Hey guys,

As you know I have been following these forums for some time now and I have interacted with a number of you all in recent times, and am grateful for every minute I spend in this community.

I often try to think of how I can best make a contribution, and how I can pass on my messages in the best way, to give the most benefit. However, the real me is very competitive and motivated, almost to the point of sheer bloody mindedness and arrogance. It's true, I battle with an ego that fights to overtake me at every opportunity and show off, which I admit can be a negative quality.

So what am I trying to say? And whats my point?

Well a while back I helped a guy train for the Royal Marine Commandos. don't know what you know about the Royal Marines, but they are extremely fit. This particular guy excelled himself and recently went to Afghanistan to serve his country (yes, the unfortunate side of all this is war, which is sad but nevermind). After speaking with him last, it reminded me why he achieved such a high standard and attained such huge gains in his physical performance. (At uni he was a beer swilling maniac with zero aptitude for intense training). The answer was his attitude.

Nothing was ever an obstacle or a problem. He became single minded and focused and destroyed anything that posed as an obstruction. He became so self confident that it exuded around him. The certainty of knowing was awesome around him and he literally aligned himself with where he was going and began marching. No questions, no second guessing, no time to think, just full out action. An agressive side of him was channelled and funnelled into his goals and he harnessed a passion for what he was trying to achieve. He didn't care who knew his goal, or who laughed (many did), he was going places. Sure enough he did.

So what does this mean to the forum?

Well I guess is what I am trying to say, yet don't know how, is that a lot of you guys (and gals) are way too nice. Don't get me wrong I love every one of you, but I fear that you aren't empowering yourselves to be the masters of your own universe. Maybe it is just my overbearing style, but I want to really see you guys fly, yet to do that some of you need to lose the squeaky clean exterior and stamp your size 10 feet down. This is your destiny, so take it by the b******* and run with it!!

Don't look outside of yourself for the answer, you already have it.

You are the one you've been waiting for!!!!

Take your dreams, take your goals and really own them. Have that 'I can do anything' attitude and really mean it! Don't just say it to yourself quietly in the mirror last thing at night or in your journal, scream it from the rooftops so that we all can hear. Who cares who gets offended, just because you demand more from your life? Thats their s*** to deal with. You are here to be the one you have been waiting for, and everyone of you has enough within you to make that happen, with absolute ease!!

Don't question yourself, just do it. Don't try to change, just recognise the power that you really are and LIVE it, so we all can see. All of you are leaders, and will rise to the next level inspiring all of those around you to do the same. And do you know what? If they don't, what's it got to do with us. I make no apologies for feeling great about myself and proud of who I am and neither should you. A lower level of consciousness doesn't have the capacity to appreciate an expanded mind. Thats fine, go elsewhere for the approval and recognition you deserve. But always start with yourself.

I went to a course the weekend which was about filling up your own glass so you could share the overflow with the world. However, if your glass is running low, what can you offer the next person?

Be selfish, be arrogant, be motivated and go out and take what you want from the world. You're not hurting anyone by being the best you can be, but you are killing yourself if you don't allow yourself the right to shine. Shine today and just do it.

I don't know where this little post came from or how it will be recieved, but I felt like I had to say it. I think some of you would hit your goals a lot sooner if you just get out of your own way, and take your vision by the nut sack!! Its yours and no one elses, so f*** em, we're off to ignite the future.

(Sorry if I got a bit carried away, I'm just feeling really motivated and i'm hoping some of you will forget about all the trivial crap and just jump on board to shine brightly.)

You are the one you have been waiting for!! Wait no more. Of course knowledge helps, but first you need to commit to a hard line decision of where you are gonna take yourself. How is a piece of piss, it's why that needs an answer. The reason should be because you deserve it!! But when you say I deserve it, do you really feel it. I hope you will, because you do deserve it!!

In the meantime i'm catching up with my marine pal to do some intense phys next week. Why? Because we damn well can and we love it!!

love the post dean as always!! very inspiring!! if my printer was working i would print it. oh wait, i deserve a new printer, damn it, im going to get one! keep the posts coming!! they always are great!!! thanks!

Thank you! You're so right!

So So true!!! I really Loved your article Dean. I realised that i was the one i had been waiting for with respect to personal relationships a few years back...that made me very strong! This site, inspirational words like yours and others on this group ...has made me focus on my fitness !!

"Take your dreams, take your goals and really own them."

This is what i am aiming at too

Thanks for such a lovely post Dean!!! Its a good start to the day!

Thanks again, Dean!

You are great at what you do, and I appreciate not only your to-the-point posts, but your reminders about what is really important!

Your clients are lucky to have you, and maybe when I get down to my goal weight I'll hop the pond and come show you what a real workout is ;)

(I'm a little competitive myself!)

I like your style Dave!! I've got a big ego so I couldn't possibly not take that challenge!!

