Every once in a while something comes a long a rocks your reality. No so long ago was my day for a rocking. Not so much a rocking but a little humbling reminder.  I had interviewed for a position as head strength and conditioning coach/lecturer at a local university.  It had come down to two individuals; myself and a colleague that is equally qualified. We were asked to submit a proposal, which included a written philosophy, a series of sample per iodized workouts and a written portion on how I integrate an sports performance team (athletic therapy, sport psych, etc.).

The interview I feel was not one of my best.  I felt unfocused right from the start.  A lot of the questions revolved around how I as one coach would organize training for 5 full college teams.  When the questions started coming about organization I think that’s what threw me off first.  I mean I didn’t even know what each of the individual coaching staffs wanted for times space availability and number contact per week.  Once I started to flounder I felt the downward spiral.  The last portion of the interview was a practical coaching experience and that’s where I was going to shine.  To be honest I owned that coaching situation.

When all was said and done and the dust settled I got a call three days later.  They commented and how they were very impressed with both the candidates experience however I did hear this little buzz of the word but… “the committee decided to go with the other candidate.”

I sat there for couple moments and realized I actually didn’t get the job.  Don’t get me wrong I’m not upset that I didn’t get the job-based on the candidate that I was up against.  The person who got the job I highly respected think they’ll do a great job at what they are looking to do.  I just am a competitive guy and didn’t want to lose this job to anyone regardless of who it is.  That’s what we’re all here for, to compete for position.  My wife made a point that I might’ve not been 100% into that interview because of the position I have a Canadian Sports Centre Calgary and I’m completely 100% happy being there.   She could very well be right, my mind was somewhere else in that interview.

But this gives me a chance to sit down and reflect.  It wasn’t so much being beat of a position but more so how did I prepare for the situation.  One of my references suggested doing the interview because at some point in time you will be up for a position that you want so badly and you have been in that position already, you will be more prepared.  I think Dr. Tubman was right because I know I’ll sit down and have a good look at how I prepared for the interview and what I need to do differently next time.  This was also a good reminded to get off our own podiums, when something like this happens.  I will be the first to say that all things happen for a reason.  And trust me when I say that you are only as good as those you place around you.  When I am winding my career down the legacy I wish to leave is one where I am described as humble, and a teacher of others.   I never want to be known as the person who was unwilling to share and guide others; to help those that are seeking answers to questions that I may have the answer to.  Be humble because as good as one thinks he or she is, there are those that are as good or better than you.  And when you find them, learn from them.  And when the situations arise, learn from them as well.

Yours in Health and Performance,

Jeff Osadec, Mkin, CEP, CSCS

“This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill — the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill — you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit-hole goes.”

Guess what, there is no magic pill that will transform you.  There is also no magic workout, routine, class… whatever it is you are looking for that will tone your butt, lose weight off your thighs, increase your vertical jump or insert whatever else you are thinking of here.  It is called a life style.  Period. Nothing more, nothing less.  Really if everyone got this, I would be right out of a job.  Here is where this post stems from.  I met a kid today, that told me his trainer wanted him to gain ten pounds for some type of high school talent show case, I think soccer.  So what does this trainer tell a 17-year-old high school kid to do… take Creatine.  No guidance, just take it.  Unbelievable.  There is a protocol for taking Creatine.  But besides that, taking Creatine DOES NOT result in muscle hypertrophy.  It is for the re-synthesis of ATP.  You will gain water weight and the muscles will look fuller, but that is it.  If someone was to bottle fitness, or talent good on them but here is the pill.  The magic pill that everyone is after… the fountain of youth is…

GOOD OLD FASHIONED HARD WORK AND A HEALTHY LIFE STYLE.

Holy shit, I just gave away the secret that all the trainers’ at “Globo Gym” don’t want their clients to figure out because that would decrease sales of the minimum 60 sessions per client quota they are required to sell.

Hard work is easy. Ready.

Day 1 –Move your body fast (get your heart rate up)

Day 2 – Lift heavy things

Day 3 – Lift heavy things fast

Day 4 – Play or move slowly

Day 5 – Lift Heavy things

Day 6 – Play or move slowly

Day 7 – Play or move slowly

Note: I do recommend reading Primal Fitness Blue Print, where the above schedule was adapted from.  It is a good start to doing things a little differently.

I have had a great laugh over the last day.  The concept of a gym to “workout” is actually becoming humorous to me.  Why you ask?  Take a look around.  There are people running on a treadmill watching TV.  Guys crushing out bicep curls like the Apocalypse is upon us.  Just watch people in a gym and ask your self if this is natural, any of it.  The treadmills.  Okay, I will correct myself.  It is the routines that people endure that are not natural.  Go to a place, and run on a treadmill, go nowhere and watch TV!  My grandfather came to Canada on a boat, and I would love to have seen the look on his face or heard his reaction to the concept of a gym.  Think about that and you will see my point.  And to top it off today, I stop at Super Store and there is a gym right in the store.  A Goodlife Fitness.  Really, we need life to be that routine, and convenient.

