Luka Hocevar is the owner of the nationally renowned Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance gym in Seattle and founding father of Vigor Move & Live in Slovenia, featured in Men's Health, Stack Magazine, Onnit Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, and on CBS.
As a leading fitness and personal development coach this Vigor Life podcast is an extension of what Luka coaches every day and will provide tips, stories, motivation and inspiration to help you forge daily habits for a better body—through fitness, nutrition and mindset—build better relationships, create purpose in your career/business, increase productivity, be happier, and succeed (success comes from succession as in the "next step" - constant growth and expansion in your life).
The Vigor Life podcast will help you piece together the puzzle pieces to your own extraordinary life.
EP137: The 3 Keys To Client Results and Retention, & How To Have Real World Success As A Trainer w/ Ben Bruno
Vigor Life Podcast · EP137:The 3 Keys To Client Results & Retention & How To Have Success As A Trainer w/ Ben Bruno
It was about time I had my friend Ben Bruno on the Vigor Life Podcast. Ben went from starting of in the industry working for Michael Boyle and putting in the work day in and ay out, eventually moving to LA, and with time becoming one of the most well known celebrity and elite athlete trainers in the country. Throughout all this time he has remained humble, a great voice in the industry, both for how to get results, treat clients, conduct yourself with integrity, and also how to succeed as a trainer.
We dive-in and talk about many topics, ranging from his beginnings in the industry, what it takes to stand out, how to get results and retain clients for over a decade, and how to have success on social media while staying yourself. This is truly a MUST listen to episode if you’re a coach (or anyone for that matter!).
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
What triggered Ben to choose becoming a trainer in the fitness industry.
The back surgery that got Ben into “back bootcamp” and strength training.
Why you shouldn’t be a trainer just because you love training and why you should train a LOT of general population to be a great coach.
The philosophy of “the medicine is in the dose” and what makes many trainers take too far.
What made Ben change his mind about the conservative rule of “just don’t hurt them” when it comes to training clients (he used to think it was BS).
Train smart BEFORE you hurt, the mindset behind joint friendly training for clients from the start.
How Ben has been very successful with getting very few new clients.
Why Ben is “not the hardest trainer” and why that has made him successful with clients results AND his career.
The simple questions and assessment Ben takes every new client through.
The 3 key things that will have you be successful in the fitness industry - must listen!
The 2 things you need from a client to create a great, and the RIGHT training program for them.
How to coach different client personalities differently, feel them out, and what language and approach to use.
Why most assessments coaches do are overrated, and how you can train a new client on the fly and give them a great experience.
Why many clients don’t care care about the reason behind the exercises and approach, and why you shouldn’t try to force it on them.
How much did Ben train and work the first 5 years of his career, and how much does he train now - his thought about the 10,000 hours of deliberate practice.
Why Ben doesn’t recommend doing other people’s program if you’re a coach.
Ben’s blog and why it taught him more than it taught his readers, and why you should do the same as a coach.
Ben’s rules of success on social media and his recommendation that will surprise you.
Sharing your workouts is less helpful but sharing your clients workouts is more helpful!
And much more!
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Ben Bruno website: https://benbruno.com/
Ben’s 6-week Starter Program: https://benbruno.com/starterpack/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes) h
Vigor Life Podcast on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0gp1uXtwfRUcBkfS1P1uim?si=kcUu2vhPRwuxdV5kTzQrug
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
1/30/2023 • 1 hour, 41 minutes, 1 second
EP136: The Athlete For Life Program Design Structure & Insights
Vigor Life Podcast · EP136: The Athlete For Life Program Design Structure & Insights
A lot of the programming that I do these days falls into this category, and it’s essentially what I program for myself and many non-pro athletes I coach (even though the way I coach my pro athletes has so many overlaps, just some minor tweaks) who want to have “the show and the go.” They want to look, feel, perform like an athlete, while not being beat up, getting rid of nagging pains and joint issues, and have the energy and cardio to do everything they want in life.
I’ve come to this way of programming through 30 years of training myself, doing that from high school to the pro’s in basketball, and then later working to be the fittest possible and constantly striving for top performance. It’s also from having a 17-year career in coaching, training thousands of clients from every walk of life, elite athletes to everyday people wanting to improve their life through fitness. I’ll be doing more episodes like this on training, coaching and program design, to help you get the most out of your training and coaching clients.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The 5-step process I use to write any program, in-person clients or online clients.
The what NOT to do programming rules!
4 Caveats in programming most don’t think about but are important.
The R7 lens of programming and how I use in the Athlete For Life method.
How I determine who needs more or less plyometrics, power, and explosive training.
Why everybody should train athletically.
The different templates I pick based on the amount of training days people choose.
The structure you can steal for designing a training day and examples of it.
The “reverse workout” and my rules for applying it into your program design.
The importance of doing daily “Movement Hygiene” and why it delivers such great results.
The cardio systems that are a MUST to be more athletic and recover faster.
My thoughts about mandatory lifts and what we barely do with clients after 30-years old.
How my training has changed and how I follow these principles.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Small Group Personal Training Mastery: https://lukahocevar.com/product/small-group-personal-training-mastery/
Becoming A Super Coach Event: https://donsaladino.samcart.com/products/supercoach/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes) h
Vigor Life Podcast on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0gp1uXtwfRUcBkfS1P1uim?si=kcUu2vhPRwuxdV5kTzQrug
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
1/17/2023 • 1 hour, 41 minutes, 1 second
EP 135: From Addict To Serial Entrepreneur, Chef & Fitness Fanatic One Habit At A Time w/ Michael Chernow
Vigor Life Podcast · EP135: From Addict To Serial Entrepreneur, Chef & Fitness Fanatic w/ Michael Chernow
Michael is a restaurateur and chef, entrepreneur, TV host, wellness leader and founder of Kreatures of Habit, an in-your-face lifestyle and wellness brand reimagining how you establish healthy habits in your life. Honoring his 17 years of sobriety by launching his newest venture on August 17th, Michael’s goal with Kreatures of Habit was to create easily accessible nutritional products that are rooted in adopting the positive habits that transformed his life and allowed him to replace alcohol with the nutrition and fitness he needed.
Michael channeled his fire for culinary and community by curating and building some of New York City’s beloved restaurants including The Meatball Shop in 2009 with childhood friend Daniel Holzman, which has now grown to five locations across New York City and resulted in the release of The Meatball Shop Cookbook in 2011, co-authored by Michael and released by Ballantine Books. In 2015, he founded SEAMORE’s, a Manhattan restaurant that combines Michael’s love of fishing and culinary expertise, expanding to five locations peppered across New York City.
Michael Chernow, who has founded hospitality ventures The Meatball Shop and Seamore’s, appeared on Food Network’s Beat Bobby Flay, Kitchen Casino, and Chopped, co-authored cookbooks and landed magazine spreads for his Olympian-like physique, possesses a resume with marathon-like momentum. A poster child for how to live a life well-lived and reach business mogul status, Chernow adopted positive habits that allowed him to replace alcohol with nutrition and fitness and propel his ascent in the New York restaurant scene.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Michael’s current fitness journey and how he went from Muay Thai to running, bodybuilding, and now the Crossfit games.
The power of going all in on your commitments.
5 targets to focus on and how to attack them every day for success.
What does discipline = freedom mean and how it can change your life.
The origins of Michael’s entrepreneurial journey that started with a challenging family environment.
How Michael got into using and selling drugs, and his first true entrepreneurial venture.
The encounter that nearly ended Michael’s life and started the catalyst to a transformation.
How friends, accountability partners and Muay-Thai helped Mike on a path to success.
The re-invention and building of two of New York’s top restaurant brands The Meatball Shop, and Seamore’s.
Lessons from a serial entrepreneur.
Why happiness is FAR more important than cash in the bank and capital.
The powerful story of the origins of Kreatures Of Habit.
Michael’s daily success habits and the “rising before the sun” philosophy.
How to stay healthy, stay in amazing shape year round, make things happen in business, AND prioritize family.
A message for anyone that is struggling, is down, and feels like they can’t make it.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Michael Chernow Instagram https://www.instagram.com/michaelchernow/
Kreatures Of Habit Meal One www.KreaturesOfHabit.com (use coupon code “VIGOR10” for 10% discount)
Kreatures Of Habit Podcast (Spotify) https://open.spotify.com/show/55aRcnBD5UoOgxTYUwtUVL?si=0869d1b619d142cb
The Meatball Shop NYC https://www.themeatballshop.com/
Seamores Restaurants https://www.seamores.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes) h
Vigor Life Podcast on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0gp1uXtwfRUcBkfS1P1uim?si=kcUu2vhPRwuxdV5kTzQrug
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
1/3/2023 • 1 hour, 41 minutes, 1 second
EP 134: Dream Big, Never Quit, And Why Commitment and Culture Always Wins w/ Marc Megna
Vigor Life Podcast · Dream Big, Never Quit, And Why Commitment and Culture Always Wins w/ Marc Megna
Marc Megna’s path towards becoming the foremost strength and conditioning coach in Miami was paved with obstacles; As a child, Megna was overweight and a target for bullies, dreaming that one day he’d play in the NFL. During his collegiate football career, Megna became a two-time All-American athlete and was drafted by the New York Jets in 1999. His gridiron career spanned several seasons in the NFL and CFL for the New York Jets, New England Patriots, Cincinnati Bengals and Montreal Alouettes. He was coached by NFL greats like Bill Parcels, Bill Belichick, Pete Carroll and Dick Lebeu.
In 2007, Marc decided it was time to complete his career as a professional athlete and decided to utilize the knowledge and skills he learned in the NFL to help people improve their quality of life through movement. He settled in Miami where he worked tirelessly to make a name for himself as a fitness trainer, training clients from all walks of life including notable clients like Alex Rodriguez, Gabrielle Anwar, Vernon Davis, Rob Gronkowski, Kevin Spacey and Hollywood Film Director Adam Shankman. Megna also frequently contributes to fitness publications including Men’s Fitness and Bodybuilding.com,and became a recognized fitness model even gracing the cover of Muscle & Fitness Magazine.
In 2013, Marc became the co-owner of Anatomy Fitness, a state-of-the-art fitness facility in Miami, Florida. Anatomy Fitness now has 4 fitness facilities including a facility inside the 1 Hotel South Beach. In 2016, Marc launched the Megna Method podcast where he interviews some of the most famous athletes, entrepreneurs, and celebrities in the world. Marc is the subject of the Just A Kid From Fall River documentary film created by Randy West of Monarch Productions. Marc is also the Author of Dream Big Never Quit, which was selected as one of the Best Sports Biographies by Amazon Book Review editor, Jon Wahlgren.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Marc’s humble beginnings, his role models, and what drove him to make a change.
The 3 things coaches did for him to help him succeed, and what every coach should do to help someone transform.
What commitment really is and the mindset shift to excelling and becoming the 1% in your craft.
The power of belief, and how Marc’s grandfather was a catalyst for his transformation.
How Marc went from an overweight kid to making it to the NFL by following the mindset of “be where your feet are.”
Why some of the greatest athletes are not successful in their career, and why people that have it come to them easy in business, fail.
The downfall of “hacking the system” and why that is the gateway to average.
The power of directing doing an excellent job and giving energy to what matters.
How Marc built his reputation as a coach in Miami and how spending the extra hours prepared him to become a co-owner in Anatomy.
Why Anatomy Fitness is not ran like the Patriots.
The culture of success that has been built at Anatomy and what you can learn from it.
The superpower of responsibility and why not taking it will guarantee you fail!
What Marc is currently, learning, working on to improve and grow.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Marc Megna https://megnamethod.com/
Book: Dream Big Never Quit (Marc Megna) https://a.co/d/iWR7ElZ
Just A Kid From Fall River https://www.justakidfromfallriver.com/
Marc Megna Instagram https://www.instagram.com/marcmegna/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes) h
Vigor Life Podcast on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0gp1uXtwfRUcBkfS1P1uim?si=kcUu2vhPRwuxdV5kTzQrug
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
12/26/2022 • 1 hour, 41 minutes, 1 second
EP 133: Lessons From Boxing Champion, Superstar Coach & Successful Biz Owner Tony Jeffries and Glen Holmes
Vigor Life Podcast · EP 133: Lessons From Boxing Champion, Coach & Successful Biz Owner Tony Jeffries & Glen Holmes
A couple of weeks ago we had the launching of Box n Burn boxing training at Vigor Ground and I was fortunate that Tony Jeffries and Glen Holmes came out to help us launch it, run some sessions and foundations of boxing while also raising thousands of dollars for Alzheimers Association.
Tony is the worlds #1 boxing educator, 2008 Olympic Bronze Medalist, he competed at the highest possible level as a boxer, winning 7 British titles, several multi-national titles – including a European gold medal, and a total of 106 career fights. Tony has been in the gym nearly every single day since he was ten years old, competing competitively for a total of 17 years. Unfortunately, his boxing career came to an end in 2012, when he was forced to retire as an undefeated professional due to severe hand injuries. Tony co-founded the now world famous Box N Burn gym in 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.
Tony travels the world with his team mentoring & instructing fitness professionals and fitness business owners not only how to teach boxing for fitness through the Boxing Fitness Academy, but also how to have success as a gym owner with boxing fitness classes, marketing and business development. Tony’s also built a YouTube channel with millions of followers where he educates people on how to box and get fighting fit.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Tony used the lessons from decades of boxing to transition into the coaching and business world.
The mind blowing length of Tony’s program to get prepared for the Olympics and what you can learn from it.
What to do when you have an overwhelmingly BIG goal to achieve and how you can make it more manageable.
The truth about sacrifice and success, what it takes and where most people go wrong.
The differing views on whether you build passion or whether it finds you, 2 lessons that will help you build a successful career.
Why the mindset that the NEXT thing you do, could be the one that makes it all worth it, is the key to creating better and better work.
Tony’s content success strategy and what every business owner MUST hear about creating their own content.
Glen and Tony share 3 powerful lessons of being a great coach that will have your clients coming back over and over.
Why great athletes usually don’t make great coaches.
What’s the number one rule to making the sessions with a coach enjoyable and the key to getting clients results.
ALWAYS act like you’re the owner of the business you’re in; hear Tony explain why.
How Tony started a certification and what strategy was used for him to get it done in 6 weeks!
The steps to building a successful group training business and growing it.
What types of people you have to get out of your life or it will be a block for your success.
Tony’s tip on building your social media and your brand.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Tony Jeffries https://www.tonyjeffries.com/
Glen Holmes https://www.glennholmes.net/
Box n Burn Santa Monica https://www.boxnburn.com/
Tony Jeffries Connect https://tonyjeffriesconnect.com/
Tony Jeffries YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@Tony_Jeffries
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes) h
Vigor Life Podcast on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/show/0gp1uXtwfRUcBkfS1P1uim?si=kcUu2vhPRwuxdV5kTzQrug
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
12/26/2022 • 1 hour, 41 minutes, 1 second
EP 132: Becoming A Better Coach, Building A Career In Fitness, and Financial Smarts w/ Mike Boyle
Vigor Life Podcast · EP 132: Becoming A Better Coach, Building A Career In Fitness, and Financial Smarts w/ Mike Boyle
It was only a matter of time before I had Mike on the show and it was great to catch up with an industry legend and talk about how to become a great coach, getting results for clients while not getting them hurt, and how to build a successful career in fitness while being smart with your finances.
Michael Boyle is one of the foremost experts in the fields of Strength and Conditioning, Functional Training and general fitness. He currently spends his time lecturing, teaching, training and writing. In 1996 Michael co founded Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, one of the first for-profit strength and conditioning companies in the world. Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning exists for one reason: to provide performance enhancement training for athletes of all levels. Athletes trained range from junior high school students to All Stars in almost every major professional sport.
Prior to Co- founding Mike Boyle Strength and Conditioning, Michael served as the Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at Boston University for 15 years, also for the past 25 years he been the Strength and Conditioning Coach for Men’s Ice Hockey at Boston University. Mike also was the Boston Red Sox strength and conditioning coach in 2013 that won the World Series. In addition to his duties at Boston University and the Red Sox, from 1991-1999 Boyle served as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League. Michael was also the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the 1998 US Women’s Olympic Ice Hockey Team, Gold Medalists in Nagano and 2014 Silver medalists in Sochi, and served as a consultant in the development of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
Michael has been a featured speaker at numerous strength and conditioning and athletic training clinics across the world and has produced 20 instructional videos in the area of strength and conditioning available through M-F Athletic. Michael has also lectured all over the world. In addition, Michael published Functional Training for Sports for Human Kinetics Publishers
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Know you’ll be influenced by the Dunning-Krueger effect and how to not be such a dick in your 20’s as a coach
The stages of a strength coach, and the wisdom of how you can speed up your clients results and not make the mistakes most make.
What is the “Mike Boyle Is A Pussy Club”?
There are no mandatory lifts and how Mike looks at exercise selection for clients.
How to structure group training and work the science and art in challenging clients and giving them exercises that don’t beat them up.
The wisdom of the “old timer” and why you should REALLY listen to what they say.
Why few super fit 50, 60 and 70 year olds use regular barbells, and why you should follow their lead!
The intersection of what Mike and I do similarly in group training, based on our decades of experience.
Should coaches in the beginning of their career have 2 hours a day to train themselves? Discover the unpopular but true answer.
What’s the #1 thing Mike hires based upon.
Why Mike doesn’t hire anyone who’s hobby is working out.
The most powerful sentence I’ve ever heard about what makes a great coach.
The characteristics of a great employee and why money is not the thing that matters most (not even close!).
Mike’s thoughts about having the “Hustle Factor” in the coaching, personal training, gym business.
What it takes to be successful as a coach in the industry.
Mike’s thoughts on investing in real estate, financial investing, and living below your means.
The reason you MUST have a plan for investing early on when you start your career, and not when you “make it.”
The “Fitness Millionaire Next Door” mindset and strategies.
How to build leverage in your career that helps your work w...
12/13/2022 • 1 hour, 41 minutes, 1 second
EP 131: The Nutrition For Building A Leaner, Better Performing, Healthier Body, For Good w/ Alan Aragon
Vigor Life Podcast · EP 131: The Nutrition For A Leaner, Better Performing, Healthier Body, For Good w/ Alan Aragon
Alan Aragon has over 20 years of success in the fitness field. He earned his Bachelor and Master of Science in Nutrition with top honors. Alan is a continuing education provider for the Commission on Dietetic Registration and National Strength & Conditioning Association. Alan lectures at national and international conferences, and maintains a private practice designing programs for recreational, Olympic, and professional athletes, including the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Kings, and Anaheim Mighty Ducks.
Alan is a contributing editor and resident Weight Loss Coach of Men’s Health magazine. His book Girth Control is considered to be one of the most in-depth manuals for improving the body and understanding nutrition for fitness & sports. Alan has co-authored the most-viewed article in the history of the Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition. Last but not least, Alan writes a monthly research review providing critical analysis and practical application of the latest science on nutrition, training, and supplementation.
It’s been a while since Alan and I caught up and it made it that much better as we dove into the principles of nutrition that helps people get leaner, maintain/build lean muscle, get healthier; and do those things for the long term (longevity).
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Alan’s 4 simple and powerful things that create the foundation for you to build health, wellness, performance, and look damn good.
Why neither fit pros nor clients track their macros and 4 strategies that help clients monitor their food long-term.
Who are the “fitness accountants” and why what they do likely won’t work for you.
Why structure and routine are one of the “secrets” to succeeding with changing your nutrition early on.
For every principle of success, build a toolbox of actions that you can use to reach the desired goals, Alan and I dive into some of the tools.
Why under-eating protein in old age is the “kiss of death” and one simple and powerful strategy to fix that.
Alan’s 80/20 rule and the reason why eating “indulgence foods” should be a part of your diet.
One unusual thing the longest living people in “Blue Zones” do that’s not mentioned often but is a key to success with your diet.
Starting to prepare at least some of your foods at home rather than eating out can be the biggest win and change to your body transformation.
Should people avoid “trigger foods” or not? Alan dives into the research and recommendations.
What is the “cock blocking” water approach and how can it help you with your satiety and eating less.
Can snacks be a downfall for many people, and if you do snack, here’s what you should snack on.
How do you build muscle and stay leaner, the 3 things that have to happen and the mistakes most people make when trying to gain lean muscle.
Does protein distribution matter, and does when and how much protein we take affect body composition.
Is fasting useful, when we can use it and what does it affect in a negative way and to avoid if this is your goal.
You should NOT use intermittent fasting the leaner and fitter you get, here’s why.
What to look for when learning from social media and whether it matters for your health and fitness.
What is “otophagy” and what you must understand about it, as well as the biggest misconceptions.
Why exercise is a MUST when it comes to improving your nutrition, health, performance, body composition and longevity - its the absolute secret weapon with the science to back it up.
And much more….
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:
Alan Aragon Website: https://www.alanaragon.com/
Alan Aragon’s Research Review: https://www.alanaragon.com/aarr/
Flexible Dieting Book: https://www.amazon.com/Flexible-Dieting-Science-Based-Reality-Tested-Maintaining/dp/162860137X/ref=sr_1_1?
