Allow me to share a couple stories from the gym, and let’s see how many lessons for yourself you can pick up in the thread.
It starts with me paying more than $1,000 to buy a membership at the gym across the street, even though there’s a huge gym in my condo. So why am I shelling out all that dosh?
Because my homeowners association uses the following system: When a piece of equipment breaks down, they call the repair company. That company shows up about a week to ten days later. Once they’re there, they inevitably quote a repair price. Unless it’s a negligible expense, this waits to be dealt with from three to six weeks, until there’s a board of directors meeting scheduled. The board then debates whether to fix the equipment or replace it. They usually then ask the property manager to research options. The end result is it’s not uncommon for it to take two to four months to replace something. One elliptical has been broken down the entire six months since I moved in.
Now this seems like a prudent and reasonable process to the board. Myself and the other homeowners now working out across the street hold a different opinion. But rather than me ranting about it more, what’s the lesson for you?
Do you have some process or system designed to make your job easier – that is actually alienating the people you’re supposed to be serving?
On the changeover, a very funny thing happened…
In my condo gym, I’m usually the most serious person there. I often have five or six other people arrive after I begin my workout and leave before I’m finished. When I start work on a machine, I’m usually increasing the weight stacks from whoever used it last. There aren’t too many people working out there that I would switch bodies with.
The new gym is more than 43,000 square feet. Any time day or night it has lots of SERIOUS fitness nuts working out. It’s packed with scores of people with gorgeous sculpted physiques. Some machines I get on and have to decrease the weight by half, from whoever was using it last. That certainly gave me a lesson about swimming in a bigger pond. Is there a lesson for you?
The final story…
Just the other day a trainer walked up to me and asked if I wanted a free personal training session. I hesitating, kind of hemmed and hawed and finally – as delicately as I could – told him that I didn’t want to be rude and really wasn’t trying to be mean, but I wouldn’t do a training session with him because his physique wasn’t better than mine.
Now he has big biceps and I’m sure his girlfriend thinks he’s very sexy. But going by his scrawny legs and distended belly, he’s not at the level of health and wellness I’m looking to emulate. Now it could be about health, or an entirely different area, but I bet there’s a lesson there for you as well.
So how many lessons did you get? If you’re feeling brave, please share them with the community below. As always, live rich!
-RG
Randy Gage is the author of nine international bestsellers on success, including, Risky Is the New Safe. He’s currently on sabbatical, writing his next book, but posts occasionally here. If you find these postcards helpful, please share them.
Reader interactions
51 Replies to “Your Lessons…”
The lesson I gathered or I should say again is reenforced in my mind is be careful of who you take advice or mentorship from and ask this simple question. “Does this person possess or has done what it is I want to possess or do?” If the answer is no then at the moment they cannot teach you how to attain it, just like that trainer!!! Thanks for the blog post Randy. You rock 🙂
I too gained as did DanSan that never take advice from someone who you do not want to emulate. Also know your values and stand by them no matter what; swim in a bigger pond; aspire to greater things in life be that health wealth or relationships; love where you are.
Thanks Randy.
What I gleaned from this is- don’t take advice from broke, unhappy, unhealthy people. You’ll pay dearly when/if you do.
Great Post Randy. I agree that when we realize the pond we are swimming in is a 2 foot pool with people who claim they want to go to the Olympics but are not around those types of individuals its pointless. You are at the top of the rung and there is no push for you. But get into a place where you are being pushed daily and you have to fight to stay afloat and you will rise and get better. Thanks for sharing this message, it hits home.
I used to look like a Greek god. Now, unfortunately, I only look like a damn Greek. Randy, would you please give me the number to your ‘roid supplier?
Randy – you crack me up! Reminds me of the time I joined 24 hour fitness and the salesman had a big gut. I felt skeptical but signed up anyway. Great post.
Exactly Randy! When I market myself as an expert in the health and fitness industry, I always make sure I’m walking the talk. It matters not that I’m over 60, people want to see a fit+ expert at any age. It’s always part of the process in any field of experts and gurus.
Hey Randy & people of greatness..
Here’s what I learned from your post:
1) If an “outcome” or result is not in the interests of the highest good, ie: clients feeling happy satisfied, even pleasantly surprised by the value rendered, then it’s not a prosperous action.