And go ahead and say it, “but you go o a gym.”  Yes, I do.  But I go there to lift weights, move my body fast, and do restorative work on my tissues; to fix the inside and get a better looking outside in the process.  Not look great but be totally broken on the inside.  I even do yoga.  It is not a typical gym “routine”.   The healthy lifestyle is a little more of a vague response.  Look, I will be honest, as I write this after finishing off a cheat meal (Five Guys Burger and Fries this time) which I allow my self maybe once a week; the cheat meal that is, not FGBF.  Look, cheat meals are fine, just don’t do it every day.  It is about eating real food.  Not something that comes in a package or a box.  It is not about taking supplements.  REAL FOOD.  The longer it takes to go bad, the worse it is for you. If you are eating real food, supplements are a waste of money.  Start with real food.  When you are doing that right, and then look to supplements.  And yes I take supplements.  And here they are… fish oil, vitamin D and a multi (only when I know I am going to have a day of poor eating).  That is it.  Not rocket science.  I am an no cover model with six-pack abs and duck face.  But I am going to say, I do not look or feel the age that I am (33 yrs.).  I am fitter and stronger than I was when I was in undergrad and should have been at the prime of my life.  But I try to maintain an simple lifestyle.  I do not kill myself in the gym; I do not run because I “have to”.  I do things because they are fun; challenging and I genuinely enjoy them.  That is as simple as it gets.

So here is my conclusion.  Go to the gym, not because you have to but want to.  If you don’t feel like it get outside.  Move your body.  Enjoy what you do.  Get out of routine.  Eat real food and enjoy it, don’t obsess over it.  If it is real food there is no bad foods.  Cheat… on your diet once in a while and do not beat your self up over it.  That is just silly.   Love what you do and do it with purpose.  Life is not a chore and it is not forever.  Enjoy every moment.

Yours in Health and Performance.

Jeff Osadec, MKin, CEP, CSCS

When things come across that inspire you, it is a responsibility to share.  And that is what I am going to do today.  Dr. Stephan Norris is a brilliant man, an inspirational speaker and just an interesting man to talk with when you can pin him down.  The following is a talk he presented for the Alberta Sport Development on Long Term Athlete Development and I wanted to pass it along for others to be inspired. I hope you all enjoy.

Yours in Health and Performance,

Jeff Osadec, MKin, CEP, CSCS

I may have mentioned his name once or twice before but anyone in strength and conditioning should read “Dinosaur Training by Brooks Kubik”. It is a great read and the material is very thought provoking in regards to strength training. I receive his email news letter on a weekly basis and this gem of a letter was sent past week. The message is strong. Hope you enjoy and thanks to Brooks for the dedication he exudes for old school lifting.

“I was at the shooting range not very long ago.
Inside range. Seven lanes.

So I’m in lane no. 3, and there’s an old guy
(oops — I mean, a guy not much older than me)
on the left, and a group of four young guys in
two of the lanes to my right. I listen to them
and watch their shooting for awhile.

The old guy is quiet. Silver hair. Seems to be
in good shape. Stands tall, back straight,
shoulders back. I peg him for ex-military.
Maybe ex-law enforcement.

The young guys are — well — young guys —
and they’re acting like young guys. Loud, brash,
and noisy. Constantly talking. Cheering for one
another even though there’s no reason to cheer.

Hollering “Got him!” and “Look at that!”

They’re using semi-auto’s, of course, and they
empty the entire mag every time they fire. All
you hear is BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM, followed
by laughter and more of that “Got him!” talk.

They’re throwing brass everywhere — and lead,
as well.

They have their targets set at 7 yards — and
they’re big silhouette targets — and I think
they actually missed the target sometimes.
When they hit it, they hit it anywhere. Their
shots are all over the place. No control. No
precision. I don’t even think they were aiming.
Too busy talking and laughing and acting macho.

The old guy is doing something totally different.

There’s total quiet. (He’s concentrating.)

There’s a long pause. (He’s aiming.)

Boom!

There’s a single shot.

And there’s a hole right through the center of the
bulls-eye.

Then there’s another pause — and he repeats the
entire process.

He works slowly, methodically and precisely —
and he makes every shot count.

When he finishes, there’s no more bulls-eye. He’s
blown it away.

You may be wondering what this has to do with
strength training.

There’s a parallel.

That very same night, in gyms across the world,
there are groups of young guys (and some not so
young), who train together. They’re loud, brash
and noisy. Constantly talking. Cheering for one
another even though there’s no particular reason
to cheer.