12/6/2022 • 1 hour, 42 minutes, 38 seconds
EP 130: How To Book Yourself Solid & Create A Successful Career In Fitness w/ Andrew Coates
Vigor Life Podcast · EP 130: How To Book Yourself Solid & Create A Successful Career In Fitness w/ Andrew Coates
I’m joined by my friend Andrew Coates, who’s a personal trainer, speaker, fitness writer for publications such as Muscle And Fitness, T-Nation, Generation Iron Bar Bend, and many more; and host of the “Lift Free Diet Hard” podcast. Andrew has had a journey of “starting late” as a coach in the industry and yet building a very successful in person coaching business, as well as becoming a sought after writer, speaker and now launching online offerings for his services.
We dive into the principles of success for becoming the go to person in your area, the blueprint to building powerful relationships in the industry and becoming a super connector, and the steps to not only Crete great content, but also get paid for it through the medium of writing, speaking, and mentoring.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How going to events and connecting with and learning from the right people, supercharged the trajectory of Andrew’s career
Going from member to trainer, to packed schedule, the simple and powerful step Andrew took to get booked in person, and why you can do them too.
A rarely talked about, but VERY important factor to look for, when it comes to successful trainers and their clients.
Andrew and I share some of the most powerful referral strategies both offline AND online (start getting clients by doing these today!)
The devastating mistake you want to avoid as a trainer, and what to do instead to stand out from every other trainer in your area.
How to build your brand in small cities, medium or big cities, you MUST do this no matter what.
The step-by-step process of how to write for big name publications.
The playbook for becoming the person that creates value for others and builds a powerful trusted network at light speeds.
What are the 4 skillsets that stand the test of time that will help you make money, and how not getting good at them will cost you!
Why many fit pro’s aren’t successful because they’re trying to “spin too many ferris wheels at once” too soon; and the power of leverage.
Should trainers coach offline and online at the same time - a different viewpoint.
The number one reason you should be creating content, and it’s not what you think!
The reason many trainers stay in motion but don’t get the outcomes they want.
3 different ways to get clients and which 2 you should focus on the most right now.
The many ways to earn a living and grow your business in the fitness industry, and the ONE thing you’ll need to do it.
And much more….
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Andrew Coates Fitness www.AndrewCoatesFitness.com
Lift Free Diet Hard Podcast h
Raise The Bar Event (Dallas) https://www.2023raisethebar.com/2023-event
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes) h
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
11/29/2022 • 1 hour, 28 minutes, 51 seconds
EP129: Results Based Programming, Offline and Online Coaching Success Principles with Jason Brown
Vigor Life Podcast · EP129: Results Based Programming, Offline and Online Coaching Success Principles with Jason Brown
Jason Brown, a combat veteran, and former box owner is the founder of Box Programming & Jason Brown Coaching, and published Author of "Lower-body Training" via Human Kinetics. Jason has a Masters of Science degree in Exercise Science, is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA, and is a Certified Special Strengths Coach with Westside Barbell. He regularly writes for T-Nation.com, EliteFTS.com, and serves as a presenter with the National Strength & Conditioning Association.
Jason and I finally get to do a show on the Vigor Life Podcast and since we both love the conjugate training model, owned gyms, and do some form of education of coaches nowadays, this conversation was full of insights on best program design principles, insights to succeed as a in person coach or gym owner, or how to develop your brand online. There’s so many nuggets to take away from the conversation with Jason.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Jason got started in coaching and the one thing he did all top level coaches must do.
The thing that made Jason become bought into the Conjugate Method.
The moment Crossfit humbled Jason and led him to diving deep into conditioning.
Why conditioning helps every goal whether longevity and health, muscle building, performance, and body composition; “just walking” is NOT enough.
Starting his first gym after coming out of the military and why he chose Crossfit.
The moment Jason realized he had a programming business in the Crossfit space and how 40,000 people started doing his programs.
Why research shouldn’t be the main thing you put all your focus on and you have to be on the floor learning from experience.
The reason coaches MUST create content to answer their clients and prospects answers, and get buy in into your business.
Why neither Jason or I market with “before and after” pictures much, and why you shouldn’t make it your main approach.
The 3 things I learned from Frank Kern that will help you become a 10x better marketer.
The way Jason delivers incredible amounts of value and never runs out of leads that want to work with him without doing any sales calls.
The behind the scenes of Jason’s Conjugate programming for different levels of clients.
The NEED for having a training system that is engaging, challenging, fun, and trains different qualities at the same time - a winner in program design.
The ONE question that should guide your clients program design.
STOP doing these exercises no matter what, and making your clients get better results and better retention.
Micro-dosing explosive and plyo work with any client, and how to integrate it into your programming.
What the successful clients in their 50,60, and 70’s do, and what do they NOT do.
The counterintuitive insight of accommodating resistance being a great tool even beginners.
Becoming an elite coach AND elite at generating leads for your business.
The BIG obstacle when it comes to online clients that most people don’t know about.
The resources Jason and I are currently researching to become better coaches.
Remember what your craft is and never stop improving it!
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Jason Brown: www.JasonBrownCoaching.com
Lower Body Training Book: https://www.amazon.com/Lower-Body-Training-Definitive-Performance/dp/1718206879/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2IXLP1YB3WHYI&keywords=jason+brown+human+kinetics&qid=1669269066&sprefix=jason+brown+human+kinetics%2Caps%2C152&sr=8-1
The Ultimate Programming Playbook: https://www.jasonbrowncoaching.com/the-ultimate-programming-playbook
Ultimate MMA Conditioning: https://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-MMA-Conditioning-Joel-Jamieson/dp/B0884JYFS4/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RFRT1NYFC39Q&keywords=mma+conditioning&qid=1669269195&sprefix=mma+conditioning+%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes) h
11/25/2022 • 1 hour, 36 minutes, 4 seconds
EP 128: How To Master The Skills Of An Elite Coach, Practical Programming and Success in The Fitness Industry w/ Lee Boyce
Vigor Life Podcast · EP 128: How To Master The Skills Of An Elite Coach, Programming & Success in Fitness w/ Lee Boyce
I finally got a chance to get Lee on the show as we couldn’t sync up for the Vigor Ground Summit last time because of travel restrictions, as he’s someone that I’ve followed his work and got a lot of value from it. He’s a coach in the real world, training real people from all walks of life, has been doing it for a long time and only continues to get better. He’s also a professor at a university and teaching up and coming students practical programming, building coaching skillets, and sharing how to have success in the industry. To top it off he is also a very prolific writer. Here’s the official bio:
Lee Boyce is an internationally known fitness writer and strength coach, and owner of Boyce Training Systems, based in Toronto, Ont. His work is published regularly in many major fitness magazines including Men's Health, Men's Fitness, Esquire, TNATION, Muscle & Fitness, Bodybuilding.com, and Inside Fitness. In 2013, he was named to the Team Jamaica training and treatment staff for the Penn Relays international track meet. Currently Boyce works with clients and athletes for strength, conditioning, and sport performance.
Lee and I dive into real world practical applications and lessons to improve as a coach, get clients better results, and have more success in the fitness industry.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
What is a missing link for most coaches that is hindering their success in the industry.
Why the rise of social media coaches has hindered some foundational skillsets of a coach.
Lee’s crucial reason to start your career training in a big box while also __________ .
How to distill high level knowledge into practical lessons that can be applied with clients the next day.
When and when NOT to follow templates and what “formula’s” tell you to do.
Massively underutilized strategy - role play scenarios, case studies, and problem solving of yourself and your team.
Luka and Lee break down simple strategies to be able to stand out as a coach and get new clients right away.
The unconventional approach of getting bette, faster, by hiring other coaches in your area that are better than you.
Lee shares 3 things that he’s changed in the last 5 years when it comes to training clients (that he wasn’t doing before).
Why you should have different main lifts for each of your clients and how do you determine them.
Our insights from lifting for almost 50 years combined, and coaching for 30+ years combined and the advice 20 year olds lifters should take.
The main lessons Lee learned from having a devastating knee injury and how he improved and came back stronger, smarter, and better.
The crazy insights you’ll get for people that are fit in their 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and beyond.
There are 11 components of fitness coaches usually think about, work on, and focus 3-5 of those and why they’re missing the boat to improving their clients results.
Why chasing strength is NOT the best choice after a certain period of time.
Assessing and filling the buckets people truly need rather than what sounds cool, and why you should be doing unconventional training with your clients.
How to improve your communication and the ONE thing Lee advises to do as a coach to build his book of business.
The crazy tip that will help you blow up your in person training business.
How Lee got into writing, tips to get your article published at bigger sites, and how to position yourself because of your writing.
Why crucial conversations are the fastest way to improve how you communicate.
The things Lee is studying to improve as a coach and help his clients even more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Lee Boyce Website https://www.leeboyce.com/
Lee Boyce Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coachleeboyce/?hl=en
Book: Strength Training For All Body Types https://us.humankinetics.
11/15/2022 • 1 hour, 32 minutes, 14 seconds
EP 127: A Masterclass On How To Build Your In Person and Online Fitness Business
Vigor Life Podcast · EP 127: A Masterclass On How To Build Your In Person and Online Fitness Business
While I was in San Francisco speaking at the Vagaro conference, one evening I asked my video guy Tyler to just start recording and I’m gonna do an episode on how to build your fitness business, starting with in-person and adding online coaching strategies as well. We ended up diving in so deep that it ended up being a 2.5 hour episode with a lead up to part 2 that I’ll do sometime in the near future.
If you’re a coach or gym owner in the fitness industry and you want to learn how to grow your clientele, whether 1 on 1, semi-private, or groups, this is a blueprint. It goes beyond that though as it also breaks down how to build authority and positioning, becoming the go-to expert, create systems, not just in the gym, but also when it comes to creating content, email marketing, SEO, and much more. I don’t hold back anything, I just run out of time as had to finish the episode since it was 1am and I had to speak again the next day.
Dive into the episode and take ACTION on the things taught!
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
A path and a plan to building a fitness business is critical, but you’re going to have to put in the work and the ______.
The current 3 best models (and ones that will crush in the future) for in person training.
Why you should be a “cook” first before you become a “chef” in your fitness business, when it comes to training AND when it comes to business systems.
The 3C’s that lead to the 3R’s in your business and why you have to spend the MOST time on them right now.
What does “Getting Eyeballs” mean and why you should become excellent at it and you’ll always get more leads than other trainers.
The 3-part process that gets people from fining out about you to becoming our client.
The simplest way to figure out your Avatar and discover who to talk to and market to when creating your content.
How to create a powerful and outrageous front end offer that people would feel dumb not to take you up on it!
Why it’s ludicrous to NOT offer a money back guarantee on your front end offer.
Differentiate yourself by spending more money on the experience of the client on the front end.
6 Principles of a great offer from a marketing legend.
Examples of Facebook ads that we have ran with success, steal it and use it.
My not so secret content to offer ratio that works but may make you realize you’re not doing it right.
The Key 4 Strategy I use to execute and get s@*t done every week in my business, mirror it and skyrocket your productivity.
The 6 categories of marketing I use in my business and examples of how to create a successful marketing calendar.
The 4-step Referral Strategy that is a system, and in an of itself, can increase your business next year (if you did nothing else that I share in this episode).
The KPI system and domination follow up system to skyrocket your business results.
The content creation system I use and the content marketing process to generate leads from your e-mail, social channels, and blog posts.
“Old school” marketing strategies that will make you money today (and will only need your time and your hustle).
What events to run to create more impact in the community, generate more leads, and sign up more clients, and how to do it.
3 things non of your competitors are doing and if you do them you’ll blow them out of the water.
Discover how I research the best content to create as well as how to create quality content fast.
And much. MUCH more….
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Yo Grow Your Gym www.YoGrowYourGym.com/mastermind
Yo! The Business and Fitness Podcast h
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance Gym www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes) h
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram https://www.instagram.
11/7/2022 • 2 hours, 26 minutes, 49 seconds
EP126: All About Metabolic Optimization, Living A Longer, Healthier, and Better Life w/ Joel Jamieson
Vigor Life Podcast · EP 126: All About Metabolic Optimization, Living A Longer, Healthier, & Better Life w/ Joel Jamieson
Joel Jamieson is widely considered one of the world’s foremost authorities on strength and conditioning for combat sports, having trained many of the sports best athletes since 2004. He is the author of the bestselling book Ultimate MMA Conditioning and is a contributing writer to several top magazines and a frequent guest speaker at conferences and seminars all over the world. Joel has worked with and consulted extensively for teams and organizations ranging from Navy SEALS to Life Time Fitness and his Bioforce HRV system was used by teams in the NFL, NBA, MLS, NCAA, and more (now called “Morpheus). He is best known for an individualized approach that is both based on solid science and yet practical to apply. Joel created 8weeksout.com in 2009 to help clear up the misinformation and confusion surrounding energy systems. Since then, the site has become one of the authorities on strength, conditioning, and performance.
Joel is one of my closes friends and a person I spend a lot of time geeking out on the science of training, longevity, health, and also business. Since he’s also one of the worlds foremost conditioning and metabolic optimization specialists, I’ve had him back on the show for the 3rd and, and he never fails to deliver top notch insights, practical application, and some big “aha” moments that will help you upgrade your performance, health, longevity, and overall results.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
What is “metabolism” and the 3 biggest myths around it.
Why the idea that if you just burn more calories, you’ll lose more weight is wrong, we dive into the research of Herman Pontzer you must understand.
Fascinating research showing people with higher metabolism aren’t necessarily leaner than people with lower metabolisms, why this is and how it applies to you.
How calorie restriction leads to longevity, and whether you should be under eating.
The difference of optimizing for longevity vs. optimizing for performance, do you have to give up one for the other.
One of the rarely talked about reasons of why we lose muscle as we age, and what we can learn from it.
The power of mitochondria and why it’s something you MUST understand and develop (and the ways to do it).
The TTENNS approach to improving every facet of your longevity with specific examples.
Strength training and walking Is NOT enough if you want to optimize your health and longevity.
What is metabolic flexibility, its benefits, and how to apply it in both training and nutrition.
What’s “zone 2” and why is it now becoming popular, the benefits of it, and the myths surrounded by it.
Why metabolic work requires more frequency but not as much intensity (aka, you’re not doing enough cardio!).
Why Joel think metabolic work comes first, then strength and how Cardio will NOT affect your strength, muscle, and performance in a negative way.
How to ice baths, sauna’s, float tanks, etc. affect longevity and where do they come into play.
The future of individualized supplementation and therapeutics in improving health and longevity.
And much, much more!
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
8 Weeks Out www.8weeksout.com
Morpheus www.TrainWithMorpheus.com
Book: Burn - New Research Really Blows The Lid Off How We Really Burn Calories, Stay Healthy, and Lose Weight
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance Gym www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes)
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
10/31/2022 • 1 hour, 32 minutes, 38 seconds
EP125: The Power Of Communication, Connection and Coaching In Training and Physical Therapy w/ Dr. Michael Mash & HIDEF PT
Vigor Life Podcast · EP125:The Power Of Communication, Connection & Coaching In Training & PT w/Dr.Michael Mash & HIDEF
This is a comeback episode for the Vigor Life Podcast and I couldn’t be more excited to bring it back and share my own knowledge, experience and insights again, as well as bring on the best guests to educate, entertain, and inspire. This first episode I sat down with Dr. Michael Mash of Barbell Rehab, as well as our partners Zach and Mitch from HIDEF Physical Therapy. We were hosting Michael for the Barbell Certification at Vigor Ground this weekend with over 40 attendees.
Barbell Rehab was created by Dr. Michael Mash, Physical Therapist and Barbell Coaching Expert to help fitness and rehab professionals improve their management of clients with pain or mobility limitations. He received his Doctor of Physical Therapy in 2016 from Duquesne University and his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Saint Vincent College in 2014.
In this episode we go over training limitations for clients and how to adjust for them, biggest issues we see when it comes to coaching, and then we dig deep into the power of communication when it comes to results, collaboration of coaches and physical therapists, the future of integration with training and PT facilities, and much more.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
What are the biggest reasons people beat up their joints when they train and how does that need to improve.
Why the devil is in the dosage and one of the MAIN reasons for injuries and nagging pains.
What are the obstacles when it comes to rehab and physical therapy, of getting someone back to high performance rather than just out of pain.
The art of finding the right variation for the client is a superpower.
How to increase your value as a coach by collaborating with physical therapists.
Learning the skillset of eliminating “threat” with clients that had injuries and are afraid of certain patterns.
Why you should listen to “whispers” of your body so they don’t become “screams.”
The future of physical therapy is proactive and not reactive, and the integration of training and PT in any business.
Changing the fear of physical therapists loading their clients when they are rehabbing and coming back to action.
How to use trust, communication, and safety to improve your clients performance - with specific examples.
Why sales and marketing will make you a much better coach and physical therapist.
How ONE set can cause a big psychological adaptation for your clients, do this!
The “Hospitality Reflex” in personal training and physical therapy and why it’s what the top 1% do.
How to build trust as a trainer or PT and not only face to face, but also through social media, organically, in your community to build a referral machine.
Why you MUST hunt for feedback with your business, and constantly strive to improve.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Barbell Rehab https://barbellrehab.com/
HIDEF Physical Therapy https://www.hidefpt.com/
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance Gym www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
10/24/2022 • 1 hour, 9 minutes
EP124: How To REALLY Build A Fitness Business Of The Future & Manage Your Finances As A Fit Pro w/ Jon Goodman
Vigor Life Podcast · EP124: How To REALLY Build A Fitness Business Of The Future & Manage Your Finances w/ Jon Goodman
Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center. Since 2011, he has supported fitness professionals by publishing over a million words, growing some of the largest online communities, publishing several books, and establishing the first-ever certification for online trainers, the Online Trainer Academy. He's been featured in most major business and fitness publications including Men's Health, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Muscle & Fitness, Inc., and many more. Originally from Toronto, Jon spends his winters exploring the World with his wife and son.
In this value-packed episode which was a special edition never released fireside chat from the 2020 Virtual Vigor Ground Summit. We touch on everything from what Jon would do right now if he were to go into opening a brick & mortar business and how the online space is shaping itself, to the finances of a fit pro and how to build security and wealth – and a lot in between. This is a can’t miss episode for Fit Pros.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
How Jon would build a brick & mortar business if he was building it right now (step-by-step)
Why Jon focuses on BIG goals and “asymmetrical risk” (what that is and why you need to understand it to win very big in business)
What Jon believes is the perfect business and behind the scenes of his business
How to build out program design templates that save you and your company massive amounts of time
How to design a smaller brick & mortar gym that is coupled with specific program design and maximizes square footage verse profits
2 reasons you should not open a brick & mortar business (and still crush it in the fitness space)
A MUST skillset to develop in the coming 3-5 years that you should double down on
A habit Jon does daily to connect and build relationships that you should steal
The importance of knowing how money works (and the competitive advantage it gives you)
The biggest money mistakes coaches make and the how to fix them (we’ll give you actionable steps)
Understanding how debt works and examples of how you can make yourself a lot more money (with what you already have)
Jon’s top 3 money management tips for coaches, starting with “working back from profitability” (discover what that means and how to use it)
Jon's online coaching model for profitability (a model you can use for yourself and your business)
A detailed breakdown of what type of online businesses you can build for best profits, and at what point in time you have to build a bigger team (have more oversight and insight on business from $100K - $10M)
Why Jon likes the “Profit First” model to get started but believes there is a better way to manage
The long-term effects of building an online coaching business and what to look for so that you thrive and don’t fall apart
Which hybrid models really work for a brick & mortar and online business combination
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Personal Trainer Development Center: https://www.theptdc.com/
Online Trainer Academy: https://www.theptdc.com/online-trainer-academy-certification
Jon’s FREE Program Design Software for Offline & Online Biz: www.theptdc.com/quickcoach/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
12/7/2021 • 59 minutes
EP123: How to Succeed with Your Diet Long Term & the Coaches Guide to Financial Health w/ James Krieger
Vigor Life Podcast · EP123: How to Succeed with Your Diet & A Coaches Guide to Financial Health w/ James Krieger
James Krieger is a scientist, trainer, bodybuilder, and author of the Weightology Research Review. He has a master’s degree in nutrition from the University of Florida and another in exercise science from Washington State. James also started Fit Pro Financial to help coaches develop financial health and learn how to manage and invest money so that it works for them.
I catch up with James to talk about the principles that help anyone succeed with nutrition long-term. We also break down some myths that have become obstacles for people to simplify and win when it comes to their diet. In the second part of the podcast, we dive into financial habits for coaches and how to be “financially healthy”, touching on principles, mindsets, as well as specific strategies to help you build your bank account and security.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why most people who try to lose weight successfully don’t succeed at keeping it off (a bigger obstacle for most).
The number 1 predictor of weight loss is dietary adherence - it’s by far the most important thing (and most difficult since our brains are wired to work against us).
Why the Western-style diet overrides your signals of appetite regulation and makes you want to eat more food (without realizing it) and how to avoid that minefield.
Why there is no "best diet" and the question that will help you determine which nutrition approach to go with.
Why introducing as many barriers as possible can be a good strategy for weight/fat loss.
The reason “working for your food” is a key strategy in success.
5 powerful strategies/rules for your daily nutrition that help clients achieve sustainable results.
Why tracking your food even for a short period of time can be helpful for awareness (and what to do if you don’t want to track).
