what 12 years of weightlifting taught me about life

Summary

In this inspiring narrative, the speaker reflects on the profound life lessons they've learned from 12 years of natural weightlifting. They emphasize the paramount importance of consistency and discipline over fleeting motivation, advocating for the development of habits and routines that make progress a natural part of life. The speaker also highlights the value of embracing failure as a learning opportunity, urging others to view setbacks positively and use them to fuel improvement. Furthermore, they stress the significance of personal integrity, suggesting that working out alone can build mental resilience and self-reliance, preparing individuals to face life's challenges independently.

Takeaways

• 🏋️ Consistency is crucial for achieving long-term goals, whether it's building a dream physique or a successful business.
• 💪 Motivation is temporary, but discipline and forming a routine are what keep you going, especially when the going gets tough.
• 🔄 Be flexible and allow for occasional misses in your routine, but discipline will guide you back on track.
• 🚫 Don't let failure discourage you; instead, see it as a positive feedback mechanism for improvement.
• 🤔 Learn from every challenge, whether you succeed or fail, as it contributes to personal growth.
• 💡 Personal integrity is built by having clear goals and going to the gym for yourself, not because of others.
• 👤 Training alone fosters independence and resilience, preparing you for times when you have to face challenges on your own.
• 🤝 While having a training partner can be beneficial, don't rely on them to motivate you; your training should be self-driven.
• 🧘‍♂️ Develop mental strength by pushing yourself in the gym without the need for external validation or support.
• 🤗 Embrace the process of working towards your goals and find joy in the journey, not just the destination.
• 🏆 Success in fitness and business is a result of persistent effort over time, not instant results.

Q & A

What is the first life lesson the speaker learned from 12 years of weightlifting?

The first life lesson is that consistency is key in everything, whether it's building a dream physique or a business.

Why is it important to fall in love with the process of being consistent?

Falling in love with the process makes the journey enjoyable and helps maintain motivation over the long term, as opposed to relying solely on temporary motivation.

According to the speaker, what is the difference between motivation and discipline?

Motivation is often short-lived and can wane when faced with challenges, whereas discipline is about forming habits and routines that ensure consistent action towards a goal.

What is the speaker's advice on forming a new routine for working out?

The speaker suggests working out at a specific time and day for an extended period, which will eventually become a normal part of one's life due to the development of a routine.

How should one deal with missing a workout due to lack of motivation?

One should be disciplined and not skip multiple workouts. If they miss one, they should ensure to go the next time, maintaining the discipline to reach their goals.

What is the speaker's perspective on handling failure in weightlifting and business?

The speaker views failure as a positive feedback mechanism that provides an opportunity to learn and improve, rather than a reason to become negative.

Why is it important to learn from failure instead of letting negative thoughts take over?

Learning from failure helps in personal growth and improvement, whereas negative thoughts can hinder progress and maintain a defeatist attitude.

What does the speaker mean by 'you versus you' when starting to go to the gym?

The speaker is emphasizing the importance of personal integrity and having clear goals for oneself, rather than relying on others for motivation or validation.

Why does the speaker suggest training alone sometimes?

Training alone helps build personal integrity and self-reliance, preparing one for situations in life where they may not have someone to support them through challenges.

What is the main takeaway from the speaker's advice on going to the gym alone?

The main takeaway is that going to the gym alone fosters self-discipline and resilience, which are valuable skills not only in fitness but in life as well.

Outlines

00:00

🏋️ Consistency and Discipline in Weightlifting

The speaker reflects on the importance of consistency and discipline in achieving long-term goals, particularly in weightlifting. They emphasize that building a dream physique or a successful business requires time, patience, and regular effort. The speaker advises falling in love with the process and being consistent, as this is what sets apart those who achieve their goals from those who don't. They also discuss the transient nature of motivation and the need to form habits and routines to ensure continued progress. The speaker shares their experience of missing workouts occasionally but maintaining discipline to get back on track.

05:01

🚫 Embracing Failure as a Learning Opportunity

In this paragraph, the speaker discusses the concept of handling failure as a positive aspect of personal growth, especially in the context of weightlifting. They point out that setting goals and not being able to achieve them initially is a normal part of the learning process. Failure provides valuable feedback that can be used to improve. The speaker encourages a mindset shift from viewing failure negatively to seeing it as a necessary step towards success, both in weightlifting and in other areas of life such as business. They stress the importance of not letting negative thoughts take over and maintaining a positive attitude towards challenges and setbacks.

