How to Eliminate Excuses

I think we live in a world of endless excuses. There are those out there that are into almost everything when in conversation with others and they sound like the perfect person. Everyone's an expert on eating right...everyone's an expert on fitness. But, sometimes when I look at their appearance...I have to shake my head at times. The way they described their regimen as the greatest thing since sliced bread. It all sounded so eloquent and precise that I thought they may have eaten soy burgers from birth!

Then, when I happen to follow up with others it is a complete 180 from what I previously heard. Some people are just prone to speak a good game. That's why there are very few that achieve goals that are brought about. Sure, there are setbacks some days. But, that's part of being human. It's all about defeating yourself day in and day out. Fight those urges that tell you to sleep a little longer; I just need a little more rest; I deserve a cheat meal, etc. Get it out of your head now! That's just laziness trying to creep back into your system. There's no room for it. You have no room for laziness. If it came down to it today, what would you have to say about your life? You woke up. Went to work. Then went to sleep. BORING! Don't be that person. It's lame and not an exciting obituary for your kids to read.

As I continued to listen there was one common theme. These great things they boasted about wasn't a priority. Whenever you don't workout, do that business venture, or whatever it is. It's just that...it wasn't a priority. It reminds me of when I was younger and I had a bill to pay. So I would go out and get a job real fast to help offset the cost for my insane lifestyle I really couldn't afford.

I live by the Loose Screw Theory. There are some things that you just shouldn't care about. So what you didn't get enough sleep. Look at what you achieved being awake! Once I started pushing my limits I learned that I truly only need about 5 hours of sleep. Some days only 4! I have been getting so much done that I am on a lifetime high! There's no feeling like it. It will turn into an adrenaline rush that you would want to keep feeling over and over again. We Accurate Step would like for you to get that feeling too.

When it feels like everything is caving in...

I spoke with someone today who was on the edge. Not literally on the edge of anything. But, on the edge of life. He lost his son just a month ago; best friend within the week; and his mother was recently diagnosed with cancer. When it rains it pours and it felt like an avalanche to him. He doesn't want to do anything.

He was recently prescribed antidepressants to help himself sleep. But, it is not helping to no avail. The only thing he can do is go to work, go home, drink 2 beers, pop a pill, then go to sleep.

We all know that there is nothing good that can come out of this practice. Life is hard. I honestly don't think that it was projected to ever be easy. Some people don't believe in miracles. But, when I think about how fragile life is...whoever is moving around today is a walking miracle. There are over 6 million ways to die and there wasn't one that touched us as of yet.

Now just think about that...you are a miracle. You are here to do something great. There is no one that has your fingerprint to put on this world. No one can talk like you, walk like you, or even eat like you. You were made different for a reason.

It just happened to be raining outside and it was pouring. So my word to him was that even though it was raining. It meant that something was going to grow. I have never seen anything produced so beautifully without some sort of struggle. I was studying the Bible and I found the Greek word gymnazdo. It's where we get the word gymnasium from. It literally means to be stripped naked. Think about it. The gym is designed for us to struggle. The gym is designed for us to work on our weak spots. No matter what we do, the gym doesn't lie. If you are in there long enough there will be some weak points exposed. You can't wear the same clothes to work that you workout in. You have to change to get the maximum flexibility. Some may try to wear big clothes to cover muffin tops, etc. But, eventually you will have to look at yourself in the mirror for real progress....or not. There is something that needs to be said about being stripped naked. The gym as it is in life is there for us to not only struggle, but to power through. Of course, it's not easy. But, you are the miracle that is supposed to make it look that way. Enjoy the process of being molded into something new. Life's challenges are here for you to constantly evolve into someone new. If you are willing to take the risk of being constantly uncomfortable. I believe that you will be more successful than you have ever believed. Now get to work...Keep pounding.

When you are sick of being tired

We hear so much from people that they are tired of being fat. They are tired of living paycheck to paycheck. They are tired of looking at debt in the face.

I get it. Been there. Done that. Multiple times. There is nothing more demoralizing than living in the same rut year in and year out. The thing about it is that it doesn't have to be that way. We live in a robotic world. But it doesn't have to remain your way of thinking. There is a reason most successful people are referred to as being counter cultural. Being counter cultural doesn't mean that you stop looking at fashion trends, stop eating pizza, or not do the movies every now and then. It's simply changing your mind. Once your mind is changed it's over. There is nothing in the world that will be able to stop you.

Some examples are:
1. Not drinking every single week
2. Stop thinking that someone owes you something. The world could care less about your wants.
3. Stop doing the same things over and over and expecting different results
4. Mix up your daily routine. Instead of waking at 6am try waking at 430. You'll have more time to work. Do something that matters to YOU, and not have to worry about other people chipping away at your time. There won't be anyone awake to throw email traffic at you. No social media distractions, and no one to call you in the middle of a workout.