A template I use with clients that have been successful at getting results without tracking calories.
The reason less variety is a GOOD thing for nutrition success (and some studies on buffets that confirm why a lot of choices are detrimental).
The reason exercise is SO important when it comes to maintaining weight loss (the scientific data is overwhelming on this).
Why you MUST have a plan to not fall back into your old habits when you’re transitioning into “weight maintenance.”
What is reverse dieting and why its more of a mental trick than it is a physiological adaptation that “protects your metabolism.”
How being unfit and obese affects your decision-making and mental outlook in the world (and why strength training is a keystone habit).
Why the financial habits of the average American are NOT good, and just like nutrition, is a skill set you must build. We dive into what and how.
How James made money, lost it all, and then rebuilt it back up with rules and structure and what you can learn from it (and why being a day trader is the hardest “easy money” you’ll make).
2 BIG lessons when it comes to investing and trading.
3 out of 4 Americans don’t have enough savings to cover a $1,000 emergency (when the goal should be 6-12 months - we’ve learned that with COVID).
Don’t buy s@*t you don’t need (filter it and factor in needs vs wants).
My rules for whether to buy something or not and when to put it into investments (and what categorizes investments).
James' 4 principles to live by to be financially healthy.
And much, much more…
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Weightology: https://weightology.net/
Fit Pro Financial: https://fitprofinancial.com/
James Krieger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james.krieger/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.
2/26/2021 • 1 hour, 24 minutes, 22 seconds
EP122: The Art of Nutrition Coaching and Getting Clients Results w/ Dr. Mike Roussell
Vigor Life Podcast · EP122: The Art Of Nutrition Coaching And Getting Clients Results w/ Dr. Mike Roussell
Dr. Mike Roussell is one of my go-to people when I have questions about nutrition. Dr. Mike is famous for transforming complex nutritional concepts into practical nutritional habits that his clients can use to ensure permanent weight loss and long-lasting health. He holds a degree in biochemistry from Hobart College and a doctorate in nutrition from Pennsylvania State University. Dr. Mike’s academic background, coupled with his broad range of experience consulting with pharmaceutical and food companies, medical schools, top-rated fitness facilities, professional athletes, and individual clients, gives him the unique ability to translate scientific findings into relevant, understandable, and actionable strategies that get results.
As a scientist, his research has been published multiple times in the world's premiere clinical nutrition journal, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Dr. Mike oversees the optimization of the health, nutrition, and performance of a range of clientele from professional athletes, to celebrities, to Fortune 500 executives. He is also a sought after continuing educator, speaking across the country to physicians, dieticians, nurses, and other health professionals on the most recent advances in the nutritional treatments for cardiovascular disease, metabolic syndrome, and weight loss.
In this episode, we dive into the art of nutrition coaching and what really works in the real world. We break down principles, science, and examples of client obstacles and how to help overcome them.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
How Mike discovered the importance of the consultation and the art of coaching and why it was so different from so many “studies in the lab.”
From bodybuilding to sports nutrition, Mike had a skewed view of what would work in the real world with real people (especially in the busy New York culture). His dives into why.
Why writing for T-Nation and diving into the minutia of nutrition doesn’t carry over to people training 3x a week for 5 minutes working to change their body.
How Mike would discover the truth from clients in the last 5 minutes of an hour-long consultation and how it helped him hone his skill as a coach.
What is “Nutrition Speed Dating’ and how Mike was able to learn to build rapport and discover the obstacle in the way of people's success.
A key principle to getting results: discovering where the client sees themselves and where they are trying to go.
The reason you can’t shock clients with huge changes when they think they are doing ok (this is KEY with many clients, tune in!)
When to coach with more structure and challenge, and when to reel it back in; and the reason why Mike will fly across the country to meet clients face-to-face.
Asking questions to discover where the client’s skillsets are, is critical to being able to give them the best “next steps.”
How you may be setting up clients for failure when giving your “expert advice” – Mike and I give some must-listen examples
Why Mike walks away from consultations and gives his subconscious a day or so before giving nutrition recommendations.
When to NOT give people many options/choices when it comes to nutrition coaching.
The reason Mike doesn’t like Intermittent Fasting and does NOT recommend it to his clients.
What Mike thinks about tracking, which way is best, and is there a best way (and for who).
What the “3-2-1 method” is and why this simple method works for a lot of clients.
The 6 pillars of nutrition that are the foundation of a quality, healthy, sustainable diet.
When to eat carbs and some deeper points on the timing of carbs (including circadian rhythm meal timing).
Food as a social connector and how to make sure you implement it into coaching as a source of fulfillment and happiness (and how this makes you happier and healthier...
12/18/2020 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 14 seconds
EP121: Strength and Reinvention No Matter The CircumstancesIn Life with Chris Duffin
Vigor Life Podcast · EP121: Strength and Reinvention No Matter The CircumstancesIn Life w/ Chris Duffin
I have been looking forward to talking with Chris Duffin for some time. His incredible story proves that what happens to you doesn’t have to define who you become.
Chris went from growing up homeless in the Pacific Northwest wilderness—raised in an abusive and chaotic household where his childhood was composed of skinning rattlesnakes, foraging for food, and protecting his sisters and mother (many times dealing with murderers, drug running and abuse, human trafficking, death, a serial killer, and extreme poverty—to multiple engineering degrees. From there he worked his way up the ladder to become a corporate executive in aerospace, turning companies around, starting and building multiple 7 figure companies in the fitness space (including Kabuki Strength), while also building up to 1001 lb x 3 sumo deadlift and 1000 lb x 3 squat (which are both Guinness Book World Records). It sounds fascinating and incredible, and that's only part of his story.
Chris and I talk about the principles to be able to achieve anything in life—which he outlines in his book, “The Eagle And The Dragon”—as well as his beliefs about how to become a great leader, his journey of strength training and becoming one of the worlds strongest men – all while building up Kabuki Strength.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why you don’t have to have a crazy backstory to have the drive to success and achieve incredible feats.
Chris’ upbringing in the woods of Northern California, living homeless, in the drug trade, hunting his own food, around serial killers, human trafficking rings, and how he was able to rise above it.
How Chris got promoted to leadership positions where people respected him despite not being a “rah rah” motivational guy.
What was the difference that made Chris excel rather than go down a negative path, despite his extremely challenging circumstances.
Why we MUST find challenge, stress and adversity rather than the comfort that we’re drawn to (the difference in succeeding or failing).
The mindsets and introspection to help you overcome ANY challenge and turn it into a lesson that helps you get to the next level.
The TWO things that you must have to drive your energy day in and day out.
What are you drivers, what are your values, knowing who and how you want to be in the world, something you must keep coming back to – listen to Chris explain how this can work for you when it comes to overcoming adversity.
The habits that have allowed Chris to continuously overcome obstacles and become a top performer in strength, leadership, work, and building businesses.
What is the 5S method and how to apply it to your day and cut out all the unproductive things that aren’t essential.
The “5 Why’s”, storytelling, having a vision and constantly sharing it, and other principles you have to apply to succeed personally and as part of a team.
Chris’ core values and why recognition is one of them and it’s not bad (like many people believe).
The keys to being a great leader no matter who and where you lead.
Why you don’t have to be super polished, CEO cut, verses as a speaker, to be able to connect with people.
Relationships are the foundation of success in business and life. Chris breaks down how to develop your KEY 5.
Building a “strong mind and strong back” philosophy.
The beginnings of Kabuki Strength and how Chris became one of the strongest men on earth while building a successful equipment and education company.
The frustrations of training equipment that led to a solution by starting a company that solves the frustration (hint, BIG key in business).
And much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Kabuki Strength: www.KabukiStrength.com
Chris Duffin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mad_scientist_duffin/
Book: The Eagle and The Dragon - A Story of Strength and Reinve...
11/17/2020 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 42 seconds
EP120: How To Build Mental Resilience & The Best Way To Train To Build Muscle and Strength In The Long Term w/ Jay Ferruggia
Vigor Life Podcast · EP120: The Best Way To Train To Build Muscle and Strength In The Long Term w/ Jay Ferruggia
One of my best friends, world renowned strength coach, and fitness industry thought leader, Jay Ferruggia is back on the show. Even though we were in lockdown when this episode was recorded, we pick up right where the industry left off.
In this episode we talk about overcoming adversity, building resilience, taking control of your mind, as well as diving deep into how to build strength and muscle while maintaining healthy joints in the long term. Jay drops his nuggets of wisdom from almost 30 years in coaching to share what works for almost anyone when it comes to picking training splits, exercises, rep ranges and more.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why Jay “missed” our initial scheduled podcast recording.
3 big life takeaways Jay has throughout the lockdown that we should all remember on the daily to make our life more fulfilled and less stressful.
The key habits, mindsets and skillsets that helped Jay and will continue to help people persevere through ANY challenging time.
The foundational habits that lead to a positive domino effect and make your days successful (things Jay and I do, The Rock does, Gary Vee does, ALL high performers do)
Why you MUST be aware and analyze what enters your ears, your eyes, and your mind on a daily basis, as it will affect how you operate on a daily basis.
Why being “bummed out” doesn’t help anyone, and how you can free yourself from that feeling.
Teach anything you’ve done, hire others for things you want to achieve that they’ve done. Invest in yourself, put skin in the game, and hire someone you desperately don’t want to let down.
Why “association” is one of the biggest influencers and how to put yourself into circles that will make you successful.
3 Industries and 4 High Income Skills that will ALWAYS stick around and where you must continue to improve your skills on the daily.
Jay has been writing since 2003 and he’s still getting better every day, he shares why you must continue to get better at communicating, selling and leadership.
When it comes to training, the most important thing is: personal preference. We dive into what you should be doing for your training.
Jay loves Conjugate Training. We discuss what he recommends instead for most people when it comes to building strength and muscle.
The breakdown of how Jay would structure a training session to get maximum benefit, both from a results, joint health, and feel good standpoint.
One of the templates I use for my strength training sessions that you can “steal” and use for yourself.
A misconception on changing exercises every 3-4 weeks, if clients keep improving then keep them longer (listen to the examples).
Why you can PR on machines a lot longer than you can on free weights and how they are extremely useful (who should use them and when).
Strategies and tactics to add muscle building methods that work when you don’t have a lot of equipment or machines.
Some methods may not work as well BUT are keys in building mental resilience, as well as making the session more fun, and it’s why they fit into the workouts.
One of the most brutally effective ways to train long term that many people avoid BUT have withstood the test of time.
Why most people are doing too much, need to cut back, but train hard, and why doing so will be the key to their results.
On a scale of 1 to 10 what intensity are you REALLY training at, and how the answer to that could change your workouts and results.
And much, much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Renegade Radio w/ Jay Ferruggia: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/renegade-radio-jay-ferruggia-fitness-nutrition-lifestyle/id853941025
Jay Ferruggia: http://jasonferruggia.com/
Jay Ferruggia Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayferruggia/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.
10/13/2020 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 8 seconds
EP119: A Masterclass on Building a Profitable & Sustainable Online Coaching Business w/ Jon Goodman
Vigor Life Podcast · EP119: A Masterclass On Building A Profitable & Sustainable Online Coaching Business w/ Jon Goodman
Jonathan Goodman is the creator of the Personal Trainer Development Center. Since 2011, he has supported fitness professionals by publishing over a million words, growing some of the largest online communities, publishing several books and establishing the first-ever certification for online trainers, the Online Trainer Academy. He's been featured in most major business and fitness publications including Men's Health, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Muscle & Fitness and Inc. – to name a few. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Jon spends his winters exploring the World with his wife and son.
Jon and I dive deep into the foundational principles of what it takes to build a successful business and then pivot to get specifically into building and online coaching brand that is profitable, sustainable and stands the test of time. If you’re a coach looking to build an online business (or ANY type of business in the fitness space) then this is a MUST listen to episode.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
What’s going to happen with most coaches in the industry when it comes to the future of in person and online training.
Everything works, from blogs, podcasts, Instagram, YouTube, etc. but here is what you MUST follow to succeed on any platform.
Jon breaks down exactly what he would do if he started on a social platform to succeed and also make money.
The reason why Jon never did podcasts but is now starting his own – and the most powerful reasons to do one.
The process of building a specific skillset that will help you position yourself, generate leads, make sales and build a real business.
Lessons about not launching too early with a sub-par product (a big mistake many people make).
Why you don’t need to stress about missing out on new platforms that could “blow up.” We discuss what you really need to focus on.
The reason you shouldn’t start with paid advertising and how to make your first sales and build “the machine.”
The 5/1/60 Principle that will help you create a compelling offer to get your first clients.
The exact steps to get your first 5 clients online—even if you don’t have a big social media following—and be able to get you started with online coaching.
The truth about building an online coaching businesses fast and keeping it sustainable.
Picking lower price point membership sites vs. high end coaching – what works and what you certainly shouldn’t do. Jon and I break it down in detail.
The lessons from a friend and mentor who built one of the biggest niche programs and sold it for over a 100+ million to the Golf Channel.
Why Jon has written 11 books and where the real value comes in from.
What is possible for an online coach when it comes to serving clients and providing a great service (how many clients, price points, automation, hybrid models).
Jon is building an online fitness company and breaks down exactly how they will do it step-by-step, from launch, hiring break down, organization, marketing… (steal this!)
What Jon recommends to gym owners when it comes to growth and also adding online coaching possibilities.
Why do we run away from the things that are different even though they’re better for us, and how to change it (stemming from an example Jon gives on an opportunity missed by a big chain gym in Canada).
As a fitness professional you’re going to come out of COVID in one of two ways. Learn them.
The power of being great on camera and whether you can be successful without it.
And much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Jon Goodman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jonathan_goodman101/
The Personal Trainer Development Center: https://www.theptdc.com/
Online Trainer Academy: https://www.theptdc.com/online-trainer-academy-certification-c?utm_expid=.0kYl7KMnRuawga9mWgeQLg.1&utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F
9/10/2020 • 1 hour, 15 minutes, 57 seconds
EP118: Writing Like A Pro To Influence & Build Your Business, Meditative Inquiry To Reduce Stress and Internal Family Systems Therapy w/ Nate Green
Vigor Life Podcast · EP118: Writing Like A Pro To Influence & Build Your Business w/ Nate Green
Nate Green is one of my closest friends and a great human being who also happens to be a fantastic writer. Nate is a marketing strategist and writer at Precision Nutrition. A former personal trainer and gym-owner, he’s also the author of four books, including Built for Show. He’s written extensively for online and print magazines, including Men’s Health, Men’s Fitness, and Tim Ferriss’ blog. Nate is one of the people I reach out and talk to when I want to clear out ideas, thoughts, share life experience and talk them out as he always has deep, powerful insights.
In this episode we cover everything from how to write better and insights on how to influence through your writing, to meditative inquiry, the benefits of training with no music or stimulants.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why Nate stays off social media, except for Twitter (it has something to do with a blue checkmark and ego).
What Nate’s role at Precision Nutrition is now and what has he been learning and improving as a skillset.
Writing, marketing, strategy, and copywriting – how Nate develops and mentors new staff to help them become quality writers.
The 3 lessons that are a must for any writer if they want to create high quality content.
“If you can write long you can write short, but if you write short then you don’t have the skillset to write long”
The 3 high income skills that will forever be in need and a must for you to develop if you’re going to grow your business.
When you can write well then you can do all these things better for your business. We discuss ALL of them.
The most powerful two questions in copywriting that will help you improve your writing (this is gold!)
How to hook people in emails, landing pages, or even texts with this simple strategy.
Using social proof in your writing without looking cocky and confident (just the right amount of “salt”).
Why you have to be careful about being a hero rather than Yoda when it comes to writing copy.
How to be a “living landing page” and communicating in the best possible way to convert and influence clients (or anyone else).
The reason it is your duty and obligation to become great at communication, the art of persuasion, and selling yourself.
One of THE greatest skills and practices that will be key in making you succeed as a business owner (moving forward this is the game changer).
The power of journaling not only for personal development but in helping you solve problems and thinking better – Nate’s examples of how he uses it.
My “Thinking Time” process and how it helps me prevent mistakes, create strategy, and outlining vision - it’s rarely done by business owners.
Nate explains “meditative inquiry” and how it helps him get clear, focused, and stress-free (with some powerful questions).
Why you should NOT use music, pre-workout, podcasts or anything else to distract yourself during training, rather do THIS.
How to train yourself to be able to be calm in discomfort that carries to all areas of your life.
What is Internal Family Systems therapy and how it’s helped Nate change his life and how it can help you (how to embrace all parts of yourself and see them as gifts and advisers).
“When are you going to stop with this self improvement drama Nate?” Discover the answer to this deep question.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Nate Green website: https://nategreen.org/
Precision Nutrition: www.PrecisionNutrition.com
Book: Deep Work - Rules For Focused Success In A Distracted Work (Cal Newport): https://www.amazon.com/Deep-Work-Focused-Success-Distracted/dp/1455586692/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=deep+work&qid=1598569884&sr=8-3
Book: Internal Family Systems Therapy - Second Edition (Richard C. Schwartz): https://www.amazon.com/Internal-Family-Systems-Therapy-Second/dp/1462541461/ref=sr_1_3?
9/2/2020 • 1 hour, 20 minutes, 9 seconds
EP117: The Power of Communication and Why You MUST Get Better at It as a Coach and Human w/ Brett Bartholomew
Vigor Life Podcast · EP117: The Power of Communication and Why You MUST Get Better at It as a Coach w/ Brett Bartholomew
I finally got my good friend Brett Bartholomew on the show to talk about something we both feel very strongly about: the power of communication. Brett speaks on this on so many levels – including his must have book, Conscious Coaching and his program Bought In.
Brett Bartholomew is a strength and conditioning coach, author, consultant, and Founder of Art of Coaching™. His experience includes working with athletes both in the team environment and private sector – along with members of the United States Special Forces and members of Fortune 500 companies. Taken together, Brett has coached a diverse range of athletes from across 23 sports world-wide—at levels ranging from youth athletes to Olympians. He’s supported numerous Super Bowl and World Series Champions, along with several professional fighters in both professional boxing as well as the UFC.
In this episode we dive into the nuts and bolts of communication, why it's so important, and the reason you must get better at it— no matter where you currently are with your skill level. We explain why.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
3 key areas in life where communication is a must and why improving it will get you better results and give you a competitive advantage.
Communication represents the very essence of human condition - and yet it's rarely taught OR evaluated so that coaches can improve.
Poor communication can cost you results and your livelihood, and how to avoid having your job taken by robots in near future (listen to the predictions of how many jobs will be lost to this).
Why you should be filming yourself speaking and communicating on a consistent basis and asking for constructive feedback.
Only 6% of people do THIS and why you have an opportunity to put yourself in the upper echelon of coaches.
The 8 components of the communication process. Brett breaks them down so you can hear how you can improve as a communicator.
Context is KEY and why it's one of the most important parts of communication. We discuss HOW to practically change.
Verbal, non-verbal, and para-verbal communication, the missing links that are preventing you from being the best communicator.
Brett and I dive into examples of communication that you can use to improve how you communicate.
Most people are so scared to fail that they avoid working on communication and receiving feedback – which turns into failure in coaching, sales, marketing, and because of that: business.
Evolution of coaches and entrepreneurs and THE biggest mistake they’re making that are stopping them from improving.
A powerful example/story of how lack of communication could have prevented a loss of thousands of lives, and how YOU may be losing results because of your communication.
The important factors of online communication and strategies and tips to instantly improve it and differentiate yourself.
Want to sell better and more? Follow these mindsets and strategies Brett and I share that will help you overcome the obstacle of being great at sales.
Execute, expand, and evolve: how to take your career to the next level.
And much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Brett Bartholomew: https://brettbartholomew.net/about/
Brett Bartholomew Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coach_brettb/
Bought In Course: https://courses.artofcoaching.com/signup/
Conscious Coaching: The Art & Science Of Buy In: https://www.amazon.com/Conscious-Coaching-Science-Building-Buy/dp/1543179479
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week.
8/11/2020 • 58 minutes, 54 seconds
EP115: Raise Your Coaching Game and High Performance Secrets From The Best of The Best w/ Alan Stein Jr.
Vigor Life Podcast · EP115: Raise Your Coaching Game and High Performance Secrets from the Best w/ Alan Stein Jr.
When at the airport I always make a pitstop at the bookstore. While traveling to a speaking engagement, a book title entered my line of vision: "Raise Your Game.” As I read the cover, chapter topics and testimonials I knew I had to get it. Especially given it was from the world of basketball. From first crack, I couldn't put it down. I finished it in two days and knew I needed to get the author, Alan Stein Jr on the podcast to talk about the principles.
I later realized both Alan and I were featured in Anthony Renna’s book, “Be Like The Best”, which led me to connecting with Alan… and here we are.
Alan is a world-renowned coach, speaker and author. He spent 15+ years working the highest performing basketball players on the planet and now teaches audiences how to utilize the same strategies in business that elite athletes use to perform at a world-class level. Alan specializes in improving individual and organizational leadership, performance and accountability. He inspires and empowers everyone he works with to take immediate action and improve mindset, habits and productivity.
In this podcast we talk about principles for success, coaching, and leadership and the values and behaviors that support it to help you raise your game.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
The two foundational principles that success is built on and that you must adhere to if you’re going to win long-term.