🤸‍♂️ Building Personal Integrity and Self-Reliance

The speaker highlights the importance of personal integrity and self-reliance when it comes to pursuing fitness goals. They argue that while having a workout partner can be beneficial, one should not rely on others for motivation to exercise. The speaker shares their personal practice of training alone, which they believe fosters a sense of personal responsibility and self-motivation. This approach, they suggest, builds mental resilience and prepares individuals to face challenges independently. The speaker encourages others to try training alone to develop a strong sense of self-reliance and personal integrity.

Keywords

💡Consistency

Consistency is the practice of doing something regularly and persistently. In the context of the video, it is highlighted as the key to achieving long-term goals, such as building a dream physique or a successful business. The speaker emphasizes that consistency is 'King' and that it requires time and patience to achieve results. The example given is hitting the gym multiple times a week for years to build the desired physique, which underscores the importance of sticking to a routine and not expecting immediate results.

💡Motivation

Motivation refers to the psychological drive or desire to do something. The script discusses motivation as a fleeting feeling that can lead to starting a new endeavor but is not sustainable in the long run. The speaker contrasts motivation with discipline, stating that discipline is what truly leads to success. Motivation is often sparked by external factors, such as videos or conversations, but it is discipline that keeps one going to the gym or pursuing a business even when the initial excitement fades.

💡Discipline

Discipline is the ability to control one's behavior and follow a set pattern of rules or a plan. In the video, discipline is presented as more important than motivation for achieving goals. It is the force that compels one to continue working towards their goals even when they are not feeling motivated. The speaker suggests forming a routine as a form of discipline, which makes going to the gym a normal part of one's life, and it is discipline that takes over when one does not feel like going but must continue for the sake of their goals.

💡Habits

Habits are regular practices or routines that people perform almost automatically. The video script talks about forming new habits or routines as a way to ensure consistency in actions like going to the gym. The speaker mentions that by working out at a specific time and day, it becomes a habit, and one goes to the gym without having to think about it. This habitual behavior is crucial for maintaining discipline and achieving long-term goals.

💡Failure

Failure, in the context of the video, is the inability to achieve a goal or lift a certain weight, especially when starting out. The speaker views failure as a positive thing because it provides feedback and a starting point for improvement. It is a natural part of the learning process, and the speaker advises against letting negative thoughts associated with failure enter one's mind. Instead, one should learn from failure and use it as a stepping stone towards success.

💡Personal Integrity

Personal integrity refers to the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles. In the video, the speaker talks about building personal integrity by setting clear goals for oneself and not relying on others for motivation to go to the gym. The speaker emphasizes the importance of going to the gym for one's own sake, not because of external influences or the presence of a training partner. This self-reliance and commitment to one's goals are seen as integral to developing personal integrity.

💡Routine

A routine is a sequence of actions regularly followed; it is a customary practice. The video script discusses the importance of establishing a workout routine to make going to the gym a normal part of one's life. The speaker suggests that by always going to the gym at a certain time, it becomes a routine, and one does not have to think about whether to go or not. This routine helps maintain discipline and ensures consistency in working towards one's goals.

💡Flexibility

Flexibility, in the context of the video, refers to the ability to adapt and adjust one's plans or goals when necessary. The speaker mentions the need for flexibility, suggesting that it's okay to miss a workout once or twice, but the key is to not skip multiple times in a row. Flexibility allows for the release of pressure and prevents the feeling of being overly strict with oneself, which can be counterproductive.

💡Goal-setting

Goal-setting is the process of identifying something that one wants to achieve. In the video, the speaker talks about having a clear goal when going to the gym, which is essential for maintaining motivation and discipline. Setting goals provides direction and a sense of purpose, which is crucial for pushing oneself to achieve a dream physique or build a business.

💡Mental Resilience

Mental resilience is the ability to withstand or recover quickly from difficult conditions. The video script touches on the idea that going to the gym alone can help build mental resilience. By pushing oneself without the need for someone else's encouragement, one develops the strength to handle difficult situations independently. This resilience is not only beneficial for physical training but also for overcoming life's challenges.

Highlights

Consistency is key in achieving long-term goals, whether in fitness or business.

Building a dream physique or business requires time, patience, and regular effort.

The rarity of achieving fitness goals adds to their value and makes them special.

Falling in love with the process of being consistent is crucial for success.

Motivation is fleeting; discipline and habit formation are what truly matter.