I know what you are saying. "But, I have class. But I have to work all day. I have kids to take care of." All of those are valid EXCUSES not to do the extra. You have to keep in mind that Kobe was in the gym numerous times for 8 hours. 8 HOURS! ON NUMEROUS OCCASSIONS. I can't sleep 8 sometimes and he was working.

One thing my father taught me growing up was, "everyone appreciates hard work, no matter where you finish".

I was reading about this famous Special Forces giy who also was a UFC fighter. Before working a 12 hour day he would have already put in a 2 hour workout. His motto was that he wanted to be fit to fight. Any time. Anywhere. That 's the attitude we all need to have . Yes we are going through this thing called life. It calls for us to get tough with it. It may require working 2 jobs for a time period. It may require late nights, early mornings, no bar, no parties, and no television. But you have to ask yourself. "Did I make myself the priority today?" And if so, "How?" Keep pounding....Accurate Step!

But I'm too tired to work out! I'm on vacation!!

There I was... traveling on vacation and no destination in sight. The road is starting to get blurry and all I can think about is how good that bed is going to feel when I get there. The more I thought about the palm trees, pools, and fresh seafood. The more I felt like going to sleep at that steering wheel. I had to pull over and get some rest. I tried to get comfortable and I just couldn't get it right in the van. The kids were whiny and the highway food we packed was on empty. I wanted to drink more water, but that would make me stop more and prolong the trip. 

Then. Alas!!! I made it almost 12 hours later! Then we had to check in, get our food, and then the many trips back and forth to get all of the bags in. So this meant that I would need to help get the kids settled, fed, and then finally rest. Right? Wrong! 

Anyone will tell you that to promote energy you need to get moving. I have never been in a car when the heat or air conditioning worked best sitting still. Your body works the same way. Yes I was extremely exhausted and hungry. That's where your mind needs to be counter cultural. Meaning, get out of the leisure mindset. So what did I do? I did what I had to do and hit the gym! After all of the driving, unpacking, and a little fluid. I hit the gym! Was it a long workout? No! It was an effective one. I ran 20 minutes on the hotel treadmill on a very high incline....very fast. Until I couldn't take it anymore. The high intensity took me to sweating in about 7 minutes. Most workouts will take me 15 minutes just to warm up. But, I was on a time schedule to meet family so I squeezed it in. 

The feeling after was complete rejuvenation! I felt like a brand new man and I was ready for 11 more hours of family fun. I felt accomplished so psychologically I was hyped like no other. We went on boats, saw dolphins, and I felt like a responsible adult of taking care of myself. Heck, I even went and raced my teenage son in the pool a few times before bed. 

Here are the benefits:

1. Extra energy

2. A Psychological Boost

3. A great time with family of me being actively involved and not cranky

4. QUALITY SLEEP: Never underestimate how exercise will give you quality sleep. Not just lying in bed rolling for eight hours. But, being out cold for 4 hours will give you all of the energy you need for the next day. The fountain of youth is upon us!

Check out this informative study here.  #TNDO

What is your movie?

I have always been a bigger proponent of struggle. Not struggling just for the sake of struggle. But, to struggle with progress. I often think back to times growing up and seeing how hard the necessary resources were hard to come by. There was always some sort of sacrifice and that really bothered me. I would always ask the question. Why are we always struggling? Shouldn't some of these things come easy. It looks like everyone is succeeding except us!

There was a woman who I went to visit in the hospital one day who told me. "No test, no testimony." Without any struggle there was no progress. There could have been many things that could have transpired to make things easier at the time. But, I would have just become weaker as time progressed.

I often thought about the movies that I liked...they had some struggle included in all of them. There was a hill to climb and there was victory at the end. Life is mandated to have conflict. There needs to be an element to the story that requires us to have some sort of hurdle to clear. I often wondered if people were to see my movie; what would it be like?

I don't think our movie is designed for us to have a silver spoon in our mouths and then go on being that stagnant throughout the rest of life. I want my movie to look like there is something impossible to overcome. I want to see a movie where I would have to live in a dumpster for awhile, eat some food from scraps thrown away, and have people look down on me for a time period. Then, I would want to climb from the bottom and have people inspired to hear and never get tired of my story. I've been homeless. I've washed paper plates in my apartment. I've had ketchup and syrup sandwiches. Those are stories that I keep near and dear to me as I grew up in my early 20's. They were like hell, but I could smile through them. Why? Because I made up in my mind early that I wouldn't stay that way. And I made sure of it! Now that's a movie that I believe anyone would pay money to see. You have a mission. And it might just be to inspire others. The weekend is here and this is where the normal will be celebrated with leisure and drinks. But, there will be those who will make it a work day and keep grinding. Keep pounding.