What Alan learned from Kobe Bryant about the basics, that made him the best in the world at his craft.
Why knowing yourself first is crucial to creating a change in your life and business, as well as impacting others.
The basics of what you’re trying to improve—whether it be your craft, your business, your marriage—and how to break them down into skill work.
How Alan addresses “shiny object syndrome” and lack of attention by using praise, setting expectations and defining a role.
What not to do to ensure that you're not being disrespectful to the process, your craft, and the game. Whatever your game may be.
The importance of environment when it comes to buying into the basics and why you should seek out environments that trigger positive behaviors.
How to get rid of distractions so you can perform at the highest level. The most disciplined people have the least amount of distractions.
Create systems and processes to make sticking to habits easier. We share examples.
How Kevin Durant transformed himself after hating strength training but still showed up weekly to put in work.
People take what you do over what you say. Why you should model the behavior of your role models, and how this will help you become a high character person.
Alan's exercise to discover your values and the process steps to become that person.
What to do when someone has not bought into the team, and the vision.
The self-check and the responsibility you must take as a coach to help your clients and people around you become better. Nix blaming, making excuses, and complaining.
The keys to sustaining a standard of excellence like Dematha High School and how you can apply it to yourself and your business.
Why the role you and each person on your team plays must be respected, valued and appreciated. Everyone is integral to the final picture.
Why communication is like a basketball pass – the person making the pass has to deliver it in a way that the person can catch it.
And much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Alan Stein Jr: https://alansteinjr.com/Alan Stein Jr. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alansteinjr/Book: Raise Your Game - High Performance Secrets from The Best of The Best: https://raiseyourgamebook.com/Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.
6/23/2020 • 56 minutes, 50 seconds
EP114: Training, Nutrition & Lifestyle Wisdom from 25 Years of Coaching and Writing Offline and Online w/ Bryan Krahn
Vigor Life Podcast · EP114: Training, Nutrition & Lifestyle Wisdom from 25 Years of Coaching and Writing w/ Bryan Krahn
Bryan and I met almost 13 years ago at a Perform Better Summit through our mutual friend Nate Green. At that point in time Bryan was writing a lot of quality fitness articles for top publications. I really enjoyed his writing style: real world wisdom from training his real world clients. The thing about Bryan is that while he wrote for T-Nation, Mens Health, Mens Fitness, Bodybuilding.com, Ask Men, and many more, he had so much actual coaching experience and real world results with his clients. Not to mention himself. He’s 47, jacked and lean.
Today he continues to write, train, and have a successful online coaching business. In this podcast episode we dive into the principles of the “How” in coaching to get the best possible results with your clients; whether face to face, or online.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
How Bryan started training people but kept it as a side hustle. Believe it or not, he didn’t believe he could make a career out of it. We discuss what changed his mind.
Why it’s important to go past the sets and reps to help people truly transform.
Why you MUST build a foundation and understanding the body, movement, program design, etc. AKA "the buy" in to coaching.
Why you should always start with finding out a client's lifestyle before building their program. e.g. “How do they go about their day?”
Why you can’t take your clients word at the height of their excitement and motivation when it comes to what they’re able to commit to. We discuss how you uncover the reality.
Why it’s so much better to build on success than having to pull back when you start training clients. We share out mistakes so you can avoid making the same ones.
What the ideal training frequency is for different goals, from muscle building, to fat loss, no matter your age.
What the “cardio placeholder” is and how it creates better results for clients.
Why walking is key to feeling better when you’re pushing your diet (and how it helps you physiologically unpack things).
Whether or not age should dictate the exercises you should choose, and the formula for not getting injured and continuing to progress.
Doing ramp sets, pushing to positive failure, not training for less than an hour, and other myths get put to the test by Bryan and myself.
The “not so cool” modalities that pay the biggest dividends but get missed so often.
How everything affects itself and why coaching is like a dance that you always have to assess.
3 nutritional principles that will create success for your clients if you nail them.
How to take how a person who is currently living one way and gradually make it better (and why this is the key to success).
Why precision and being geeky on the numbers will most times hinder success when it comes to body transformations.
Why variability is NOT a good choice when people are looking to change their habits.
While simplicity and autonomy matter, creating rules for clients can be powerful. Bryan explain this concept.
The power of creating wins in a client's day to build from.
And much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Bryan Krahn Website: https://bryankrahn.com/Bryan Krahn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bryankrahn/Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriberLuka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
6/16/2020 • 1 hour, 30 minutes, 37 seconds
EP113: The Soulful Art of Persuasion & Becoming A Better Human w/ Jason Harris
Vigor Life Podcast · EP113: The Soulful Art of Persuasion & Becoming A Better Human w/ Jason Harris
I met Jason Harris at my friend Adam’s 212 entrepreneur event when he was one of the mentors. At the event, Jason gave a presentation on connecting your business to social good and philanthropy. He talk resonated deeply with me and led to what I now consider a great relationship with him.
A little history about Jason. He is the President and CEO of award-winning creative agency, Mekanism. Where he works closely with brands through a blend of "Soul & Science" to create shareable and provocative campaigns that engage audiences. Under Harris' leadership, Mekanism has been named to Ad Age's "Agency A List" and twice to their "Best Places to Work", as well as been listed on Creativity "The Creative 50" and recognized by Effie as one of the "Most Effective Independent Agencies". He has been profiled by The New York Times, Fast Company and ABC's Nightline.
Harris serves on the board of directors for Advertising Week and the United Nations' Social Impact Leadership Council, and is an advising member of the elite Marketing 50. He has helped build and refresh some of the world's most iconic brands, including adidas, MillerCoors, Levi's, Ben & Jerry's, HBO, Nasdaq, Amazon, The North Face and The United Nations.
Jason also wrote the best seller, “The Soulful Art of Persuasion: The 11 Habits That Will Make Anyone A Master Influencer”; which is what we dive into this podcast episode.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
What made Jason decide to go from helping some of the most well-known companies in the world with advertising, to writing a book on persuasion.
Why/how the book started as “The 10 Greatest Marketing Campaigns Ever….” but evolved into a book that can replace “How To Win Friends and Influence People”.
Why relationship building, marketing and business all come down to your daily behaviors and how you operate.
Why most business books aren’t practical and don’t help you change who you are and change the actions that lead you to success; and why Jason felt that a guide book to change was actually needed.
How to create your own personal guiding compass even if you’re a young entrepreneur. “Expose your psychic skin.”
The power of storytelling and why it’s integral to creating connection with people.
What “Never Be Closing” means and why it’s the most powerful long-term success strategy.
One of Jason’s daily habits that you can apply today and change the way you do business and build relationships.
How my conversations with Jason led me to create the Vigor DREAM program; which will now partner with Badges and Barbells to help mentor underprivileged youth.
Why fear based persuasion does NOT work better than positive persuasion, especially in the long-term.
The collaboration imperative and how it is better than constantly being competitive.
The story of the “Million Dollar Hoodie” and how you too can create stories like that in your business.
Why Tom Hanks is the most trusted man in America and how building your skillset and building celebrity will make you much more trusted.
The habit of skill hunting and why this may be the reason you’re not achieving the growth you want in your life and business.
What “Personal Jesus” means and why you MUST have this in your life and work to be fulfilled. It’s also a way to pay your skillsets forward.
Jason’s personal thought process in making campaigns that succeed and how you can mirror it for your own business.
And much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Jason Harris Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jason_harris/Mekanism Advertising Agency: https://mekanism.com/The Soulful Art of Persuasion Book: https://www.thesoulfulart.com/Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.
6/10/2020 • 57 minutes, 57 seconds
EP112: Business & Mindset Wisdom from 20 Years of Coaching & Gym Ownership w/ Alwyn Cosgrove
Vigor Life Podcast · EP112: Business & Mindset Wisdom from 20 Years of Coaching & Gym Ownership w/ Alwyn Cosgrove
I’ve known Alwyn Cosgrove for close to 13 years, after meeting him while attending one of his mentorship programs. Alwyn has been a big influence in my development as a gym owner and is considered an O.G. in both coaching and gym ownership. A couple of weeks ago he and his wife (and business partner) Rachel celebrated the 20 year anniversary of Results Fitness.
Alwyn is a sought after expert for several of the country's leading fitness publications, and is a regular contributor to Men's Health magazine, Alwyn has co-authored two books in the "New Rules of Lifting" series and currently spends his time training clients, training his staff at Results Fitness, speaking on the lecture circuit, and coaching fitness trainers worldwide in their businesses.
Alwyn's gym, Results Fitness specializes in programs for real-world busy people and prides itself on "changing the way fitness is done - period!" It has also been named one of America's Top Gyms by Men's Health a number of times.
In this episode Alwyn and I dive into what works in the real world of coaching, helping clients get results and stay for years and years, as well as how to build a great culture and fitness business.
This is a must listen if you current run or aspire to run your own gym.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why having a fun time, culture, and getting people to want to come back is critical in getting clients long-term results.
The KEY components to building a powerful culture; where you can do a lot of things and still do good.
Why Alwyn thinks high intensity conditioning is a better fit for fat loss results than lower intensity training (despite the research and views coming out lately).
The foundational things you MUST get right to help clients get results over and over again.
What to do after someone has reached their goal; which they will if you’re doing the right things. Alwyn shares how he creates a lifelong growth focus with his clients.
Our thoughts on programming for semi-private training and larger group training and what gets better results.
How mood and excitement can affect a training session and what you can do to affect mood in a training session.
An exercise that helps you determine which values are important to you and how to build your core values.
Why no one can steal your clients, but you can lose clients. We outline the four coaching fence posts that must be erected to keep clients from leave.
How Alwyn beat cancer and how it forced him to create systems. He shares his thoughts on “the e-myth vs. Linchpin.”
Why the best coaches are clients that have had a big transformation and believe in the culture, and how to develop them.
Some powerful questions that you haven’t asked yourself that will create better systems.
The one thing you can’t do right now; which is also THE most important thing.
Why public speaking and getting great in front of the camera is SO important now and moving into the future.
Tactics and strategies to become a local expert. Alwyn and I both share out thoughts here.
And so much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Alwyn Cosgrove Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alwyncosgrove/Results Fitness University: https://www.resultsfitnessuniversity.com/alwyncosgroveVigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriberLuka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
6/6/2020 • 1 hour, 24 minutes
EP111: 6 Powers That Create an Unstoppable Mindset & How to Turn Pain into Purpose w/ Dr. Jade Teta
Vigor Life Podcast · EP111: 6 Powers That Create an Unstoppable Mindset & How to Turn Pain into Purpose w/ Dr. Jade Teta
I’ve been following (and loving) Dr. Jade Teta’s work for years, so this one has been a long time coming. Dr. Teta is an integrative physician who specializes in natural health, fitness and body transformation. He is also the co-author of The Metabolic Effect Diet. Dr. Teta completed his undergraduate training at North Carolina State University, earning a bachelors of science in biochemistry. He then went on to study at Bastyr University in Seattle, Washington; completing his doctorate in naturopathic medicine.
Dr. Teta has worked in the fitness and weight loss field for over 20 years, and is the co-developer of the rest-based training system for personal training and group exercise. He is also the co-founder of the Naturopathic Health Clinic of North Carolina, along with the health, fitness and international fat loss company, Metabolic Effect. His background in natural medicine. That coupled with his fitness expertise has defined his healthcare specialties of hormonal weight loss and functional medicine approaches to chronic disease.
To add to Dr. Teta's already impressive resume, he has also been a contributing expert on Lifetime TV, Fox News, Onfitness magazine, Oxygen, Delicious and many more. He blogs extensively on the topics of hormonal approaches to building muscle and burning fat, the science of exercise and supplementation, sleep and stress management, the psychology of change and happiness, and that one size does not fit all when it comes to leading a healthy lifestyle.
In this episode we dive into mindset and the importance of it in every area of life. We also discuss how to develop and unstoppable one, along with how to deal with pain while turning it into power and purpose.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
How Dr. Jade Teta build the principles in all areas of his life from making big mistakes.
How to build your own Warrior Ethos and honor code for how you live your life (the success principles).
The 6 POWERS that build the principles to an unstoppable mindset and success.
Why perception is the foundation of it all and how to change yours so it can help not hurt you.
Why true wisdom is knowing you know nothing, and why this leads to curiosity as a core value.
Why sharing is a KEY component to becoming a fulfilled human with purpose in your life.
Our analogy of life being like a game and how to master it, overcomes bosses, gain new powers, and share your game insights with others.
The 5 P’s of Purpose and why they matter so much.
How to overcome and heal your own pain and make it a path to your own purpose (and get unstuck from the pain and complaining game).
Why humans love redemption stories and how you can become your own hero.
The powerful anecdote of cutting yourself that Dr. Jade uses to show how most people deal with their emotional pain and how you should deal with it.
How I stopped lying and told the truth to overcome pain and create personal power (and a story about hiding oranges).
How to determine whether you’re the problem in the situation or if it’s someone else, we break down exactly how to do this.
The 3 things that make up commitment and how doing them will put you in the 1% of successful people.
What to do when you’re overwhelmed to make sure you keep progressing and getting results.
Fear exposure and how to overcome things you’ve been afraid of to create a catalyst for success in your life.
And so much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Jade Teta: https://www.jadeteta.com/Jade Teta Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jadeteta/Next Level Human Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-level-human-with-dr-jade-teta/id1333722346Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?
5/26/2020 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 42 seconds
EP110: The Language of Coaching & the Art and Science of Teaching Movement w/ Nick Winkelman
Vigor Life Podcast · EP110: The Language of Coaching & the Art and Science of Teaching Movement w/ Nick Winkelman
I’ve followed Nick’s work for over a decade after meeting him at the Perform Better Summit speaking on the topic of coaching. After every workshop that he hosted over the years, I always left a better coach—curious and thirsty for more.
Nick has a ton of experience from studying and applying his knowledge in the field. His resume is evidence of this. Nick is he currently the head of athletic performance & science for the Irish Rugby Football Union. His primary role is to oversee the delivery and development of strength & conditioning and sports science across all national and provincial teams. Before working for Irish Rugby, Nick was the director of education and training systems for EXOS (formerly Athletes' Performance), located in Phoenix, AZ. As the director of education, Nick oversaw the development and execution of all internal and external educational initiatives. As a performance coach, Nick managed the speed and assessment component of the EXOS NFL Combine Development Program and supported many athletes across the NFL, MLB, NBA, National Sports Organizations, and Military.
Due to his knowledge and real world application there’s no better person to have wrote the book, “The Language of Coaching”(which is truly a body of work and must for any coach). It’s what Nick and I dive into this episode—the art and science of teaching movement, helping clients move and perform better, get better results, and fulfill your potential as a coach, as well as differentiate yourself and stand out from the rest.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
What triggered Nick to write this book and what experiences in his life and coaching career drove the focus to make this such a depth of knowledge.
Why you need to be good at the “What” but you must be even better at the “How.” We dive into what every coach needs to understand.
The two things that separate the good coaches from the greatest coaches.
The reason you still need to understand anatomy, assessment, the X’s and O’s of training as a foundation.
Attention powers leaning but motivation powers attention. We talk about how to get both.
The reason why a coach MUST be a great salesman.
How to understand the client’s personal narrative and use it throughout every training session. We share specific examples you can use.
Why most coaches talk too much and how it actually reduces results. We outline the right amount of coaching and what the best of the best do.
The “Capture - Keep - Direct” concept of coaching and how it will supercharge your clients attention.
The breakdown of a group training session and the “What, Why, How” concept of getting clients on point to have the best session.
What the “Read Thread Review” is and how it allows clients to celebrate their wins and learn better, faster, and retain it.
The 3 key things every client must have to success long-term and how YOU can help them instil them.
How to find cues unique to each individual when it comes to coaching (which will help you connect to the client).
The Goldilocks Principle and why you have to use it with people to make sure they don’t get bored or frustrated when training.
Why you need to ask yourself how you are challenging clients externally and how you are challenging them internally. You need both every session.
What “D-D-C-D-D” is and how this structure can help you organize communication.
Reducing stress and anxiety for clients and putting them in a better position for performing the movement. We outline 3 different ways to do it.
Strategies to build your coaching cues repertoire and system. Nick and I discuss how you can do it.
And much, much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Nick Winkelman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickwinkelman/Book: The Language of Coaching - The Art And Science Of Trai...
5/21/2020 • 1 hour, 12 minutes, 18 seconds
EP109: How to Build Self Efficacy, Big Ass Salads, and the Truth about Creating a Successful Online Fitness Business w/ Jordan Syatt
Jordan Syatt is a strength and a nutrition wizard. While many may know him as Gary Vaynerchuk’s personal trainer, strength and nutrition coach, he’s been in the game for a long time. Jordan's rap sheet is impressive. He's a 5x world record setting powerlifter, has a Bachelor of Science in Health and Behavior Science—with a focus on Strength & Conditioning—and has helped countless clients online improve body composition, strength and athletic performance.
Jordan has a way of communicating and storytelling that simplifies training and nutrition; which helps people take action because it’s not overwhelming. Today, he’s helps other fit pro’s build successful online businesses.
In this episode of the podcast, Jordan and I talk about everything from how to help people achieve the best results, what matters and what doesn’t. We also dive deep into the truths and myths of what it takes to build a successful online business.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Jordan’s story of how he started in fitness and got the right mentors who helped guide and develop is career
How a client named Fred made Jordan see that there’s so much more that clients are looking to achieve than just looking better naked.
What interning and working at a physical therapy clinic taught Jordan and one important piece of advice for every coach.
Why a degree in Health and Behavior Science made a lot more sense rather than Exercise Science, and what Jordan thinks about going to college.
The one commandment that MUST be met for any clients long-term results.
The difference between self-efficacy and self confidence, what behavior change teaches us and why we need it.
What you need to measure to determine whether your clients will succeed, and our tips to help them get to this marker.
Why there’s no way you’ll be a great coach online if you haven’t done enough offline coaching.
The analogy of debits and credits in the self esteem bank account and giving clients the RIGHT thing for growth.
The 3 strategies that will always work better than just “telling” people what to do.
Why Jordan thinks eating a big ass salad every day might be a key in changing your nutrition habits.
What Jordan would do if he was starting with online coaching from scratch right now (it’s NOT what most “guru’s” are saying!)
Why you should outline exactly what your coaching program will do and what people will get, listen to Jordan take you through it step by step.
The number one reason why you shouldn’t try to build a lower end, scalable monthly membership as the foundation of your online business.
The BIG mistake coaches are making by thinking “no one has an attention span” and because of it not doing long form content.
Why you shouldn’t spend all your energy on Instagram and what you should do instead.
Jordan throws a massive curve ball and shares why you shouldn’t do what MOST online coaches are spending the most time doing.
How to earn the right to get paid.
What Jordan thinks will happen in the industry moving forward and what it takes to become successful.
And much, much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Jordan Syatt: https://www.syattfitness.com/Jordan Syatt Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/syattfitness/Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriberLuka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/19/2020 • 1 hour, 21 minutes, 39 seconds
EP108: The Personal Daily Habits and Mindset That Drive Individual, Team, and Business Success w/ Andy McCloy
Andy McCloy is a close friend and owner of BCI Sports Performance and Fitness in Madison, Alabama. Over the last 19 years BCI has helped hundreds of athletes receive scholarships and realize their dreams. BCI works with a wide ranging population of youth athletes from 7 years old to professional level. Andy has worked with athletes in all professional sports, high level executives and elite military operators. He is focused on paying forward the lessons he has learned in his over 19 years in the business. Today, he now helps sports performance business owners develop a business and lifestyle systems that allows them to have more freedom and profit—while becoming a small giant in their community.
Andy and I talk about the principles and daily habits he has developed and coaches to create individual, team, personal life and business success. We also dive into the foundations that you cannot do without if you want to achieve greatness in this industry.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
How Andy is handling the COVID-19 crisis personally and what he has implemented that will create positive addictions moving forward.
Why physical capacity, and having daily habits to develop it, is a key aspect in personal, family and business success.
How Andy got into the best shape of his life after his bi-lateral hip replacement.
The reason you should be doing a lot more aerobic cardio and how it will help you reach every fitness goal.
The habits that we’ve both added daily to improve mindfulness, reduce stress and anxiety, and increase our problem solving capabilities.
Why Andy is focused on recovery modalities.
The importance of community and social connection and why it will help keep you in-check and accountable to integrity and growth.
How are you dealing with loneliness in your life? And why your answer to this is key to your health, happiness, immunity and productivity.
The 3 layers of connection you need in your life to be the greatest person and leader and how most people are missing 1-2 of them.
The “Well Analogy” Andy gives that is a key of being a servant leader.
How you can get daily mentorship every day from the greatest people in your industry.
3 books Andy recommends in challenging times to help you retain power and focus.
An unconventional strategy that Andy uses daily to shift his mental state and help him change his mood, focus, and productivity.
How much time you should dedicate to improving your craft and the mindset behind becoming successful in your industry.
Why it’s not about time management, but about managing ourselves. Andy shares his tips for becoming more productive.
If you’re a coach, why it's important to study business and marketing. Andy shares his insights.
The question that forces you to check in with yourself and see if you're doing work that moves you forward.
The magic combo that drives brick and mortar business and why you can’t just do one thing.