Establishing a routine makes it easier to maintain gym attendance.

Discipline can override lack of motivation and ensure continued progress.

Flexibility is important, but consistency in discipline should not be sacrificed.

Handling failure positively is essential for improvement in weightlifting and business.

Learning from failure provides valuable feedback for growth.

Avoid negative thoughts after failure and maintain a positive mindset.

Gym attendance should be for personal growth, not reliant on others.

Building personal integrity means working out for oneself, not for others.

Training alone builds resilience and the ability to push oneself without external influence.

Training alone can prepare you for handling life's challenges independently.

The importance of self-motivation and not relying on a training partner.

The value of going to the gym alone to build personal integrity and mental strength.

Transcripts

12 years ago I picked up my first set of

weights and back then I had no idea how

much of an impact that day would have on

the rest of my life here are my life

lessons I learned from 12 Years of

natural weightlifting first of all

consistency is King in literally

everything if you want to build a dream

physique or you want to build a business

it takes time and patience you need to

hit the gym multiple times a week for

multiple years to build your goal

physique your dream physique and you

should be happy about that because if

that would not be the case everyone

would be fit everyone would be muscular

everyone would be having a successful

business and if everyone is having

something that doesn't make it feel

special anymore so fall in love of the

process fall in love of being consistent

with something second thing motivation

sucks everything is about discipline so

a lot of people when they're starting

out in the gym or with anything else

they're motivated to start because

they've seen a YouTube video or they

were talking with friends or family that

they're going to do something and then

they start doing it for a week and yeah

then things are getting hard they're

getting distracted they're not feeling

as motivated anymore what do they do

they quit or they switch and do

something else that's also a thing I've

learned like it's not about motivation

it's all about discipline and forming a

new habit or routine and especially for

forming a new routine will make it

really easy to keep hitting the gym if

you start working out at a specific time

a specific day for a long period of time

you will not even think about going to

the gym you just go because you always

go at like 400 p.m. on on Saturday

afternoon let's say or any other random

day if you always go at a certain moment

you're developing a routine and it will

become really normal and if you don't

feel like going on that specific day

which is completely normal then your

discipline will take over you just need

to do it you have a goal then go for it

and of course like it can happen that

you'll miss maybe one or two times and

that's fine like you also need to become

a little bit flexible not become like

the guy that needs to be hitting every

goal consistently like which is of

course good but sometimes you also need

to release the pressure you know but at

least go the next time like don't skip

multiple times like one time okay but

after that just just go it's about

discipline so if you want to achieve

your physique or build a business it's

discipline over motivation next one

handing failure as a positive thing and

especially during weightlifting

especially in the beginning when you're

just starting out you're setting

yourself maybe some goals to lift and

you're not able to lift them because you

haven't built up the strength and that's

completely normal and logical like how

crazy would it be if you're able to lift

crazy amount of Weights in the beginning

so failure gives you feedback to start

improving so always learn from failure

everywhere also in business don't sit

down and become negative like oh I

failed I I must suck blah blah blah

Don't let those negative thoughts enter

your mind it's a game you know sometimes

you need to challenge yourself and when

the when you make the challenge when you

finish the challenge you can be really

happy but yeah you also need to accept

the consequences that maybe when you set

a challenge towards yourself you maybe

will not make make it and that's totally

fine so that's also what I've learned

the past 12 years by hitting many many

PRS and also hitting not so many PRS

next one I think is a very big one when

you start going to the gym it's you

versus you so you need to start building

up personal Integrity you need to have a

clear goal for yourself okay why am I

going and you're not showing up because

of someone else like what I'm seeing in

my environment or with other people they

need a friend or someone else to train

with or otherwise they would not go and

of course like this is really nice if

you're just starting out you can train

together you can motivate each other P

push each other which is amazing like do

it if you can but don't be the guy that

if you can't work out with your training

partner that you're staying home because

in the end you're going to the gym for

yourself right to build your own

physique to build your mental resilience

and that kind of stuff so I always went

alone to the gym because I just like to

push myself uh without the need of

someone pushing me builds personal

Integrity you just go for the sake of

going and I think that's a big lesson I

learned as well and I would advise

everyone to at least train alone a

couple of times so you don't always need

someone else to push you because many

times in life you don't have someone

around you that will push you through a

difficult situation it will just be you

all alone in your room maybe you're

having some Challenge and yeah you're

the only one that can solve it and by

going to the gym alone that for me also

made those situations easier to handle