 2013     In Categories: Ask Chad

Hi Chad,

In college I was really active and always playing sports, a couple of years on and I’ve become the guy I swore I wouldn’t- 9-5 job, always going for a drink after work and with a belly. I’m only 28 but I feel like crap and like an old man. I have a two year old son and I feel like I’m setting a bad example. Can you tell me a realistic way to lose the extra 20 pound that I’m carrying?

Thanks buddy,
Phil Sulivan, North Augusta, SC

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Ask Chad #1

Published August 1st, 2013     In Categories: Ask Chad

“I’ve put on weight since having 3 kids and running 2 jobs. I know I snack on and drink crappy stuff throughout the day. What can I do to break these habits? What can I snack on that is healthy?”
– Barry in Sarasota, Fl.

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