Practical tips to become a leader in the community, connect with people, and market at the same time.
Why organizational health is key to any business. We discuss what that means and how to do it.
The 3 key business principles to building a gym that stands the test of time.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Andy McCloy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andymccloy_bci/Body Creations Inc. Sports Performance: https://bodycreationsinc.comBook: Together - The Healing Power Of Human Connection In A Sometimes Lonely World (Vivek Murthy): https://www.amazon.com/Together-Connection-Performance-Greater-Happiness/dp/0062913298/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1589395126&sr=8-1Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriberLuka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
5/14/2020 • 1 hour, 31 minutes, 6 seconds
EP107: The 90% of What Works for 90% of Clients in Training & Nutrition, Insights on Creating Great Coaches w/ Dr. Andy Galpin
Andy Galpin, PhD, is a tenured Professor at the Center for Sport Performance at California State University, Fullerton. Galpin received an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from Linfield College, a Master’s Degree in Human Movement Sciences from the University of Memphis, and a PhD in Human Bioenergetics from Ball State University. He currently teaches and runs the Biochemistry and Molecular Exercise Physiology Lab at California State University, Fullerton. That will tell you he’s a smart guy, but Andy also understands the real world of training and nutrition and consults some of the world’s top athletes to elite performance levels.
There are many reasons why I love the guy: he’s a great human, he loves strength and conditioning, he’s from Washington State and he loves hip-hop; which pretty much seals the deal for me.
Andy’s also the co-author of the best-selling book, “Unplugged: Evolve From Technology To Upgrade Your Fitness, Performance, and Consciousness” and has been featured just about everywhere including on the Joe Rogan Podcast.
In this episode we dive into the principles of training and nutrition that are based on science but also work in the real world, how to spot B.S. and fake guru’s, and many insights on how to become a great coach in the real world and gets results with your clients.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Andy’s bulletproof bullshit detector to find out what advice is real and what is B.S.
The 3 pieces of evidence you want to look at when it comes to your certainty about claims in training, nutrition and supplementation.
My 80/20 rule of sticking with things I know work and testing out new methods, innovations and things I’ve learned.
The cook, the chef and the baker analogy and why you should start as a cook no matter what!
Why social media is skipping the cook portion of teaching and creating a lot of B.S.
Why you have to be crystal clear about what you want to achieve before you ever pick an exercise rep, set, or anything else.
Andy’s template for building an athlete of life, and what you should do weekly when it comes to training.
Why speed and power are SO important with the elderly population and how it can help you live longer and even prevent death.
The reason why high intensity training should be cut down by 50% or more (for most) to get the best results with health, fitness and performance.
How culture changed the shift of exercise popularity from cardio to bodybuilding, to high intensity exercise, to recovery and how to put the puzzle pieces together.
Why as a coach you shouldn't try to bring clients into your world but rather commit to stepping into theirs.
How to put the puzzle pieces of it all together while getting the clients input so you get better compliance and results.
Why Andy teaches his classes in a real world format that prepares coaches for the clients they’ll be dealing with.
What “defenders” are and what is stopping clients from succeeding; we discuss how to remove the obstacles rather that “tell people what to do.”
How Andy removed the barrier of an elite fighter to take their performance to the next level.
Once you realize that you’re really a detective you’ll become a better coach.
An exercise Andy gives to his students to help them learn to problem solve.
The nutrition principles that have withstood the test of time and will continue to work for you and your clients.
Why as a coach you should have a philosophy that you believe in when it comes to training and nutrition, even in the early stages of your career.
And much, much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Dr. Andy Galpin: http://www.andygalpin.com/
Book: Unplugged: Evolve From Technology To Upgrade Your Fitness, Performance, and Consciousness (Brian MacKenzie and Andy Galpin): https://www.amazon.com/Unplugged-technology-upgrade-performance-consciousness-ebook/dp/B072PWGV5J/ref=sr_1_4?...
5/12/2020 • 1 hour, 34 minutes, 21 seconds
EP106: Knowing Your Audience, & the Two Critical Principles of Building a Great Life and Business w/ Adam Bornstein
Adam Bornstein is an award-winning fitness and nutrition writer and editor. Formerly the editorial director for Livestrong.com and fitness editor for Mens Health, currently the fitness advisor for Schwarzenegger.com as well as the Chief Nutrition Officer for Ladder Sport (Lebron James and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s supplement company). He has also contributed to and been featured in The New York Times, Fast Company and GQ, and is the founder and CEO of Born Fitness and Pen Name Consulting.
More importantly, Adam is a a great human being, a close friend, and a very smart entrepreneur who’s built his own successful businesses while consult other big brands. I call him, “The Ghost In The Machine” because he’s the person responsible for the successful growth of many big companies and brands, while being the mastermind behind the scenes that you never hear about.
In this episode we talk about the path to success, failure, knowing your audience, and the two critical principles.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
The governing compass that points you in the direction of how to measure yourself; which is a key to taking the RIGHT action.
Why you need principles so that your blood, sweat and tears go into the right area and fulfill you.
Adam’s two governing principles (based on his values) that guides who he hires, how he markets, what people he surrounds himself and what experiences he creates.
The questions to ask yourself that will help you set the behaviors to achieve the things you want in life.
Why knowing your audience is THE first step to building a fulfilling business AND life.
How painful life lessons changed what I valued and changed the direction of my life, both personal and career.
How your ‘negative” experiences can become tools to build a better future if you choose it.
The #1 characteristic needed to be able to change yourself, the people around you, and your business.
Why “creating something of value for people” and showing people you care can be the business combo and will lead you to success for life.
Why you need to do the tried and true methods, then iterate them and improve, instead of re-inventing the wheel.
How listening to your gut can lead to you making the right decisions for you. Adam explains from personal experience how turning down a huge financial opportunity that wasn’t aligning with him turned out to be the best decision (despite not being clear at first).
The formula for who you should listen to, advice vs. opinion + believability.
The weaknesses should you strengthen and which ones you should outsource to someone else and not waste time on.
The principles Adam gives to the “young bucks” about building a business in the fitness industry.
The ONE thing that won’t ever go away and what you should focus on, this is an Evergreen principle.
A powerful question that Adam asks that will help you protect your business and help you innovate long-term.
Why you must put yourself in challenging situations when times are good and great, and specific tactics to work on your resilience.
And much, much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Adam Bornstein: http://www.BornFitness.com
Adam Bornstein Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bornfitness/
Ladder Sport: http://www.LadderSport.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/7/2020 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 20 seconds
EP105: How To Learn For Success, The Unicorn Approach To Overcoming Challenging Times and Leadership Lessons w/ Mark Fisher
Vigor Life Podcast · EP105: How to Learn for Success, the Unicorn Approach and Overcoming Challenges w/ Mark Fisher
Mark Fisher is one of my favorite humans, a close friend, and the co-owner and Ninja Master of Mark Fisher Fitness; is one of the most successful gyms in the history of the fitness industry. Within its first five years, MFF grew from a single personal trainer to a staff of over 35, more than 800 members, and its own studio in midtown Manhattan. Earning it a spot in on the prestigious Inc. 500 list of fastest growing companies in America in 2015. With a reputation as the fitness home of choice for the Broadway community, MFF has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, New York Post, The Wall St. Journal, NY1, and more. Living by their mantra, “ridiculous humans, serious fitness,” MFF provides progressive training and nutrition protocols in a delivery system of subversive humor, fantastical imagery, and outrageous antics.
Mark and I tend to have these conversations frequently, so it was great to record a podcast with him. In this episode we discuss the challenging times, the science behind overcoming adversity, how to lead people and teams through this and stand the test of time. We also dive deep into how to learn for success. This is a must listen to matter what industry you work in.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
What's valuable right now during this emotional time - the two things that are key and the fine line between them.
Why we don’t want to be emotionless, because emotions help us make decisions, but also have to understand that emotions are flawed. We discuss how to navigate them.
Practical coaching examples for how to help a person who is stuck in ruminating, verses someone not processing and burying their emotions.
How to bring healing to yourself by being a light to others; action, service, and giving creates a positive feedback loop.
Why there is no successful repression, it’s going to show up somewhere, which is why we must deal with it. Working it out is not enough!
Why asking the hard questions is the only way to start working on dealing with adversity and what you should be asking yourself.
What we’re learning, changing our minds on and where we’re finding meaning during these times.
What Mark thinks about visioning, goal setting, and writing out what you’re going to achieve.
Productivity, developing skill-sets for the future and wrestling with what matters most when it comes to work.
Why THIS is the time you must be brutally honest about what you want in every area of your life (and what you have to keep, add, and let go).
An unusual tip and exercise that may seem counterintuitive but will create breakthroughs for you.
What “Tomorrowland” is and how it can help you envision the life and business you want to create then reverse engineer it by looking backwards.
Our thoughts about the law of attraction and is it really B.S?
How Mark and I brainwashed ourselves from books, courses, mentors, and collected role models in the areas of our life we wanted to grow.
Can a book really mentor you? Our thoughts around getting the most out of reading and learning how to learn.
And so much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Mark Fisher Fitness: www.MarkFisherFitness.comMark Fisher Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markfisherhumanbeing/Business For Unicorns: www.BusinessForUnicorns.comVigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriberLuka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/4/2020 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 14 seconds
EP104: Principles of Coaching & Career Success, Skillsets You Need for the Future w/ Eric Cressey
Vigor Life Podcast · EP104: Principles of Coaching & Career Success, Skillsets You Need for the Future w/ Eric Cressey
Eric Cressey is the world’s leading expert on sports performance, especially in the baseball realm. He is one of the most trusted and recognized strength coaches in the industry. He also recently became the New York Yankees Director of Player Health and Performance. I met Eric Cressey close to 15 years ago when I traveled to Birmingham, England to attend a seminar he was speaking at. That talk inspired me devour every article he wrote for T-Nation, and elsewhere. I also bought every product he created, studying it countless times over, and travelled to his first CSP location to learn from the best: him.
Over the last decade and a half Eric has become a close friends. He is someone I continue to learn from. He is also someone I believe all coaches should look to as a role model when it comes to setting the highest standards of operating in this industry.
This one's a must if you're a coach, or an aspiring one. Eric and I talk about everything from the principles of coaching and career success, to the skillsets that are a must if you want to build a successful career in the industry moving into the future.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
The one principle of success that isn’t shared enough and yet is a key in achieving anything worthwhile
Why the foundations and basics in training and understanding the body are still so important when it comes to being a great coach
My story about meeting Eric and following him as a role model in his dedication to his expertise and the details, and what you can learn from it
How having tools to prevent you from looking bad is driving mediocrity and what it takes to stand out in today’s marketplace
What Eric learned from training around some of the strongest people in the world
Eric’s insights on how to get around the best in the industry and speed up your career; he believes it’s easier than ever
The upside’s of social media and how to connect with your role models and get mentorships and internships
Why you can’t say you didn’t have the resources to become a great coach in 2020 and examples of how to gain incredible amounts of knowledge for free
The 4 ways to break through the white noise and stand out in the industry when going onto media platforms and creating content
How to get your foot in the door with the “right” people that can accelerate getting yourself out there
The must skill-sets to build and have in the future to be able to get your name out there and get more people to discover you
Why writing well is STILL a competitive advantage and fewer and fewer coaches do it at a high enough level, here is how to get ahead
Why if you’re an entrepreneur you should re-consider complaining about not getting government help and what you should be focusing on instead
Insights on what Eric is doing with the New York Yankees to help everyone collaborate and improve as a team
And so much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Eric Cressey: www.EricCressey.com
Eric Cressey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericcressey/
Cressey Sports Performance: http://cresseyperformance.com/
Elite Baseball Development Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/elite-baseball-development-podcast/id1457825804
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
4/30/2020 • 1 hour, 13 minutes, 52 seconds
EP103: Lessons On Overcoming Adversity, Leadership, And Creating Success From Coach to Coach w/ Martin Rooney
Vigor Life Podcast · EP103: Lessons on Overcoming Adversity, Leadership, and Creating Success w/ Martin Rooney
It's the third (and definitely not the last) time that Martin Rooney will be on the show. Martin never disappoints. With his decades of experience in the industry he shares wisdom on everything from how to navigate difficult times and show up as a leader, to turning adversity into triumph, tactics and strategies to be productive and come out on top, and the many many lessons found in his new (must read!) book, Coach to Coach. We also talk about the most important aspect we should all be focusing on right now: connection – whether it be business or personal.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
The most important question being pressed into our homes is “revealing”
The weaknesses this experience is revealing about our financial situations, careers, family, relationships, health, daily routines and disciplines
The two factors that control whether you’ll be stressed, anxious, and stuck in the same place or go backwards
How the magnifying glass that has been put on upon us can create awareness that is a catalyst to change
The analogy of the caterpillar and the butterfly and why you can’t succeed without the struggle
The 3 P’s we use to develop confidence and specific examples of how you can build yours
Why you’re not dreaming big enough and what we think about the law of attraction (is it all BS?!)
What Martin believes has been the most productive thing in his life and how you may be missing it in yours
During crisis you don’t get to build culture, but you can start now building it for the next time
The one “C” that is the foundation of everything whether personal or business and how/why it will stand the test of time no matter what happens with technology
What to watch when you're having a down day and want to get fired up in the morning
The principles and foundations of world class coaching and how to light a fire in your belly for this incredible vocation
And much, much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Book: Coach To Coach - An Empowering Story On How To Be A Great Leader (Martin Rooney): https://www.amazon.com/Coach-Empowering-Story-About-Leader-ebook/dp/B085LV43LL/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=coach+to+coach&qid=1587944975&sr=8-1
Martin Rooney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themartinrooney/
Training For Warriors: www.TrainingForWarriors.com
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
4/28/2020 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 27 seconds
EP102: Why You Should Train Your Tendons, the Best Training Split, 6 Steps to Great Communication
Vigor Life Podcast · EP102: Why You Should Train Your Tendons, the Best Training Split, 6 Steps to Great Communication
Back with another Q & A episode where I cover some things in more detail while also doing some rapid fire answers that are practical and tactical. I go over everything from the importance of training tendons, and how it transfers to being more bulletproof, to improving performance from strength to speed and agility. I also share my favorite training splits, discuss whether conjugate training is good for beginners, my thoughts on intermittent fasting, whether you should train cardio more, and an approach to improve your communication. I dig into many questions and give some insights that will hopefully help you improve your training, business, and life.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN
Why training tendons is not just a nice thing to add but rather a must if you want to be more protected from injury and improve your overall performance.
The 3 ways I add tendon training into programs and the exercises you can use to work yours.
The best ways to train mobility and flexibility when you strength training and do other activities.
How you know when to apply specific exercises over others. My 3-step thought process.
Intermittent fasting, how and when to use it, and when to pull it out of the toolbox (for yourself and your clients).
Conjugate periodization, whether or not it's good for a beginner lifter, and how to apply it.
A 6-step process to improve you communication and get better results with your clients, team, your partners, and in your relationships.
An insight to get you fired up during these crazy times and why you should get (and be) excited.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Yo! The Business And Fitness Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/yo-business-fitness-podcast-luka-hocevar-steve-krebs/id1469792879
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
4/24/2020 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 30 seconds
EP101: Netflix Nutrition Documentaries, Anti-Inflammation Diets, Coaching Nutrition and Biz Success Insights Q&A
Is your life Groundhog Day? Well it might be the secret to your nutrition success. In this episode I answer your questions about nutrition. I also share my coaching method and tips for how to answer clients questions surrounding things like Netflix nutrition documentaries, anti-inflammation diets, what's best and how to succeed in a big box coaching environment.
Tune in as I dive deep into these subjects and give useful coaching and communication principles. I also deliver some deep food for thought to help you address yourself and biases you may not even know that you have.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The 3 things ALL successful athletes, entrepreneurs, and straight up winners, focus on, and what you MUST focus on to achieve your goals.
Why your days are probably not inspiring on the daily and look more like Groundhog Day; and why that's a GREAT thing.
What to do when a client comes to you with advice from a Netflix documentary or a friend and wants to change their diet against your advice.
What to say and the questions to ask to turn any crucial conversation on nutrition with your clients around.
The weakness that you have to drop if you’re going to become the greatest coach you can be.
Anti-inflammatory diets and what you really need to focus on first. I break down the 3 levels of importance including some supplements that help.
The biggest mistake you’re making as a coach and how to fix it.
Methods to get clients to add and subtract calories throughout their day without overwhelm.
How to differentiate yourself as a coach and grow your business in a big box gym or as an independent contractor.
I'm also dive into details surrounding a special promotion that I'm running to celebrate passing my own 100th episode milestone. In honor I'm giving away some awesome books, supplements, and other goodies.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Book: Change Maker Academy - Turn Your Passion for Health and Fitness into a Powerful Purpose and a Wildly Successful Career: https://www.amazon.com/Change-Maker-Passion-Powerful-Successful/dp/1948836556/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=change+maker&qid=1583959173&sr=8-2
Book: Coach To Coach - An Empowering Story About How To Be A Great Leader: https://www.amazon.com/Coach-Empowering-Story-About-Leader/dp/1119662192/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=coach+to+coach&qid=1583960157&sr=8-1
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
3/12/2020 • 1 hour, 27 minutes, 58 seconds
EP100: A Man’s Guide to Living More Powerfully, Purposefully, and Fulfilled w/ Mike Desanti & Steve Krebs
I have been friends with Mike and Steve for years. Mike being one of my closest, and Steve a close friend and business partner for over a decade. We’ve all been through a lot in our lives – messing things up big time, and learning the hard way. Thankfully we continued to take the lessons, ask for help, and dedicate ourselves to improving and growing. So much so that we've made coaching others to a better place—whether in fitness, business, or life—part of our careers.
The conversation I wanted to have with these men was one of how to navigate the current world for men, and live a powerful, purposeful and fulfilled life in every way. It just so happens that Mike’s book “New Man Emerging” came out not long ago and it’s dives heavily into that exact topic – which opened up the conversation to not only our thoughts and experiences surrounding the subject, but also the book and how it guide’s men to improving every area of their life.
In this episode—which also happens to be our 100th—we share our stories, insights, mess ups, and the wisdom we have learned as a result of them to help you overcome the struggles you may be facing in your life.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
What made Mike get up in the middle of the night and start writing a book about men living a powerful, purposeful and fulfilled life.
What it means to be a powerful man in today’s world.
The key to shifting just about everything in your life, and how to take the first step to make that shift.
Why pain shared is pain divided and happiness shared is happiness multiplied, and why we must share to connect.
Why being powerful is NOT being forceful. We discuss the difference.
Why communication is a catalyst to being powerful and influencing
yourself, your partner, family, teams and community.
Why all the things in life don’t mean s@*t without relationships, and how important it is to recognize this.
Why deliberate practice and building a skillset in THESE areas is crucial to your success.
Why having the right tribe is essential (not a “good to have”) when it comes to a purposeful and fulfilled life.
How to re-shape the narrative of being successful in your career and believing it will carry over to other areas of life (don’t be defined just by what you produce)
The reason working harder may not be the solution.
No one is successful on their own and the reason why the “self-made man” mindset is killing your relationships, career, and your health.
How the industrial revolution changed the way families operate and why we must find a way back to better connections and conversations.
How to know if you're holding yourself back because of the fear of judgements from others and how to change it.
Why you should “Collect role models” to get a pathway to becoming the man you want to be.
If your narrative is that relationships don’t work, and people leave,
then your behaviors will match that.
And much, much more. This is a full on episode.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Mike Desanti: https://newmanemerging.com/
Mike Desanti Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mike_desanti/
Book: A New Man Emerging - An Awakening Man’s Guide To Living A Life of Purpose, Passion, Freedom & Fulfillment (Mike Desanti): https://amzn.to/2T53DGG
Book: Conversations with God (Neale Donald Walsch): https://amzn.to/2HBIZbx
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/19/2020 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 51 seconds
EP099: A Language and Communication to Help Your Coaching and Client Transformations (and Yourself)
After over a decade of working with clients from all walks—as well as
2/12/2020 • 55 minutes, 23 seconds
EP098: Lessons in Coaching, Program Design and Athlete Development from 25 Years in Strength and Conditioning w/ Chris Tombs
Chris has worked with elite players in rugby for almost two decades and has a reputation for developing players at the highest level – enabling them to withstand the test of time, and have long fruitful
2/3/2020 • 1 hour, 34 minutes
EP097: The Sleep Coach’s Strategies to Supercharge Your Results and Transform Your Body and Life w/ Nick Lambe
Years ago I crashed and burned. The cause of my burnout was a decade of working like crazy and not sleeping enough… to the tune of 3-4 hours a night. This led me to go to the doctor and get tests done. The results
1/7/2020 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 18 seconds
EP096: Program Design Insights to Build Pain-Free Muscle, Strength and Performance Gains for Life w/ Dr. John Rusin
I've known Dr. John Rusin for over 6 years now – both as a friend and colleague. In that time I've had the pleasure of hosting John at four events, including the PPSC certification – which brought together 110 coaches from all over the world. In 2020 John's Pain Free Performance Training Certification course will be certifying close to 5,000 coaches all over the world because it straight up works.
I love talking with John on the podcast because it's a chance for us to catch up and discuss how our thinking and experience around training has evolved. In particular, what we do with clients to get the absolute best results.