2) The path of least resistance does not lead to prosperity.
3) People are attracted to more well lit, bigger and busier establishments,
cause it makes them feel validated AND SAFE.
– there’ll likely be more inspiration and better role models, and better support systems in a 24/7 buisness operation.
– being open 24/7 if it’s appropriate for service rendered can be prosperous for buisness
4) have discernment about “from whom you accept advice/mentoring or training
– look for “credentials” or lack of them..
5) study practical wisdom
– “awareness is key”
6) To run a prosperous buisness, aquire buisness wisdom
– location, times open and have safe, reliable, dependable support systems in place to
brand oneself as professional..
7) be conscious of the mindsets of people you may be dealing with and interacting with..
-ie: knowledge of prosperity consciousness vs mediocrity or poverty consciousness traits
and behaviors..
there’s probably more to learn from this, that’s what I discerned at first reading..
1. Invest in yourself.
2. Never let others control things that are vital to your success
3. Don’t take advice/mentoring or coaching from people that don’t live the lifestyle you want.
4. Surround yourself with people that inspire you to reach higher.
5. Put yourself in places where you will expand your relationships with people that play at a higher level.
5. Find ways to make your customers happy – The Homeowners association might want to re-valuate their processes
When did “prudent and reasonable process” ever get anything useful done?
I get several ‘messages’ here Randy and I prefer to take them OUT of context rather than within the subject matter.
We attract what we ARE.. NOT what we want. I find it interesting that you attracted this trainer given who you are however. Your thoughts?
The Universe is an abundant place rife with choices. If we pick one and it fails, we simply pick another as long as we ‘fail forward’.
Learning is a process; sometimes we learn what we need quickly, other times it takes far longer. What’s important is that we keep growing.
🙂 you need/benefit from a trainer with an awesome nervous system. What are you really training for? What results do you seek (maybe passionately)? $1000 is pocket change. What kind of body do you want as your magic carpet? In good training we generate light (wisdom/oneness) and heat (warmth/compassion). Heaven is where you stand, this is the gym, membership costs is every breath.. what a bargain!!!
Nothing done.. nothing left undonr.. more chi train harder.. everyone is beautiful.. train your your eyes and heart and glutes etc..
Ther is only one of us here… henry ford didn’t finish “school” what is our next lesson sensei? Xo
Know yourself as magnificence. Be yourself as magnificence. Be discerning about what really is magnificence and what is just glitter. Choose nothing but magnificence for your life; everything else is turning up to be loved accepted and untouched.
So love your work Randy.
That’s a great list. I couldn’t say it better!
To your massive success
Volker Schaefer
Volker Schaefer Thanks Volker.
Never let circumstances (e.g. lack of equipment) be your excuse of not achieving your goals. It’s how you response to it that determine your results.
People take things more seriously if they are made to pay for it. And sometimes be willing to pay the price. It will allows you to surround yourself with serious players.
Always surround yourself with people who are better than you are so that they can help “push” you, inspire you etc. In this case, the gym across the road may be a better place in achieving the workout goals.
Be careful of who and where you take your advice from, especially if they are “free”. Learn only from the people who has personally achieve what you are trying to achieve.
Lesson: Who do you listen to? Listen to people who have what you want!
Bob Choat that’s the one trainer I’d love to have closer.
RG – Question: Why do you refer to the serious gym members as ‘health nuts’? At what point in their health journey do they become a nut?
Hi Randy, I recommend you try crossfit if you want a workout that will blow your mind. I agree the big night club muscles and toothpick legs is not very sexy.
The lessons for me are to seek the places where you sourround yourself with “serious” successful people, that goes for excellence in stead of the mediocre.
And DO the time to always get better and take that step closer to your dreams and keep up the discipline! Do today what others won’t do – that will benefit your “tomorrow” or your future.
Never take advice from a person, that does not use it on him/herselfe.
Thank’s for the lessons Randy!!!!!! I’m always willing to learn from you, as you ALWAYS deliver THE BEST and KNOW what you are talking about.
Lot’s of LOVE comming your way 🙂
Russell CooperThat’s a great question. I don’t mean it in a pejorative sense, because I consider myself one. And no doubt the rest of the world thinks we’re nuts.