They take turns doing their sets, and when they
begin, they grab the bar and rep out like they
were shooting a semi-automatic.

BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM — with NO precision,
ZERO control and the worst form you ever imagined.

And then they drop the bar and flex their guns
and tell the world how great they are.

Except they’re not really that great, and their
guns look more like water pistols than cannons,
and the only thing that’s growing is your
headache if you have to listen to them.

Meanwhile, there’s an old guy training alone in
his garage.

He doesn’t yell, and he doesn’t scream.

He doesn’t say, “Watch this!”

No one tells him, “It’s all you, bro!”

Instead, it’s one perfect rep after another.

Slow — precise — methodical — and perfect.

Every rep is a bulls-eye.

And that, my friend, is how you train for REAL
results!

If you want the secret to BIG GAINS — you just
read it.

It’s about concentration — focus — precision —
and control.

That’s what works at the shooting range — and
that’s what works in the gym (or the garage).

And I cannot emphasize ENOUGH just how important
it is.

Important?

It’s the difference between success and failure.

The difference between missing the target — or
blowing a hole right through the center of the
bulls-eye.

The difference between getting ZERO RESULTS —
or getting GREAT RESULTS from your training.

In other words — all the difference in the world.

All the difference — in the world.”

As a leader, if you are waiting to appease others before acting in many cases you are doing our role as a leader injustice. However, in the profession of training an conditioning, many have taken that idea of “I am going to do something and ask for forgiveness later to a whole new level by adding an ingredient that ruins many a good coach… EGO.  I will be the first to say that if I have to step on others to get a head in this career, I will walk away, and never do this again.  I know I get on my little soapbox here and spout off what I think is right and wrong, however, I am doing this as an aim to educate and generate conversation.  Sometimes playing the devils advocate is an interesting role to take as it makes one think as much as the person defending their stance.  But one thing I will never try to impose is an Ego into this career.   Yes, I have completed a few post secondary degrees and what that has taught me more so than anything else is that I know very little and the more I learn the more questions I have.

But in the “industry” of strength and conditioning, many begin to impose their sense of ego.  The gather a following, or have others state that they do great work, and the ego is fed.   The more the ego is fed, the greater the ego is present.  This occurs to the point where they are putting others down, stating their work is shoddy, or incorrect.  My personal thought is that they put others down as they are envious of that persons role or are threatened by their knowledge or skill, but that is a whole different post on insecurities.  Does that need to be part of the business of strength and conditioning?  To be a good coach in the public sector do you need to stand up on stage at a trade show and state, “ that everything you read in a text book is wrong” or “ the “this show is the second best thing to happen to the Calgary fitness industry since the opening of my facility.”  Why do people buy into the hype?

Why must some think that to be a god coach you need to be an… asshole?  What makes me think that someone is great at his or her job and the characteristics that I admire most in people are the following…

1. Be humble to the fact that yes, you are good at what you do, but you do not boast.  You must be humble to the fact that there is others out there who are great at what they do and in some cases they have forgotten more than many of us even know.

2. Good coaches are honest individuals who are there to help.  And will tell you if they cannot help. They do not deceive and all that they do for their clients is with the best intentions.  They do so with the intent to never deceive or ever do harm.

3. The good coaches stand by their principles and never waiver.   Now this may be skewed as even the terrible coaches who have sold their soul to the “business devil” and have become the ego driven person I never wish to become believe they are still standing by their principles.  I am talking about the coaches who have stood by their principles and maintained point 1 and 2 above.

4.  Good coaches are teachers; they are there to teach others (and not just those paying), however they are life long students as well.  They understand that they do not have all the answers, and they are first to acknowledge that fact.  They understand that research has been conducted since they have left University and they continue to upgrade and advance themselves.  They are the first to recognize terrible information, and although the information to them may be considered “useless” they learn that that information is valuable.  They know never to do that with their clients.  They do not lambaste the material or the “author” of the material.

It is a short list and I am sure that there are other characteristics that different readers admire, but there are books written on this topic.  I only have a short amount of time.   But it is a simple concept to leave the ego out of training.  There are those few who are “Ghosts” in this profession.  They are amazing at their job and no one would know the difference.  I have a list of guys in this profession I admire but no need to name names; I have mentioned in previous blogs before.  And this is the goal I have for myself, to be a Ghost, a trainer without ego.  Hopefully someday some day others are writing posts with min in mind as inspiration and a Ghost to emulate.  That would provide a little ego boost.

Yours in Health and Fitness,

Jeff Osadec, MKin  CEP CSCS

P.S.  M. A. , thanks for the brief conversation that spurred this post.  Like you said, seeing those without ego is a great relief.