In this episode I talk to John about sequencing, quality of reps, the structure of a great training session, rep ranges, pump work, and everything in between. Expect some great insights that will help you improve the training and coaching of your clients as well as your own training.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How to use John’s P4 model (Prepare, Prime, Perform, Pump) in your own training to maximize gains The biggest mistake people make when taking a one dogmatic approach to their trainingThe definition of the “meathead de-load” and why you’re probably doing it (and why you shouldn’t!)What a true max effort method lift is and how you can rotate exercises and reps for maximal results and pain-free performanceWhy you should only “sprinkle in” true max effort reps and have them be absolutely pristineWhy the volume in a program should come from pain-free volume in the supplement and assistance work in training Why the KEY to working on your reps is based on your daily performance NOT on structured percentages (we reveal some methods we use)Why it’s not the smartest training 4 big lifts in the 1-5 rep range in the same session and what ranges to useHow to use energy system training to enhance your recovery and bring your lifts up (yes, cardio can bring your lifts up!)Novelty and why it’s so important for buy in – as well as getting better resultsHow to make a BIG difference with “slight variations” in your daily training programs and how it addresses the dynamic stabilityHow to de-construct the program for someone that has been in pain and switch it up so they get stronger and build muscle pain-freeHow to apply tools, methods, and exercises you like into your programming and STILL stick to the principles that will help you succeed with your training
And much, much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Dr. John Rusin: https://drjohnrusin.com/
Pain Free Performance Training: https://getppsc.com/
Dr. John Rusin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnrusin/
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
12/23/2019 • 54 minutes, 21 seconds
EP095: A 3x BBJ World Champion’s Lessons on Coaching, Business, Life and Success
When I first met James Foster a little over 6 years ago it was an instant connection. At the time, we were both helping each other grow. Myself helping him grow his BJJ dojo, and him teaching me BJJ. But the lessons did not end there.
James, a 20 year BJJ veteran, has been highly respected in the BJJ community for a long time. In the the last 6 years however, he has made some serious achievements both personally and professionally. His two most notable achievements are being named the 3x ultra-heavyweight BBJ World Champion, while also growing his dojo to the biggest in Washington State with an ever growing program for kids.
In this episode we talk about everything from mindset, to practice, and the “secret” to becoming the best in the world. We also dive into how to apply these lessons to your life – whether you're coming from the world of business or not. We also talk about the art and science of coaching and the importance of it in every training session and moment.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The principles and characteristics of a champion that breed success in sport, coaching, business and lifeWhy you need to "be real" with yourself, and respect / know that being perfect isn't the key to successWhy leading from the front in your business is a must, despite the cliché. We breakdown what it actually means to lead from the frontThe reason why competing will give you a reality check in how good you areWhat “IASM” means and why it’s a key to charging more and valuing yourself more in business and lifeThe foundational skillsets and mindsets of an excellent coachWhy it’s important to take advice from people that have been there, done that, and are STILL doing it – and how this will help you achieve longevityWhy knowledge + experience + results + longevity = a great coach Why you CAN learn from everyone and the importance of keeping an "empty cup", especially if you're a young and/or new coachHow to earn your respect in the industry, grow your business and do what most aren’t!Why you must never lose the pulse of your culture in your business, or anything else in life if you want to improveWhy you should always work on the things you’re not good at
And a lot more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Foster’s BJJ: https://fbjjonline.com/
James Foster: https://james300foster.com/
James Foster Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/james300foster/
Book: Range - Why Generalists Thrive In A Specialized World (David Epstein): https://www.amazon.com/Range-Generalists-Triumph-Specialized-World/dp/0735214484/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=range&qid=1576771049&sr=8-1
Book: Give and Take - Why Helping Others Drives Our Success (Adam Grant): https://www.amazon.com/Give-Take-Helping-Others-Success/dp/0143124986/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MALXMI37ZB9T&keywords=give+and+take&qid=1576771286&sprefix=give+and+take%2Caps%2C368&sr=8-1
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
12/19/2019 • 1 hour, 42 minutes, 19 seconds
EP094: How to Improve and Structure Your Training Programs through the Lens of R7 | Program Design Part 2
I’ve spent the last two decades studying with the best of the best to learn how to get the best results (through training) for myself and my clients. A standout lesson in my years of training and experimentation came from Mike Robertson and Bill Hartman. These two very smart men gave me a structure that simplified what to include in each session, along with a lens to view my programs through to ensure that I'm getting the best results for my clients, and myself. Their method has since became the framework for how we write most of our training programs here at Vigor Ground for both our personal and group training clients.
In this episode I break down each “R” of the R7 system and the principles and science behind it. I also go into what it looks like in the real world of exercises and programs.
This is a must listen if you train clients.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why most people are living on the “fight or flight” part of the spectrum of their nervous system, when they should instead address the first two “R’s” in their program to ensure that they're getting the best results out of their trainingWhy people can foam roll and warm up too much and then not get the results from trainingWhat “Release” is and how it can be a huge factor in feeling better and performing better in your trainingThe R7 protocol and how it creates a flow of the training session from low intensity to high intensity to recoveryHow to decrease stiffness and pain and improve mobility. I give you the specific strategyHow to improve biomechanics position and autonomic balanceWhy if you have to foam roll everything you’re doing it WRONG, and why this is a tell tale sign that you need to check your program!How to restore position, balance inhalation vs exhalation, improve mobility with two exercises in the “Reset” stageThe most powerful reset you have in your arsenal is high quality exercise technique and program designThe three-step process to warm up in your “Readiness” stageThe warm up that sets the stage for your entire workout, and how to make it a priority in your training sessionsWhy everyone should do reactive/power work, whether in private, semi-private, or groups – from pro athletes to 70-year olds Programming from the neural to the metabolic spectrum and how to use it in your programs
And much, much, more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Complete Coach Certification: http://completecoachcertification.com
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
12/9/2019 • 2 hours, 15 minutes, 51 seconds
EP093: Program Design Secrets, Joint-Friendly Training and Building Muscle at Any Age w/ Bret Contreras & Jay Ferruggia
Recently I was down in San Diego for an event my friend Craig Ballantyne was putting one. While there Jay Ferruggia and I decided to take the opportunity to visit the famous Glute Lab to train with our friend Bret Contreras. AKA “The Glute Guy.” Apart from a great training session, we got to talking about training, which led to this podcast episode.
In it you'll get some powerful insights on program design, joint-friendly training, building muscle (at any age) and how to stay in the game forever – along with some industry secrets, and much much more.
The three of us have a combined 60 years of coaching experience under our belts, and have been training personally for 25 years or more years (each). This hour of power is a look into what works in the real world, and why we were wrong about some things that we only learned through decades of experience coaching clients.
This is a "must listen" episode if you're a coach.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The big mistakes most people make when programming for building muscle and why you will fail if you do thisWhy you’re doing too much and not doing it well enoughWhy talking smack about machines was mistake and why we love machines and how to use themWhy joint-friendly training is the solution for long-term strength, muscle, performance, and feeling greatThe exact model Bret uses to get people results month in and month out, for the long haul (steal it!)Jay’s secret on sequencing exercises and why NOT to start the day with the big lifts - this is a game changer when you implement itHow I cycle bilateral and unilateral exercises as main exercises, rotate joint-friendly lifts, and change the reps of my PR’s to constantly improve What should you focus on the most: Intensity, Volume, Frequency?The ideal training splits for most people and the break down of what has been the “bread n' butter” in getting results for our clients us for decadesThe key to longevity in the fitness game as coach. We share our wisdom from decades of work and many mistakes
And much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Bret Contreras Website: https://bretcontreras.com/
Jay Ferruggia: http://jasonferruggia.com/
Book: The Glute Lab - The Art and Science of Strength Training (Bret Contreras): https://www.amazon.com/Glute-Lab-Art-Science-Training/dp/1628603461/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+glute+lab&qid=1574934576&sr=8-2
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
11/30/2019 • 49 minutes, 23 seconds
EP092: 14 Mindset Lessons and Strategies to Build Success in Your Career
At Vigor Ground we teach that there are four components to success in a body transformation: training, nutrition, mindset, and recovery – with mindset being the integral center.
Despite the importance of mindset, many people ignore it – which can lead to bottlenecks and failed results. In this podcast I go over 14 lessons and strategies to improve your mindset so you can build success, no matter which area of life you want to improve.
This episode is a must listen if you have ever struggled to reach a goal in the past. It's also a must of you coach people in any capacity.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why thinking bigger and bolder is a MUST—not selfish or “unrealistic”My realization of having to do more of less, and why destroying yourself with work will prevent you from changing your life and your businessWhy I believe that every day that you hesitate to share your gift with the world is selfish. And why I started creating more once I realized this truthOmnipresence – why being everywhere all the time can help you, and how to do itThe 5 questions that will have you set your ego aside and help you grow from week-to-week Why you may think you know better, but you don't. And how to change this mindset if you have itHow to be more resilient and anti-fragile—which is foundational in the world of entrepreneurship (and life in general)The way I deal with struggle and turn it around to strengthen my mindset and resolve3 things you must do on a daily basis in the “mindset gym” to become unstoppableAnd much more…
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
10/30/2019 • 55 minutes, 12 seconds
EP091: A Little about the “What” and a Lot about the “How” of Results-Based Nutrition Coaching
We live in a time when there's more information than ever on nutrition and fitness readily available at our fingertips. Despite that, obesity rates are on the rise and overall health is declining.
If you're interested to learn about nutrition for transforming your body—or an individual you are coaching—you could go online and study the many reputable sources available and know just about everything about it in as little as 2 weeks. I’m talking about the calories to eat for certain goals, the macro breakdowns, the foods that make sense and align with your goals, etc.
Sure, you may say there's more to it than that. But in that time you would know more than enough about "what" is needed to achieve your desired transformation results. Where things get fuzzy is in the "how". This goes for coaching too.
To help you crack the code, the focus of this episode—and the next couple ones—is going to be the "how" of nutrition coaching. In particular, HOW to get people to move the needle and eat their "what" more frequently and consistently.
While this episode may talk to the coach, it’s very powerful for anyone looking to make a change in their lifestyle and nutrition in general. So if you're interested in nutrition, and want to learn how to crack the "how" code, this is the episode that will help you get results for yourself and your clients.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Some of the most common “what's” when it comes to nutrition, that you may already know, but probably don’t doWhy some people continue to look deeper into the “what" of nutrition to get better results when the answer actually lies in the “why" and "how”The 6-steps of results-based coaching and why things aren’t as easy as 1,2,3How to gather the right data and “build a story” around the client – the missing piece in any successful long-term transformation “As a _____, I want to ______ so that I can ______.” Why this is a template to help you find out what a client wants most right now, and why knowing the blanks in this statement is crucial when helping anyone achieve resultsHow to build a next step for each individual client into the plan and avoid a common mistake that almost everyone makesWhy there are no “should’s" in nutrition coaching, only “what is” and the reason you should use OBDM (I tell you what this is in this episode)The missing key to finding expectations and trade off’s and how it can eliminate a lot of roadblocks to keep things moving aheadThe 4-step process to move clients from thinking about outcomes/end results, to the behaviors that will lead them to their goalsWhy identifying small wins and bright spots is SO important and how rigid plans can lead to short and long-term failure The A-B-C list and how discovering limiting factors takes away the stress of changing nutritionFiguring out the RIGHT type of action for you
And so much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Blog: Detox From Diets (The Truth About Why Diets Fail And What To Do About It): https://vigorgroundfitness.com/detox-diets-truth-diets-fail/
Why Diets Fail And How To Achieve Fat Loss Forever Seminar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2qomf1JiDU&t=785s
7 Nutrition Principles To Keep The Weight Off And Insight On Vigor Ground Nutrition Coaching: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbHy4DxDKnQ&t=695s
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
10/8/2019 • 2 hours, 2 seconds
EP090: How to Turn Your Passion for Health and Fitness into a Powerful Purpose and a Wildly Successful Career w/ John Berardi
Dr. John Berardi co-created the number one nutrition coaching program and certification in the world, Precision Nutrition. He is responsible for shifting the fitness industry's perception of nutrition coaching, and is the reason many coaches are better equipped to help their clients succeed.
I’ve been fortunate to call John a friend and mentor for over a decade. I watched him take Precision Nutrition from an idea to an industry leader, and learned so many things from him along the way. The majority of Precision Nutrition was sold not long ago for $200 million. After the sale, JB turned his sights to helping others in the industry that gave him so much – which led to writing of his new book, “Change Maker” and the launch of the Change Maker Academy.
This podcast was recorded during my my fireside conversation with John at the Vigor Ground Fitness and Business Summit this past September. We went deep into his thoughts on...
1. The fitness industry, how it has changed—and continues to—and the things new coaches MUST think about to become successful
2. The fast track to success and how to get on it. (John shares his tips for coaches who have been in the industry for a while and are having a hard time navigating this confusing time)
3. The 3 most important things you have to figure out before copying others "success" – that few people do
4. John's “squint the eyes” strategy to figuring out the principles of success, and why he uses it
5. The best marketing principles wrapped out into 3-steps - the Tripod Marketing Model
6. A powerful method to get constructive feedback and why nothing worth doing can be done alone
7. How to build a great content machine like Precision Nutrition and why you shouldn’t!
8. Why coaches should be paid more appropriately for the important work that they/we do, and how to change it so that they/we are
9. Why teaching business and entrepreneurship is NOT the best thing to do for coaches
10. What lane should you be in when it comes to your career and why this is the FIRST decision you must make
11. Having an origin story, and why having one is foundational to your career—in fitness and anything
12. The “Sports Bracket Strategy” to deciding priorities and which one wins
13. The T-shaped model of skillsets you must develop to become the best at your craft
14. And SO much more…
LINKS AND RESOURCES
John Berardi website: https://www.johnberardi.com/
Precision Nutrition: www.PrecisionNutrition.com
John Berardi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjohnberardi/
Change Maker Free Resources: www.changemakeracademy.com/downloadable-forms/free-download
Book: Change Maker - Turn Your Passion for Health and Fitness into A Wildly Successful Career (John Berardi): https://www.amazon.com/Change-Maker-Passion-Powerful-Successful/dp/1948836556/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=change+maker&qid=1569955645&sr=8-1
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
10/1/2019 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 48 seconds
EP089: From Overcoming an Eating Disorder to Helping Thousands Take Control of Their Body through Online Coaching w/ Kelsey Heenan
Kelsey Heenan and her husband Dennis are amazing humans. I met them over a year ago, and was so happy that they were able to present at this year's Vigor Ground Fitness and Business Summit.
At the Summit, I got the chance to learn more about Kelsey's story, and how it led her to the work she now does with HIITBURN. We talk about it in this episode, but Kelsey went from being a college athlete, to a serious eating disorder—which she overcame, and discusses in this episode—to becoming a teacher, to now helping people take control of their body through the online coaching work she does with HIITBURN – the business she started with her husband Dennis.
HIITBURN has since evolved into a worldwide phenomenon. It helps thousands and thousands of people globally reach their goals with a series of different coaching programs that are designed and led by Kelsey and Dennis.
We talk about everything from how to recognize an eating disorder—or disordered eating—and how to address it. To what led Kelsey to online coaching—in particular, how they got started and all the obstacles they overcame—and how to develop your own voice, build your brand, and a whole lot more.
This is a must listen to podcast if you’re looking to transform your body and/or build your business and brand.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Kelsey’s dedication to basketball and how her focus on being the best athlete led to an eating disorderThe crucial conversations that led Kelsey into getting help and how she overcame the eating disorderThe catalyst that got Kelsey into coaching and the steps her and Dennis took to be able to grow their online businessWhy a good relationship with food is key before getting into too much X’s and O’s and what diet is bestThe KEY to unraveling your voice to help you create your own brand online How to find out what content you should create to increase your audience and engagement Kelsey’s top 3 insights on building a successful online coaching business that stands the test of timeThe best way to get results in advance and have prospects wanting to work with you and join your programIf you’re running a challenge, what type should it be and what you NEED to know before you start itThe reason many programs won’t stand the test of time and become a successful online business, and how to keep it from happening to youWhat Kelsey does to stay in great shape (it’s less training than you’d think)
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Kelsey Heenan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailykelsey/
HIITBURN Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiitburn/
Intuitive Guide: https://thedailykelsey.com/intuitive-eating
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Eating Disorder Resources:
UCSD Eating Disorders: www.EatingDisorders.UCSD.edu
The Center Of Balanced Living: www.CenterForBalancedLiving.org
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
9/24/2019 • 1 hour, 23 minutes, 46 seconds
EP088: How to Structure Results Based Training Programs, Fat Loss Program Design, and Training Insights | Part 1
Methods are many, principles are few. Methods change, but principles never do.
This is one of my favorite sayings. It also drives the direction of successful program design – for both your clients, and yourself.
When it comes to program design, it's great to have as many tools in your toolbox as possible. BUT, those tools will only be effective when they’re used with the principles that shaped them in mind.
In this episode, I dive into this concept deeper – discussing program design and some of the principles I use to build body transformation programs. I also give some strength training program examples.
The episode is also the first part of my masterclass on program design and building results-based training programs. Both of which I will do more of—in addition to answering more questions about training programs.
Dive in and extract as much value as you can to build your own training programs for both you, and your clients.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How working with a wide group of people—from all walks of life and fitness levels—built my skillset of coaching and program designerThe program design rules of the road, and the principles that should guide the design of any programHow to discover goals, use assessments, and other variables to get the best starting point for your program designWhether or not you can use templates to design programs, and if you can individualize programs using themWhy you should write programs, not workouts, and how to reverse engineer to create the best program for your clientsDifferent periodization models you can use and different frequency of training templates for best resultsThe hierarchy of fat loss training and what to do if a client only has a certain amount of time to training each weekThe R7 system and how a 60-minute session may break down into different components Fat loss and the general population, and athletic population templates for adding power trainingHow to program in energy system training/cardio in a simple and smart wayAnd much more
This episode is a must listen if you're a coach or train people in some capacity.
LINKS AND RESOURCES
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
9/19/2019 • 0
EP087: Achieving the Impossible & Challenging Your Limits of Peak Performance, Potential and Experience with Matt Dawson
I met Matt Dawson through a mutual friend and it didn't take me long to realize that we were cut from the same cloth. Like me, Matt is trying to achieve a goal that some would deem "crazy". And I knew I needed to get him on the podcast to talk about it.
Matt’s journey started much like my own – as an athlete. Following his athletic career, he then entered the fast-paced world of investment banking – where he worked 80-100 hour work weeks and created a lot of success for himself. But life, as it so often does, threw him some curve balls which led him to discovering his purpose and the creation of two endeavours: the Dawson’s Peak Organization, and Project Seven for Soldiers; when he will attempt to break seven world records with all proceeds going to charity.
Matt's goal is both simple and inspiring: to make a positive impact on others. In this episode of the podcast we talk about how taking on your own personal challenges can help you create the best version of yourself; while elevating those around you. This is an inspiring and impactful episode that is a must to listen to if you want to get fired up about achieving the peak of your performance.
With that said, let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
What led Dawson’s from sports to investment banking – where he became a high performer Why despite Matt's success as an investment banker, he felt something was missing in his life – which led him to find purposeWhat made Matt decide at the age of 37 to take on the challenge of breaking world records in mountaineering, along with some other wild recordsWhat purpose means to Matt and what he believes you should do as an individual and as a businessCreating Dawsons Peak and inspiring transformations through pushing the boundaries of human capabilityThe personal mountain you must climb to achieve a transformation in your life. We talk about the limits that we impose on ourself, our goals and dreams, and how to break through themThe importance of creating social impact aside from profits (or making money) in your lifeHow you redirect your fears to make you as successful as possibleWhat you can and can’t control and how to drop your stress and anxieties so that you can achieve the impossibleWhy the hardest thing for most is to sit quietly with themselves and why the mountains and adventure can help you be alone and discover yourselfTraveling and how it changes you from the inside out (ie. giving up control and working on things you can control)Why as a society we’ve become too comfortable and how we can truly feel our best when we’re pushing and challenging ourselvesWhat “Bathing in the fire” and “Getting the evil out of me” mean and how it can help you become your bestAnd so much more. This episode is true gold.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Dawson’s Peak: https://dawsonspeak.com/
Matt Dawson Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawsonspeak/
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/15/2019 • 1 hour, 10 minutes, 16 seconds
EP086: 10 Biz Lessons with Social Impact & 11 Evolved Enterprise Models That “Bake In” Impact into Every Sale You Make
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is clear – altruism matters! I’ve shared a lot about how much it means to me – in particular, and how it drives my decisions in business and life.
When it comes to the importance/power of of living selflessly, one of the people I look up to is Scott Harrison. Who is the founder of Charity: Water. Like myself, Scott's past includes a firestorm of heavy partying, late nights, drugs, and a merry-go-round of banal hedonism. Rising from the ashes, he made a massive change to his life – which led him to to the innermost villages of the poorest regions of Africa. There he learned of the world's striking water crisis – which led him to dedicating his life to finding a solution to that very problem.
In this podcast I share 10 lessons that I have learned from Scott in the building one of the most widely known and efficiently run charities on the planet.