-RG
pandkenterprises Ha, ha. I represent a wellness company. I’ve got no interest in steroids. I’m not a bodybuilder, just like to be in better shape for softball. -RG
Great post with a lot of lessons, but the biggest lesson I got form this is to actually LOOK for the lessons. If you hadn’t reminded us to look for the lessons, we could have read this and thought, yeah, that was good, but we might not have taken anything away from it.
Thanks, Randy!
Great insight Lene.
Randy I work with doctors in creating medical/wellness programs. I am truly shocked when I see these doctors instructing their patients that they need to lose weight, when they have a belly hanging so far over their belt that they cannot see their feet. I myself have lost over 100 pounds and kept the weight off for 31-years and have spent the last 25-years studying metabolism. I have traveled the world lecturing and getting ready to release my 2nd book but no one knows this when I am in the gym working out. Every where I go I will have some jacked up trainer wanting to give me a free session. I ask them their training “theory” and I will get basically a different answer from every trainer. The truth is there is science and I believe in testing and basing the individual program according the persons physiology. AND they don’t have a better physique than I do LOL
Randy_GagepandkenterprisesYou are too young for softball. Join our national baseball league. You will love it (and you don’t have to use steroids to play, unlike the MLB).
Randy_Gage Russell Cooper – Quite so. . .
Love from London,
RC
There
is a joke to this connection:
A man
came to the Gym .He looked
around and saw a nice blonde girl
which was exercised.He
so wanted
to
get know her ,than he asked the
coacher ,Please tell me what Training-
device should I take for to impress
this girl .The coacher look deeply at the
man ,thought
a little time and said , I’m sorry
to
tell you , there isn’t any training device which
you
can impress any girl. Try to use the
automated teller machine which is here outside.
There
is a joke to this connection:
A man
came to the Gym .He looked
around and saw a nice blonde girl
which was exercised.He
wanted so much
to
get know her .Than he asked the
coacher ,Please tell me what Training-
device should I take for to impress
this girl .The coacher look deeply at the
man ,thought
a little time and said , I’m sorry
to
tell you , there isn’t any training device which
you
can impress any girl. Try to use the
automated teller machine which is here outside.
I still work out 2 hours a day, 7 days a week and now I’m in my 70’s. I just hired a new trainer today because I felt it was time for me to realign my body even though I go to the IDEA fitness convention every year to get the latest techniques. Really–it’s all about challenging yourself and never being satisfied.
aikpin
I agree with your comment & I believe you pay for what you get & open your eyes and pay attention & be aware of your choices then make the right choice & learn to be serious about your goal but don’t take life too serious and be attraction to achieve your highest level of your vision.
1) Create your own way.
2) Play BIG!
3) Call things in they real name.
For me!
All the best Randy and thank you so much for all you do!
You had inspired me to change my life!!
Curtis PhelanMarvelous list! Thanks!
PavelVanhara Curtis Phelan Thanks Pavel.
Curtis Phelan Thank’s Curtis 🙂
pandkenterprises Dude, I’ll be 55 in April. I think I qualify for old man softball!
-RG
Well, I just turned 57 and I am starting 3rd baseman for the Warrior baseball team. I figure I have another 10 years to go before I throw in the towel. So now you have no excuses not to play (but I would suggest that you park your Ferrari a good distance away from the ball field – foul balls can be a bitch).
pandkenterprisesReally? Good for you! Does that league have a team in San Diego?
-RG
Yes, and I can hook you up if you’re interested.
Randy, My take:
1) Your time is valuable, don’t skimp, you never get it back.
2) Surround yourself with people that are better than you, and grow.
3) Never lose your sense of integrity, one, being truthful to yourself.
There is wisdom in your short story …
I admire you style, Randy! There is always something in you posts that makes my day:)! Thanks!
Hey Randy may I ask you a question? How do you programm your subconcious besides affirmations, positive thinking & subliminals…are there any other tools you would recommend? thank you so much in advance for your help! best regards
Johannes
togettheknackThose things you mentioned are the main ones. And I also zealously guard the negative influences I get exposed to. -RG
BobBurg that guy… Gage knows how to keep it real!
Randy_Gage thank you very much!
Yeah, I learned never buy a condo with a gym!
Lessons I learnt
Go where your going to be pushed the most
Dont be afraid to speak up on your true feelings
Follow only and get advice only from others with the proven results that we want