For those of you that can't wake at 4:30 in the morning.

I find a lot of people don't like to wake up at 4:30 in the morning. But, I believe it sucks. And it should suck. On the flipside of that. I never ran into anyone that was successful because something was easy. The easy thing is clocking in and having someone else tell you what to do on a daily basis. I can't stand having a boss. And whenever I did have a boss...I was taking the initiative of taking MY priorities of work to him/her and there would be no reason for them to be on my back, because I am mission oriented. I have goals, sub-goals, and time hacks.

4:30 when you think about it is just around mid morning. 6AM to be exact. I can remember I used to work in manufacturing and I would get there at 4:30 in the morning. Why? Because, I was the supervisor and there was no way in the world that I would let any of my subordinates tell me where pieces were at and where we were on the production schedule. The normal time to come in was 6:30 and from there the first break was at 9am. There was no way that I would be worth a grain of dirt in production meetings if I didn't have enough information on where pieces were; the status of those scheduled to ship; and how many pieces I got out the door. There was just no way in the world. I was embarrassed in a meeting ONCE. And that's all it took for me to start waking up early.

What I found was astonishing. I was getting to work faster, because there was no traffic. I could walk around the facility at will due to me being one of the few there. My actually work day would be shorter, because I did all of the dirty work early. So I could cruise for the remainder of the day.

The amount of work that I could get done with it being quiet is second to none. I would guarantee that anyone who ever hit the gym early or on a Friday night to explain their experience. It's empty and the quality of work to get done is exponential. There is no way that anyone who has the gym to themselves not have enough time to get the work in. If it's 4 in the afternoon the gym starts to get crowded. And when it's crowded. It backs you up and you have to wait for others to finish sets, etc. That's annoying to me. When my heart rate is pumping I don't want to have a downer by trying to rejuvenate my heart rate.

This method to life works exceptionally well if you are someone who has children. I found that I could never get anything done after 8am. I would have to wait until late night to do entrepreneurial work and then go to work tired as all get out. That didn't last long. And neither will you if you try to go full force everyday. It's just that simple.

Part of the trick is to get to bed early. Taking sleeping pills if you have to. But, get the cycle started now. Forget the fun stuff. You've already done all of that. There is no more time to be wasted. It's time to be a producer and not a consumer. Stop the Netflix and Hulu binging. Save that for days you are breaking. Which shouldn't be anymore than 1 or 2 days a week. Max. Why watch people make money when you could be making it? I never understood that. I know people that have worked numerous hours just to spend it to watch someone else work. With DVR and the social media sites there is no reason that anyone can be out of the loop on what's going on. If you are not ready to kick entertainment to the side. Then, you are not ready. Go with the regular people and make regular money. Check out my friends here on this clip and see what they have to say.

Exercising Your Mind

Happy Sunday and I know it’s late, but I just finished reading an amazing book about the Comanche warrior Quanah; in Empire of the Summer Moon. There are really some great books out there that need to be read and I can’t even remember how I came across this one. I’m pretty sure that it was the cover. It had a picture of a Comanche warrior that looked like he was ready to kill and take over any white men that wanted to step to his tribe. I read this thing in a week and leisurely reading for me that is fast! I usually leave all of my intense reading back to my days in grad school, but this was definitely grad school reading material. Not only could it have been a history text book on the American West it also told a great story that kept me interested.

So Ahmad, what the hell does this have to do with me? Well, I’m glad you asked! Most days are spent watching television by most Americans and all we ever do is listen to cable news or sports stations babble about how in some crazy way they are an expert on the government shutdown or the next Super Bowl winner. In other words, they exercise their minds to twist some angle to justify their stupidity of consciousness. They crazy thing is we watch it everyday! Yes we are all suckers for the same thing and the producers know it. It’s our crack!

With this knowledge I took the opportunity to do something new this final quarter of the year. I plan on reading 50 books. Not just some comics, but 50 real books. As a writer it is a rule of thumb that we all read four to five times more than we write in order to stay sharp. And it works! Reading just makes you smarter. It stirs creativity, expands vocabulary, and creates new ways of wanting to live. I can’t explain the feeling of turning on the Easy Listening station on Pandora and sitting back with a great book to read. It really does slow down the rest of the world and really makes you feel a sense of accomplishment once completed. How much better can life get? So the next book I have on the list is The Red Rooster by Michael Wallace. Nothing like a great thriller novel to read.

But all in all, get your brain turned up. We only get one and it’s one of the best ways to keep yourself sharp into your older years. Happy Reading and see you next Monday.