The latter part of the show I share 11 models of evolved enterprises that for profit businesses can employ to “bake in” impact into every sale. Including examples, as well as how I'm currently using the Evolved Enterprise Model to build my social calling: The Vigor DREAM Project.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why fast cars, big houses, pretty acquaintances and partying, will NOT lead to fulfillment or happiness. And the question to ask yourself when seeking purpose.Why you should never burn bridges because you never know which connection will become a collaboration or a helping hand when you need it most. My tips and lessons to building great connections. Why you need to be willing to risk some money to make money. Why if you want to earn freedom, you to risk some of your time. What you truly need to succeed, and why you need to lose your ego to become a master.Why people don’t buy with their minds, they buy with their hearts, and how Scott told stories people connected with.How to use radical transparency in your business to not only create trust and more social impact, but grow your business.The perspective you need to take and things you need to do when you fail so that you can come out on the other side a winner.The secret to VIP’s and how to treat people.The 11 impact models of “baking in” impact with every sale including buy one give one, direct impact, all in, give what you want, and 7 others that you can use for your for profit business to make a difference in your community, while differentiating yourself in your marketplace and increasing sales.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Charity: Water: https://www.charitywater.org/
Book: Thirst - A Story of Redemption, Compassion, and a Mission to Bring Clean Water to the World (Scott Harrison): https://www.amazon.com/Thirst-Story-Redemption-Compassion-Mission/dp/1524762849/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=thirst&qid=1563161949&s=gateway&sr=8-1
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
7/16/2019 • 48 minutes, 1 second
EP085: The Impact of Mentoring and Guiding Youth and How to Build Social Change into Your Business w/ Marcus Harden
On this show I bring on Marcus Harden who is not only an OG at Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance, but also an incredible human being. Marcus has worked in eduction and with youth for close to two decades. He inspired me to start the Vigor DREAM program. A scholarship program that I am working with Marcus to develop that will mentor, guide and support young men and women through accountability, coaching, fitness and performance. Essentially, it will be the mentorship program that I could have used when I was knucklehead and getting into trouble growing up.
Marcus Harden is the co-founder of ACE Academy, a non-profit that serves young men of color – specifically African American males and other historically marginalized young men of color. ACE Academy is part of the initial cohort of School Foundry and looks to open as a school model in Fall of 2019. Marcus is in his 15th year in education, having served at multiple levels, including educational policy, school-based counselling, Community Engagement Management for WA Charters, and currently as a Principal Intern completing the University of Washington Danforth program. Marcus is a proud Southeast Seattle native, the voice of Rainier Beach High School, a proud mentor, parent, son, karaoke legend—in his own mind—and aspiring Superhero.
We talk about the lessons of being a great mentor and coach, how to go about creating your own programs for the kids in needs, and how to cook them into your business to create more of an impact – while also connecting yourself and your business to something meaningful.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Marcus ended up getting into youth education despite his belief that he didn't like kids or want to do anything with themThe lessons and impact of adopting 4 kids at the age of 26, where it led Marcus, and what you can learn from itHow going to 21 funerals for kids in 4 years changed him and what it’s made him take action onThe 2nd and 3rd order consequences of your decisions and how are they showing up in your life in a negative wayThe MOST important thing to do when mentoring youth and coaching that most people missThe big step of taking on the responsibility of a mentorship and the reason why you may be stuck (you’ll be surprised at the answer)What the “love-ful pedagogy” is and how you can apply it to your business and life to make both a lot betterThe biggest problems in the education system and the solutions that can change how you make a differenceThe “Champ Of The Day” exercise and how you can use it in your life and businessWhy you’re not your brother's keeper, but rather your brother and what this concept means for youThe story of how belief changed a whole class of kids from the worst to the best, and why you shouldn’t look at anyone’s “file”The lesson of the “13 year old you” and how it will help you drop labels, get curious, and treat people with no judgement or labelsThe AAC model (Affirmation, Accountability and Correction) and how you can use it in coaching, leadership and when mentoring youthHow to develop a impactful program in your business that will create change as well as differentiate you to help build a more profitable business
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
ACE Academy: https://aceacademywa.org
Marcus Harden Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamthepeoplesninja/
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
7/4/2019 • 1 hour, 20 minutes, 9 seconds
EP084: You Don’t Really Know Cardio, The Death Of Group Training As We Know It, And The Secret Training Sauce w/ Joel Jamieson
When it comes to energy systems training (AKA “cardio”) there are few people in the world who understand, teach, and coach it better than Joel Jamieson. Let's put it this way, if Joel was a character in Game of Thrones, he’d be announced as “The shield that protects the realms of conditioning” – which is why I brought him back on the podcast for a second time.
This episode is full of mind blowing insight that crushes common belief systems surrounding cardio with science-based truth. You’ll discovery everything from why good cardio is more important than strength, and how it can help you be less stressed, more productive and a nicer human. Joel also dives into how/why the current gym cardio models are doing more harm than good, and a tactic that will help you live 10% longer.
This episode has a lot of knowledge bombs in it. So, if you want to change your mindset, training and results for the better, you don't want to miss this one.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The biggest misconception about energy systems training. The difference between what an average gym goer thinks “cardio” and being “fit” is verses what it REALLY is, and how to achieve it.Is cardio really more important than strength training? Joel answers this and you’ll be surprised by the answer.A training style that helps people live a whole 10% longer, and why you MUST do this type of training.How cardio can play a big role in keeping you less sick, more productive, less stressed, and generally a nicer human being.Why the Tabata study had it all wrong, and what the best approach to constantly improving your fitness actually is.The answer to this question: Can a person who does a high intensity group training program four-days a week (or more) NOT hit a wall and get crushed, and stop getting results?Luka and Joel’s thoughts on Crossfit, OrangeTheory, F45 and other high intensity group training programs, and what these training methods are doing to people. What the IDEAL group training program looks like, and how we can take the next steps to better programming and coaching in group training.The two things that will be built into the gyms of the future.The role "fun" actually plays in fitness.Why cardio is important when it comes to building muscle and losing fat. The answer is not what you think.Where wearable technology is going, and whether or not you should give it any importance. Why every coach should understand, know how to explain, and program energy system training in for their clients to ensure that they get the best results, no matter their goal.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Bioforce Conditioning Certification: https://www.8weeksout.com/conditioning-certification/
Morpheus: https://trainwithmorpheus.com
Joel Jamieson’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachjoeljamieson/
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Book: Why We Sleep - Unlocking The Power of Sleep and Dreams (Matthew Walker): https://www.amazon.com/Why-We-Sleep-Unlocking-Dreams/dp/1501144316
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/28/2019 • 58 minutes, 20 seconds
EP083: How Doing The Paleo AIP Diet For 30-Days Created A Big Habit Change In My Life (Despite Not Sticking With It Long Term)
Over the course of two and a half decades of being an athlete and coach I’ve done more diets and experiments than I can count. Every time I learned something in theory, I would experiment with it on myself, before taking the lessons and adding them to my coaches toolbox.
My latest experiment: the Paleo AIP diet. This one entered my radar thanks to my friend Jay Ferruggia – who has been raving about how it has helped him. This intrigued me, so I decided to learn more about it before possibly experimenting with it on myself. When it comes to diets, I am tend to be a little more reluctant to try them because I don’t want to be "that" guy.
With that said, I ended up deciding to give the diet a go. The final trigger? The words of praise from a few Vigor clients who were on it due to autoimmune issues, so I decided to do a 6-week incubator program with Paleo AIP as the nutrition foundation.
In this episode I discuss the experience. If you're curious about the Paleo AIP diet you will not want to miss this episode of the podcast.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
Why I decided to do a Paleo AIP diet while not being a “Paleo guy”Why I asked my clients to fail and be ok with it, calling it an "experiment" rather than a challenge, and why you should tooThe Paleo AIP protocol, what you can and can’t eat on it, and why one would follow the dietThe one thing you MUST do when you make a drastic change in your nutrition—that most people neglect to doThe structure and rules that you need to follow to make the Paleo AIP diet work for you and still be able to reintroduce foods back WITHOUT gaining a lot of weight or feeling like crapHow one decision created a cascade of consequences in my positive habits and how you can do the sameWhy the “contrast pill” can help you completely transform your life – I detail how to take itHow to know if you are sedating or avoiding the reality of your life – instead creating behavioral patterns that are leading you away from you goalsWhen I like challenges and how they can be a catalyst for better health, business, and lifeWhy we eat more than we think and how this lesson can change your body as well as any other daily struggle you’re experiencing
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/16/2019 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 26 seconds
EP082: 10 Lessons On How To Influence and Persuade To Create Impact and Change
I have been a student of sales and persuasion for over a decade now. What led me down this path was a desire to be a better leader, coach and business owner – since sales and persuasion are crucial to all three.
The word "sales" often gets a bad rap. This is namely due to the common belief that "sales" = forcing someone to do something; which is an uncomfortable thought for most. In reality however we’re all persuading and influencing and selling every single day of our lives. Whether it’s to our significant other, kids, team, bosses, clients, we are always subconsciously influencing and persuading people.
Mastering the art of influence and persuasion (sales fall under that) is important because it allows you to make the impact that you are striving to make in the world. To put it bluntly: if you are serious about helping people, then you must study influence and persuasion. I dive into this topic in this episode – focusing on the 10 lessons that will help you influence others to create impact, and recognize when you’re being influenced.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How you’re already being convinced before you ever make the decision and how to spot environments that are influencing you every dayThe magic of the “privileged moment’ and how to take advantage of it to influence whoever you wantThe trick people use to persuade you by shifting your focus and how you can stop them, and use it as a super-power in your own coachingWhy we pay most attention to sex, violence, and _________ and how this subconscious action is being used against us How we associate with what's around us and the steps to make your environment work for youThe method I apply to use my habitual nature against myself to positively change my life and that of my clients Why you should avoid decisions based on popularity but use this tool for your own persuasive forcesThe 3 steps to create lasting change (these alone are worth listening to this podcast to hear)The six major methods of change and how to apply them in your daily life and business
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Book: Pre-Suasion - A Revolutionary Way To Influence and Persuade (Robert Cialdini): https://www.amazon.com/Pre-Suasion-Revolutionary-Way-Influence-Persuade/dp/1501109790/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=pre+suasion&qid=1556565620&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spell
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/6/2019 • 1 hour, 16 minutes
EP081: How to Go From Being a Leadership Soloist to a Conductor to Transform Your Team, Business, and Life
Back when I was a personal trainer working with clients one-on-one I only had to rely on myself to get the job done. As long as I got results for my clients and hustled, everything worked out fine... until it didn't. As my business grew, I started to collaborate with other trainers and build a team. It was a natural progression, but it forced me to take a look at how I was running things.
As I grew, it became increasingly evident that the behaviors I had built up weren't cutting it anymore – slowing as opposed to facilitating my growth.
Essentially I was a soloist trying to play in a unified band – which never works when you’re working to build a championship team. With self-reflection I realized what I had to do. I needed to transform myself from the soloist, who's shoes I had grown accustom to wearing, to a conductor focused on strengthen the team instead of the individual so that we could work together in unison.
Today I share five lessons I learned a result of that transformation. These lessons will teach you how to take yourself from a soloist to a conductor, when it comes to leadership, and will enable you to strengthen your team, business, relationships, and family.
Don’t learn through pain and mistakes. Listen to these lessons and save yourself the trouble of going through them.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why I threw myself into learning obsessively about leadership and team building by hiring mentors and going through coursesWhy taking things slow will allow both you and your team to go further in the long-runWhat you have to give up and commit to if you want to go from a soloist to a conductorThe difference between a hiker and a leaderMy Tough Mudder experience and the mistake I made that you need to avoid if you want your business to be successful What the “leadership dance” is and how to implement it in your business to help you do/be your bestThe KEY to shifting your mindset that will ultimately become the catalyst to change your team(s) for the betterHow to know if your team is 'completing against' or 'working with' one anotherThe reason your team is not working together, and the number one road block that stops teams from succeeding
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
4/16/2019 • 48 minutes, 18 seconds
E080: How To Become A World Class Coach, Build Your Fitness Brand The Right Way & Create The Lifestyle You Want w/ Joe Defranco
If you’ve been around strength and conditioning for awhile you’ll likely know Joe Defranco. Joe is one of the OG’s who started the warehouse gym movement, became a trainer to the pros, and is now one of the most accomplished coaches in the industry.
He’s been there, done that, and still doing it.
Joe has successfully moved from a career owning and growing gyms, to one where he works with only a select group of high end clients. He also has also launched a number of successful online products and courses, live certifications, and has an extremely popular podcast, and a supplement brand.
Basically, he has done it all.
In this episode we get into how it did it. We talk about everything from what helps you stand out as a coach, the “old school” things that will work forever, the “new school” things you should focus on in today’s social media-driven world, what NOT to do, and how to build a career that is customized to what you want for yourself and your family.
This episode is pure fire. You're going to want to listen to it till the very end.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Joe got started and the birth of the warehouse gymWhy he didn't take the advice to NOT give away too much value on his site, and why that was a catalyst for his careerHow to not miss the boat when it comes to standing out in your marketHow Joe got “Triple H” and other celebrity clients to hire him as their coachThe IG/social media influencer “Priority Pyramid” and why you shouldn't get your priorities confused when you’re seeking fitness/training information onlineThe biggest mistakes coaches make on when promoting themselves on social mediaWhat made Joe pull the trigger and shut down his 5,000 square foot gym to focus on a different path that ultimately created a better lifeHow to discover what you truly love doing as opposed to what you THINK you should be doing to help you build a happy and successful fitness careerA look into the way Joe trains to be the leanest and fittest he’s been in his life (in his 40s) without spending hours training everydayWhy neither of us have plans to monetize ours podcasts and still approach it The biggest insights for coaches when it comes to becoming the go-to expert in your area and building a foundation for long-term success in the industry
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Joe’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/defrancosgym/
Joe Defranco Official Website: https://www.defrancostraining.com
Certified Physical Preparation Specialist (CPPS) Certification Level 1: https://cppscoaches.com
Joe Defranco YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/joedefranco/videos
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
3/28/2019 • 1 hour, 43 minutes, 18 seconds
EP079: 5 Leadership Secrets From One Of The Worlds Greatest Teams To Help You Win In Life
I grew up watching my oldest brother play rugby – something he still does to this day. The current captain of the Slovenian National Rugby Team, he has become someone the sport respects.
Growing up I would watch rugby with him; which led to an infatuation with the New Zealand All-Blacks. There was something different about them. And I loved the Haka they did before their games... even though I didn’t know what it meant at the time.
3/15/2019 • 40 minutes, 11 seconds
E078: 9 Lessons On How To Overcome Hard Times And Adversity In Business And Life
There are only two types of businesses: those who are going through tough times, and those that will go through tough times. The same goes for life. This is not just me being negative, it's me being real. If you don’t think you’ll ever go through tough times, you won't be prepared for them when they come. And if you're not prepared, it's hard to make it through your challenges as a winner.
In today’s episode I breakdown 9 lessons that will help you overcome hard times and adversity in business and life so that you're prepared if/when they do come.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How playing and failing at pro basketball taught me how to pick myself up and win in the long runSome of the roller coaster struggles and adversity I have faced with my fitness business and gym ownership and how I overcame themHow to avoid falling down a spiral staircase of stress, anxiety and confusionThe one thing you must focus on when things go wrong How to assess the narrative inside of your head so that you can turn things around, and why your actions will match the underlying stories you tell yourselfWhy when times are tough you have to make sure you focus on your tribe the most The energy are you transferring to your team in tough times that will make or break your business and teamThe 2 P’s you MUST master to be a legacy business and have amazing relationships in every area of lifeWhy tough times are crossroads in business and an opportunity for change; and why you need to reflect on how to shift gears to turn things aroundWhy you must go on the offence when it comes to competition and when times are hard you must chase business Why you must avoid the harbingers of doom and people that see the worst side of things and put you in a negativity vortexAnd much more
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Book: What Got You Here Won’t Get You There (Marshall Goldsmith): https://www.amazon.com/What-Got-Here-Wont-There/dp/1401301304/ref=sr_1_1?crid=34R6XA7YR0YBG&keywords=what+got+you+here+wont+get+you+there&qid=1551366134&s=gateway&sprefix=what+got+y%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/28/2019 • 43 minutes, 23 seconds
EP077: 17 Lessons To Invigorate Your Life
3 or 4 years ago I wrote a blog post with 99 lessons from life in it. At the time, I didn’t think much about. So when it went viral I was surprised by how many people enjoyed and shared it.
Last year I decided to give my original post an upgrade. I ended up rewriting a lot of it – pulling from my notes in my journals, my voice recordings, as well as insights on things I had changed since then.
What started as a blog—that I was going to write over the course of a week —ended up taking almost a year to complete. I am really proud of the completed project and am currently packaging it as an ebook – which I will be giving away for free. My hope is that you can take the lessons I have learned over the course of my life and apply them to your own—and benefit from them as much as I have.
Since there was no way to cover all the lessons in the podcast, I chose 17 powerful lessons and stories to share with you.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How I approach each day and the lesson that you need to live by if you want to continue to grow and improveThe most important thing to understand if you want to win in life – no matter how bad a card you have been dealt or the obstacles you are facingThe one word that you need to understand that will help your happiness thriveMy favorite documentary and why it fires me up to be the best in the world at my craft every time that I watch itA painful question that will determine whether you need to changeThe 3 C’s that drive our intrinsic motivation and what helped me get out of some of the darkest places in my lifeThe formula for achieving anything you want in lifeThe 7 lessons of the Japanese forrest and why they are such an important part of my belief systemThe 5-steps to changing your subconscious behaviorsThe number one thing we should buy and useHow to use your favorite self-sabotage stories to unlock your growth
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Jiro Dreams of Sushi Documentary: http://www.magpictures.com/jirodreamsofsushi/
Book: Tribe - On Homecoming and Belonging (Sebastian Junger): https://www.amazon.com/Tribe-Homecoming-Belonging-Sebastian-Junger/dp/1455566381/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1550480643&sr=8-1&keywords=sebastian+junger
Book: Social - Why Our Brains Are Wired To Connect (Matthew Lieberman): https://www.amazon.com/Social-Why-Brains-Wired-Connect/dp/0307889106/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1550480737&sr=1-3&keywords=social
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/19/2019 • 55 minutes, 48 seconds
EP076: What We’d Tell Our Younger Selves As A Coach and Fitness Business Owner If We Could Go Back In Time
In this episode of the podcast I sit down with Vigor Coach, Theo Bowie to discuss the lessons we have learned and would tell our younger selves.
We dig into things from two perspectives:
What we would tell ourselves if we were a young coach just coming into the industry who is looking to learn and grow personally and professionally.What we would tell ourselves if we were a fitness business owner starting with nothing but a vision who is looking to build something that will positively affect people locally and/or worldwide.
As a wise man once said, “Life’s too short to learn from just your own mistakes.” It's important to learn from the mistakes and lessons of people that have been there, done that, and are still doing it. Then apply those lessons to your own life so that you don't repeat them in your own life.
Don’t get it twisted – you will still have to put in a LOT of work and face struggle, obstacles, and failure(s). But this is the true definition of learning from mentors.
If you are a coach, business owner, entrepreneur or a part of a team, you will benefit greatly from the golden nuggets in this episode.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How we scare interns to see if they’re really committed to interning at Vigor Ground Fitness and PerformanceOne of the most important things Theo would change as a young coach to excel faster while also creating less stressThe difference between time management and work when you’re younger and when you’ve been at it for a whileThe exercise that will make it very clear on how much time you’re wasting; and how much more time you could have for yourself, your family, and meaningful work just by doing itThe opportunities and perils of social media and how to navigate it to get what you want without falling into “the trap"Money management 101 and what almost no one does that could build their financial health and wealthThe key thing you must avoid if you’re going to become a business owner of any kindWhat truly makes you happy in life and how to create work and life masteryAdvice for young coaches to excel, create opportunities for themselves and build a career on integrity and connections
And so much more. We go deep in this episode.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Theo Bowie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theobowie/
Theo Bowie YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv3uYHifqw9H1l51gZ_kd0w
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/8/2019 • 1 hour, 24 minutes, 38 seconds
EP075: How A Manic Depressive, Anxious Fat Guy Transformed His Body, 10x His Business and Saved His Marriage
I met Paul Mort in a business mastermind almost a decade ago. At the time, he was a personal trainer running boot camps in England and had built it up to 17 locations. He was brilliant — but at the same time — crazy, and a roller coaster. Throughout the years we became close friends as I watched him build and sell companies, all while struggling personally with bi-polar disorder – which wrecked havoc on his health and family. This all came to a climax when in 2014 he was on the edge of a cliff ready to jump and take his own life.
What happens next is not only incredible, but also inspirational. As Paul took the step back, he made the decision to turn his life around in every way. He has since became unstoppable in the areas of business and fitness. He also saved his marriage and family.
Today he is off the lithium medication and helping other men turn their lives around. Paul came and visited me in Slovenia to hang out for three-days and we decided to shoot this podcast because his story is too powerful — and full of lessons that I believe will help others transform — not to.