Thanks to everyone for your positive comments, I was a bit worried how this might be recieved. I really appreciate your contributions.

Keep believing

Screw this post... Ill write a better post (well maybe not because I hate writing and you pretty much said it all).

I am just a nice guy by nature (sorry). But I am also very competitive by nature... hence me yelling challenge whenever I get the chance. Also if Dave can hop that pond so can I (in fact I am in July going to Italy for 2 weeks).

I will be healthier by July and I will enjoy it to the fullest. I will run in the morning not only for the sights but to better myself. I have a goal and this goal will not be easy but I will accomplish it.

Nice, Dean! However, here's a small caveat:

Educate yourself before you unleash your ego into uncharted territory, otherwise you'll just look like an ass. (Sorry, been around too many bull-headed Marines that are too confident about everything!)

Please, don't shout ignorance from the rooftops!

Hey Ara,

Never apologise for what you are. Sometimes when I'm training people I purposefully push them till they bite back, cos that is when you see the passion and hunger in their eyes and that is when things change. Being comfortable sucks, cos that only reminds us of what we are used to and we often want the chance to grow. We all grow through challenge, so bring it on!! Choose the fight, choose the challenge and choose to grow.

I don't have anything against nice people, I just don't think it is fair how nice people sit back watching while everybody else takes what they want from life. It's your universe too. I'm not saying that you should turn nasty and become a bad person, however you should exercise your strength to command what you want from life.

Dean - Thank you for inspiring people to achieve their fullest potential. Often, we need someone to slap us in the face and wake us up. I think many of us have gotten to where we are (weight wise) due to a lack of value of ourselves and self doubt about who we are. At least I know I have. I am full of self doubt and lacking self esteem. It wasn't until I said I believe I can do this and really meant it that I was able to begin changing my life and losing the weight.

I just watched Fight Science on National Geographic Channel this weekend. Both the MMA and the Special Ops episodes were interesting. All of these guys were overcoming things your average person wouldn't even attempt. And along the lines of what you're saying, Dean, one of the scientists said in the Special Ops episode that part of their ability to do these things was conditioning and genetics, but a lot of it was mental. It was also said that the best way to get a special ops guy to do the impossible was to tell him he couldn't.

One of my biggest hurdles is overcoming the expectations of others (another form of being too nice, I think). No one expects me to get in shape, so I've focused on the things I'm "supposed to do."

I lost my drive to achieve my own goals for the past couple months, but I'm getting back into it now. I've gotten up early all week, and that is doing the impossible!

Right on, Cindy--keep that mojo workin'.

That Fight Science looks really interesting, though it makes a lot of sense. It is all in the mind.



Remember you're not supposed to do anything. Supposed to, implies you didn't want to do it for yourself, and therefore don't get so hung up about doing it.

I feel for you and can understand your situation. When drive and esteem have been dented, it sometimes hard to come out fighting when you can just pull the duvet over your head.

Think about your overall dream and navigate towards that. If your goals are uninspiring and unmotivating, scrap them. Get goals that really turn you on and make you jump out of bed feeling alive.

You are the one that you have been waiting for!!

Thanks, Dean! I'm definitely readjusting things in my life.

How much would it cost to get you to move to Pittsburgh?

I miss Pittsburgh.. I used to live there. I actually am still really close only about an hour away.

You don't need me in Pittsburgh, the best thing for you is already there. YOU!!

Besides, so long as you tune into traineo, the community here will never be far away. Otherwise you can always message me whenever you want.

What is the weather like in Pittsburgh?

Same as it is here either cold/rainy or cold/snowy... or just cold

I had a feeling you were going to say that, Dean! I've been going it alone all along for the most part. The couple of times I have had a trainer, I didn't like them much, didn't feel like they pushed me enough, despite telling them both I could handle a lot more.

The weather here is grey and gloomy, as seems to be the rule. I like the city, but I think I was made to live in a sunny, warm climate. We have fewer sunny days than Seattle, which is notorious for its rain and gloom!

I commented on your throwback jersey in another topic, Ara, but you must not have seen it.

I did! Which post was it in?

I can't remember. I suppose I could look it up, but now that we got it all straightened out, we're good. I have to admit, I'm a much bigger Penguins fan than Steelers.

My friend I graduated with works for the Guins! ;)

Exactly! Grab life by the horns! Who cares? Take whats rightfully yours and don't let people's thoughts about you change who you are!

Fabulous frikkin post, Dean! keep up the great work!

tex

Dean, southern California is warmer and mostly nice everyday.

I am glad that you are in traineo. I feel that you are providing free training to me everytime I read your post. Thanks.

How $ you charge your client anyway?

Dean, once again thankyou so much for posting this. It's really inspirational, and I too am going to keep a copy of this, im gonna save it to my computer then print it soon so I can remmeber it always.

Thanks Dean!