It’s common in life to have some problems or challenges.  Sometimes injuries occur, car breaks down, finances are tight, etc.
Most people immediately start crying the blues and telling every that will listen (whether they want to or not) about their troubles.

In my opinion, that is a great way to get others to start running from you when you get near them.

In his book Extreme Ownership, Jocko Willink, a former Navy Seal, would tell his subordinates “good” when they came to him with a problem.  Initially they would look at him like he is crazy, but then he would explain. 

When you say “good”, you are putting yourself in a positive state versus a negative one.  But more than just that, you are now going to view the situation differently. 

Now you can get creative and find a solution.  You can get resourceful and find a new way. 

Tony Robbins says, “It’s never a matter of your resources, it’s always a matter of your resourcefulness.” 

Now you have the chance to go back and figure out what went wrong and learn from it so it never happens again.  The past can be a great teacher.  It can teach you what to do again in the future, and in some cases, it can teach you what never to do again. 

The question is, do you stop for a moment to look back and see what you have learned?

A problem or challenging situation may simply give you the chance to get mentally tougher and accept defeat.  And when you do that, you realize it’s never just a loss, it’s always a lesson.

None of us can control what is going to happen, although it would be nice.  But we have complete control over how we respond to what happens.  When we respond with the right attitude, we can make the best of it, and move on.
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Thank you for being a part of the Elite Force family! 

When working towards a goal there are always certain tasks that are hard to do.  It might getting outside to run or going to class when you are supposed to.  It could be getting up earlier to read, study, and plan your day out. 
 
For kids, it might be getting your homework done on time or preparing for a big project that is almost due.
 
Goal achievement is hard work!  We never want to confuse simply being busy with accomplishing important tasks. 
 
Most people “major in minor things”.  They are busy all day long doing tasks that have no real value or get them closer to the goals they have set for themselves.  Or they procrastinate doing the important things because they know they will be difficult.  Don’t let this be you! 
 
The golden rule in business is, “I must do the most productive thing possible at every given moment.” 
 
What are your top goals?  What do you need to do every day to move you closer to achieving them?
 
Constantly evaluate your tasks and plan for the day.  Are there tasks that could be delegated to someone else?  Is what I am doing right now important or am I procrastinating doing something more valuable? 
 
These are tough questions to ask but they separate winners from whiners!!!
 
Here are a few tips to having very productive days that are filled with progress:
 
1. Do the hardest things first!  When you tackle the toughest tasks early then you will feel great about yourself and you have the rest of the day to look forward to doing more enjoyable things.
 
2. Have an A-B-C task list.  Rate your tasks for the day A-B-C and do all the “A” tasks first. Never do a “B” task when an “A” task is unfinished and you can work on it.
 
3. Celebrate successful days.  Reward yourself for making good choices and doing hard work.  Make the reward fitting to the day you have had or the jobs you completed.  Rewards are fun so never forget them!!! 

What separates great martial artists from mediocre ones?  Is it talent?  Is it athleticism?  Sure, all of those things play a part but the real difference between someone who is okay and someone who is outstanding is there discipline, determination, and drive!

They are willing to stretch themselves and push beyond what’s comfortable.  Great Black Belts show up on a consistent basis ready to give their very best at any given moment. 

I love the quote, “The more we grind – the more we shine!”  The more we grind it out, push ourselves, and stretch it, the more we grow. 

When is a rubber band useful?  Only when it is stretched.  In many ways, people are the same way.  For us to reach our true potential we need to constantly stretch ourselves. 

Author Alan Cohen, author and contributor to the Chicken Soup for the Soul series says, “To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future be totally unlike your past.  Your history is not your destiny.”

In the dojo that could mean learning a new skill, like BJJ or Hyper.  It could mean training with someone who really challenges you.  Successful people get comfortable at being uncomfortable!

Wednesday mornings are a big day of training for the EFMA staff.  We do an hour of sparring followed by a very intense Spartan workout.  A typical workout consists of running, burpees, squats, push-ups, pull-ups, lunges, and more.  It’s intense, challenging, and will take your fitness to a completely different level! 

Sensei Melissa and some of our EFMA members are about to run the Keys 100 race again, which is a 100-mile team relay race from Key Largo to Key West.  They will each be logging 5-6 runs in one day, in the hot summer sun. 
Are they being stretched?  I would say so! 

Richard Branson is one of the wealthiest men in the world.  What most people don’t know about Richard is how many times he has failed in his career.  He tried 14 different companies that failed.  He tried to make it in the burger business, wedding dress business, and even tried to compete with the New York Lottery.  He failed.

Despite all his “failures”, he is still one of the richest people in the world.  So, is he a failure?  Of course not!  What he was doing was stretching himself, stretching his team, and stretching his brand. 

So, he failed a few times.  Did he fail his way to billions?  You could say so! 

What can you do to stretch yourself?  Are you stuck in a comfort zone right now? 

Elite Force Team LHP is stretching itself with our new expansion plans.  We are taking over the space next door and growing the school from 3,300 square feet to 5,000 square feet.  We will be adding a full-time Elite Force BJJ program and Re-Birth Fitness will be launching a daytime Yoga program as well.

The moral here is stretch yourself.  You are capable of more than you think you are. 
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Train hard and be your best.  The best is yet to come!