Let's go.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
What stopped Paul from jumping off the cliff – and the question that could turn your life aroundWhen you’re feeling down or depressed, the steps to change that “state” which helped Paul breakthroughHow to get out of the movie that you’re playing in your head by asking yourself THIS series of questionsWhy things don't turn out great when you start a sentence with, “I feel like…”, and what you should say insteadHow to create avoid creating a strategy that ends up making you feel like crapThe happiness list and how to instantly improve your daysHow to know when you’re being true to your vision of success as opposed to chasing someone else version of itHow to match up 'what's behind the scenes' and what you're actually putting up on stageHow Paul was able to scale his business with ONE marketing platform and build a million dollar businesses. He shares that platformThe most important lessons from email marketing and tips you can apply now
And so much more
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Paul Mort's Website: www.iampaulmort.com
Book: Fucking Unstoppable - How I Upgraded My Mindset, Transformed My Body, Dramatically Levelled Up My Marriage, and 5X’d My Business (and how you can too) by Paul Mort: https://paulmort.samcart.com/products/fu-book?fbclid=IwAR0lv5LZpp21-p8D0wKq4ohjI20AETMD66p9gGWHSu_nYlBd_KNZ59bTFuM
Book: Solve for Happy - Engineer Your Path To Joy by Mo Gawdat: https://www.amazon.com/Solve-Happy-Engineer-Your-Path/dp/1501157582/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1548961522&sr=8-1&keywords=solve+for+happy
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/1/2019 • 1 hour, 7 minutes, 54 seconds
EP074: 25 Lessons and Strategies To Be More Focused, Productive and Achieve What You Actually Want This Year
I’ve always been a hard worker. What The Rock calls, “the hardest worker in the room.” In a lot of ways, I had to be. I was dealt a “bad hand” and made some bad choices because of it growing up. I was short but chose to play basketball anyways. I grew up in Communism. Wasn’t great in school because I had what many would consider ADHD today. My Dad was away from age 11 doing his best to provide a better life for us. And I was also knuckle head, so I chose to run with the wrong crowds as an adolescent and lived a life of crime for a long time.
At an early age, I ingrained hard work into my identity. But what if hard work is not the solution to the problem? What if it has more to do with being strategic and doing focused work on the right things to move ahead in life? I address those questions in this episode.
I’ve learned a lot of lessons from my mistakes. I've also learned from some of the best when it comes to actually doing what you want/say you're going to do. I share my insights from those experiences in this episode. If you have something that you want to get after, this episode is a must listen.
If you apply any of the lessons that I share to your life, I'd love to hear how it went for you. Action gets results, and results build momentum. And the thing about momentum is, it's like a moving train: it’s hard to stop.
With that said, let’s go!
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why you need to stop chasing two rabbits because you won’t catch eitherWhy you should go small and the reason you’ll succeed doing itA domino can knock out an object that’s 50% bigger than itself. I teach you how to apply this concept to your life and outline how it will make your day and week as productive as possible The real things that will help move your life and business forwardWhy your willpower is like a battery, and why you might be draining yours before you even start your most important workWhy your work and life should NOT be a balancing act, and how to get the absolute most out of both The “Rule of P’s” and how it can lead you to or away from productivity A focus question to ask yourself daily to help you prioritize your tasks and get the most out of your day How to create a “bunker” and protect yourself from the BS that distracts you
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
1/30/2019 • 1 hour, 8 minutes, 58 seconds
EP073: Establishing Culture Within Team, Our Coaching Philosophy, Books That Changed Our Life and More in Q&A w/ Theo Bowie
It’s important to get insight from multiple angles when it comes to fitness business, coaching, and succeeding as a team in a small business. To talk more about that, I brought in Vigor Coach, Theo Bowie to help answer your questions on coaching, programming, mindset, business, the things that influence our lives, and everything in between.
Theo has been developing and growing within Vigor Ground for close to 6 years now. He has come a long way since he started withy us – from running our Strength Camp and Mobility programs, to contributing a lot on the content side of our business, and becoming an integral part of a special project that we will be launching later this year for fitness professionals; which I will be sharing with you soon.
In this episode we keep things real. We share our insights from two angles—coach and business owner—to give you insight on how teams function and what to look out for so you can build the most powerful and connected team possible within your gym or business. This episode is a must listen if you currently run a gym, or have aspirations to open one.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
A good way to establish trust and culture within your team—on both sides of the coinHow we personally define fitness as individuals and how it influences our training and programmingAn example of how to approach a training program of a long distance runner, and insight into coaching clientsThe books that drastically influenced our lives, from philosophy to businessWhat I would do/how I would do it if I was starting a gym againInsights on how to “re-start” anything including your diet and training programHow to improve retention and create a great experience for clientsHow we started small group training at Vigor Ground and why we did it And a whole bunch more
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Theo Bowie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theobowie/
Theo Bowie YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCv3uYHifqw9H1l51gZ_kd0w
Book: Awaken The Giant Within (Tony Robbins): https://www.amazon.com/Awaken-Giant-Within-Immediate-Emotional/dp/0671791540
Book: The Alchemist (Paulo Coelho): https://www.amazon.com/Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0062315005/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1546935095&sr=1-1&keywords=the+alchemist
Book: The Go-Giver - A Little Story About A Powerful Business Idea (Bob Burg): https://www.amazon.com/Go-Giver-Expanded-Little-Powerful-Business/dp/1591848288/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1546935143&sr=1-1&keywords=the+go+giver
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
1/8/2019 • 53 minutes, 59 seconds
EP072: Coaching Lessons From Basketball To Build A Championship Team, Business, and Life
I've been playing basketball since I was a kid, but started playing the sport seriously at age 11 after going to summer camps for years. I sucked at first, but got better the more hours I put in – which grew my love of the game.
The game, the people, and many of the coaches that I've worked with over the years have taught me so more than the skills of the game. They've taught me skills for life and building championship teams, along with how to apply that to business and life itself. All of which changed the course of my life for the better.
Though I didn’t always learn the lessons until later on, I kept many of them logged in journals – which I still refer to often. I’ve also dived into a lot of books from basketball greats like John Wooden, Phil Jackson, Jay Bilas, and Kevin Eastman lately. I have so much to share that this will surely be the first of many episodes on the wisdom, lessons and insights one can get from basketball. I hope that you enjoy it.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How my perceived shortcomings in basketball ended up being some of my greatest strength in business and life. How to re-evaluate and shift your perspective surrounding yours “gifts”.Why life is a team sport and if you’re not helping the teams around you get better you’re missing out on more success and a fulfilled life.The "3 gaps" and how to recognize which one is stopping you from creating a championship life.What 'The Knowledge Bank' is and how to know if you are depositing every day to build it up as your most valuable asset.What 'Teamness' means and why I believe it's the biggest missing piece to helping you build a successful business.The 3 parts that must be present to have championship “Teamness”The word and perspective I brought back from my trip to Africa and how it changed the way I operate in my business and life.The triangle of past, present and future and how to use each to your strength.How to know if you're “coasting” or working towards a championship life? I'll give you the litmus test that will show you.The championship creed I have on laminated cards for myself and my team.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast on iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Book: Toughness - Developing True Strength On and Off The Court by Jay Bilas: https://www.amazon.com/Toughness-Developing-True-Strength-Court/dp/0451414683/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1546189185&sr=8-1&keywords=toughness
Book: Scared Hoops - Spiritual Lessons of a Hardwood Warrior by Phil Jackson: https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Hoops-Spiritual-Lessons-Hardwood/dp/1401308813/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1546189315&sr=8-5&keywords=phil+jackson
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
1/3/2019 • 1 hour, 3 minutes, 52 seconds
EP71: Everyone Is A Leader and The 7C’s To Building An Unstoppable Team in Business and Life
Recently I was asked to come and present to a group of team leaders at Boeing – with the goal to help with motivation and culture. This came about because some of the leaders at the company have been following my career and what I do at Vigor Ground. I had a few weeks to prepare so I dug deep into the bottlenecks I have faced in my career and business. I also thought through how I could best inspire change and give guidance in actionable steps.
I don’t think the group was expecting what I ended up delivering to them, but it was what I believe is the perspective, catalyst and strategies to become a conscious leader and build an unstoppable team.
I go over the majority of what I shared during that presentation and workshop in this podcast episode.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why you MUST shift to a leadership perspective and the crucial mindset that makes you a leaderThe one thing that is stopping you from moving forward that has to change first or no other lesson will workWhy you have been given the gift of fire and must first recognize and then use it in these 5 waysThe one thing you can't lead without, and how to keep it in endless supplyThe story of Muhammad and day one leadership The 7C’s to building a winning team in business and lifeThe one “C” that is the foundation of everything and how you’re messing upThe 6 questions I ask myself daily to live my leadership valuesWhat are you broadcasting daily? One type of broadcast is going to destroy your networkThe 3-step process that we have instilled to eliminate unproductive complaining How you’re casting a vote for who you are every day, who are you voting for?Taking the temperature of your team and the 4-step process that will allow you to help change the environment
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2h
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Podcast: The Coaching Habit Episode: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/ep059-say-less-ask-more-and-change-the-way-you-coach-and-lead/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
12/18/2018 • 1 hour, 18 minutes, 43 seconds
EP070: Strategies to Overcoming Stress, Anxiety and Mental Blocks To Achieve Business and Personal Success w/ Steve Krebs
I started business consulting in 2011 after having many coaches ask me how I was building Vigor Ground and its success at that time. For a long time I didn’t feel “comfortable” doing business coaching, but eventually pulled the trigger because I could see how I could help people build better gyms. A year later as I built a relationship with Steve Krebs, who at the time was also running a successful gym in upstate New York, we decided to start The Pack Fitness Business, a business consulting company focused on helping fitness business owners grow their business. We had success with it and helped hundreds of fit pro’s, spoke on many stages, developed a mens personal development retreat called, Resurrection and created our own live event called, Changing The Game.
We went our separate ways less than two years ago and now Steve has a marketing company STA, a program for young entrepreneurs called Young Bucks Academy, he also coaches high level performers. I say this to shine a light on the fact that we have done many things in the last 10+ years and with that has come its fair share of struggles, stress, anxiety, failure, arguments, blood, sweat and tears. In this episode we share some of the things most don’t talk about when it comes to overcoming the hard parts of life and business. We also dive into what it takes to achieve success, along with the perspectives, strategies and stories that will help you on your journey of life and business.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How men are taught to stuff their feelings and not be vulnerable and why it creates chaos personally and professionally.The “handbook” we wish we had going into business. What it truly take to overcome stress and anxiety on a life and situational basis.The things Steve would “whisper in his ear” when he was 27.Why I believe you must hustle when you’re younger so that you can build some very important virtues; which I outline for you.Why studies show that for “corporate athletes” physical fitness is the building block to success in life and work.What causes us self-sabotage and how you can get out of the cycle of non-achievement. Why we never compare down, we only compare up, and how this creates a daily problem in our lives.The skillsets that are a must for entrepreneurs. How business can corrupt you and why value-based decision making is the method to prevent it. Why you need to stop trying to change the game and looking for the cheat code when you're playing the game of life.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Young Bucks 30 Day Sprint: www.YBSuccess.com
Steve Krebs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevekrebsi/
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
12/7/2018 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 17 seconds
E069: Fitness Business and Coaching Growth and Success Strategies Q & A w/ Luka Hocevar
When it comes to giving advice on anything, I am a proponent of a principle Ray Dahlio calls “believability”; which essentially boils down to listening to someone who has been there, done that, gone through/overcome the struggles, and is still doing it successfully. When it comes to fitness business and coaching Q & A’s I answer from a place of knowledge. I draw from all of the things that I’ve studied and experienced over my 13 years owning gyms (on two different continents) and helping hundreds of fitness professionals directly grow their gym’s and coaching businesses.
The answers I give in this podcast are drawn from my experience and based on Ray's "believability" concept. Enjoy!
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
When it is the right time to stop coaching and grow your gym. I address the question: is there ever a right time to do that?
How to know if you should do what people tell you to do vs. what you want to do and how to avoid being confused by this
Why you shouldn't work to sell your business
What it really takes to build systems for sales, marketing, fulfillment, team communication and customer experience
Investing in yourself, your team, the client experiences, equipment and innovation; I tell you which one should you do first and how much you should invest
The power of moments, giving back and connecting your tribe
The concept of “whitespace” in your gym and why it's important to have an area where you can differentiate yourself
What the Vigor Dream Scholarship is and how we’re changing the way gyms do charity work
What to do when you run out of ideas for content creation and ways to build content that will do well while setting you apart from everyone else
One of the ways I learn and create at the same time and how that can help make you a better coach
The curse of knowledge and how it can affect your ability to connect with your clients and the marketplace
When should you invest in paid advertising
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Podcast: The Coaching Habit Episode: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/ep059-say-less-ask-more-and-change-the-way-you-coach-and-lead/
Book: The Power of Moments - Why Certain Experiences Have Extraordinary Impact (Chip and Dan Heath): https://goo.gl/92iqFc
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
11/16/2018 • 47 minutes, 34 seconds
E068: The Secret to Success in Business and Your Career and Q & A with Luka Hocevar
Everyday I get asked hundreds of questions – whether from clients at Vigor Ground, podcast listeners or the gym owners I coach/mentor. Today I thought I'd open up the floor as a sort of Q & A to share some of these questions and the experiences that have inspired my answers to them.
I start the episode with what I believe is the secret to success—and a foundation for achieving any big goal in your life. Topics cover insights on whether you should make the move of being a gym owner, how to supercharge your coaching, exposure to events, to getting answers about your next step. I also go over some financial resources.
If you're a coach or gym owner this episode is a must listen.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
What makes people successful and one of the most important values that drives success
How I approach learning and how to get ahead faster when it comes to knowledge you don’t have
A test that will help you find out if you are tired or uninspired
A key indicator that will let you know if going into your chosen industry is the right move for you
How to know if you should open a gym as coach and some alternative options (that you may not be aware of) that will allow you to become successful, make money and make an impact in the fitness industry
The biggest mistakes coaches make with their clients and how to overcome them and become a great coach
Strategies to make you a more focused coach so that your clients get better results and you get ahead in your career
Two MUST financial resources to build a great foundation as an individual and a business owner—and the philosophy of the richest man in Babylon
How to build self-confidence and the bank account analogy that will change your perspective on building self-esteem
A strategy that will help you make those changes in your life that you’ve been struggling to make for years
How to leverage your relationships to sharpen your behaviors and mold them towards who you want to become
Why working for a big box gym is a great opportunity for a coach
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Podcast: The Coaching Habit Episode: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/ep059-say-less-ask-more-and-change-the-way-you-coach-and-lead/
Book: I Will Teach You To Be Rich (Ramit Sethi): https://www.amazon.com/Will-Teach-You-Be-Rich-ebook/dp/B004WL4BW6
Book: Profit First - Transform Your Business From a Cash Eating Monster To a Money Making Machine (Mike Michalowicz): https://www.amazon.com/Profit-First-Transform-Cash-Eating-Money-Making/dp/073521414X/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1541113476&sr=8-1&keywords=profit+first+book
Podcast: Top 10 Lessons From Owning A Gym For A Decade w/ Mike Robertson: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/e065-top-10-lessons-from-a-decade-owning-a-gym-and-growing-in-the-fitness-industry-with-mike-robertson/
Leadership Traits article (with Luka Hocevar and Dr. John Rusin): https://drjohnrusin.com/how-to-be-a-leader-in-todays-fitness-industry/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
11/2/2018 • 54 minutes, 59 seconds
E067: 9 Ways To Be A Great Teammate and Build A Powerful Culture
A need to feel connected and a valued part of a team / group is part of our DNA. It recently occurred to me that deep down we all know that we can't do it alone. We know that NBA championships are not won by individuals. They are won by a collection of individuals who make that team great. It's the same with work and life. We are better together when we are surrounded by great team members. In this spirit I want to share nine ways to be a great team member.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
=> Why I'm so drawn to teams and why I have a tough time doing things solo (it’s not what you’d think)
=> Why "well done" is better than "well said" when it comes to a team
=> A strategy that will positively benefit you and the teams you are part of
=> What “Contagiosm” is and how it can make or break your team
=> One of my favourite team quotes and why it's a slogan for myself and Vigor Ground
=> The most important virtue you must posses within a team
=> What accountability really is and how you can make it work for you
=> Why Camron’s rhyme, “GD man, I’m hungry and I just ate…” plays into the success of both your team and you
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
5 Leadership Traits article (w/ Luka Hocevar & Dr. John Rusin): https://drjohnrusin.com/how-to-be-a-leader-in-todays-fitness-industry/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
10/25/2018 • 40 minutes, 53 seconds
E066: 5 Ways You Can Embody Courage, Empowerment, Growth, Class and Self-Respect Today
It’s easy to go through your day, week, and even life saying that certain things matter to you—that you stand for or against them and that they’re part of your values. But how often do you live up to these values? What guides you to stay on the path of living in integrity with your own personal life, business and career?
The key is being honest with yourself.
A super effective way to make sure that you're living true to your values is to ask yourself questions. I do this daily and have found it to be a powerful way to bring my key values to the forefront. This simple act helps me—and will help you—focus yourself so that you are able make decisions—and actions—that align with the goals you are striving towards, and the values you believe in.
In this episode of the podcast I tackle the ways you can embody courage, empowerment, growth, class and self-respect in your life. And ultimately, help you practice what you preach and lead a more successful and fulfilling life.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The lessons that death has taught me and how they have lit a fire under me
Why actively seeking rejection will help you embody courage
What it means to be a “friendtor” and how it will help you take your relationships to the next level
Why growth is a commitment to expanding your capacity to add value to your life and how to do it every day
The “edge of the bed” question and why everyone should write out what they want to teach their kids
The difference between elevating and escalating
One thing that will help you be seen as a leader in the eyes others as soon as it's applied
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram (Follow): https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Leadership Traits Article (with Luka Hocevar and Dr. John Rusin): https://drjohnrusin.com/how-to-be-a-leader-in-todays-fitness-industry/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
10/4/2018 • 48 minutes, 47 seconds
E065: Top 10 Lessons From A Decade Owning A Gym And Growing In The Fitness Industry with Mike Robertson
I tend to be careful not to take advice from anyone who hasn’t been in business for at least 5 years. This rule is not set in stone, but I like to get wisdom from people who have been there done, that and are still doing it. The people who have withstood the test of time, change and innovation. Mike Robertson is one of those people.
Mike has been a friend of mine for a decade. He owns one of the top 10 Gyms in America voted by Mens Health, has influenced and improved the industry with the way they approach training at IFAST, and recently celebrated the 10-year anniversary of his gym; which just happened to be around the same time as we celebrated our 10-year at Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance.
In this episode we talk about the 10 biggest lessons learned from owning a gym for a decade, as well as success in the fitness industry. This is a MUST listen for anyone in fitness or that owns a small business.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How we got started with only thousands of dollars and why it was a competitive advantage
The cliché piece of advice that you MUST take seriously or it will hurt you down the line... and could ultimately shut down your business
The two ways you can market your business – one of which can feel very scary in your first years of business
Why you should study anatomy, biomechanics, program design and structure, and why not doing this will cause you to be a mediocre coach / business owner
How me doing ninja kicks in an orientation session helped me attract new clients, and how to apply the strategy behind the move to your business
How to tell if you are consistently getting better or just staying where you are and why knowing this is the key to success in gym ownership
How to hire and the three mistakes both Mike and myself made in the last decade, and what we do different now
The seven questions that create a coaching habit and how to improve your team leadership
Why every fitness professional should aspire to “leave the jersey better than when they got it” and what that means for you
One of the biggest mistakes gym owners make and the perspective shift you must make to be successful
And much, much more.
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram (Follow): https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Robertson Training Systems: http://robertsontrainingsystems.com/
Physical Preparation Podcast: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/physical-preparation-podcast-robertson-training-systems/id1011924486?mt=2
Physical Preparation 101: http://physicalpreparation101.com/
Mike Robertson Instagram (Follow): https://www.instagram.com/robtrainsystems/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
9/28/2018 • 1 hour, 25 minutes, 59 seconds
E064: 10 Big Lessons On How To Become A Better Communicator, Presenter, and Speaker (and Impact More People)
Ideas, effectively packaged and delivered, can change the world. So, wouldn’t it be amazing to identify the *exact* techniques shared by the world’s greatest communicators, then apply their secrets to wow your audiences?
One of the most valuable skillsets that I have built in the last two decades is the skillset of communication. Whether it’s with my clients, on stages where I get to present, or through the podcast, pitching ideas to investors, or communicating with friends and family; it’s a skill you MUST develop if you want to improve your coaching, marketing, connecting with people, and effectively sharing ideas with the world.
More specifically, good communication skills are important for three key reasons:
You have ideas. Great ideas even. Unfortunately, unless you can engage an audience in your delivery of those ideas, they’ll never leave your head.
You’re going to have to speak publicly at some point: work presentations, seeking startup capital, on a panel, or for fun if you choose.
Ability to communicate effectively has become one the—if not THE—most sought-after skills in job applicants and candidates.
I share 10 big ideas on how to communicate and present like the world's best.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How my speaking journey started, why I was terrified of public speaking, how I got over it and how you can too
The “secret weapon” Tony Robbins used to develop his speaking skills and how to apply it to your life
Why ideas are the most valuable resource and how to present your ideas in the age of instant communication, rapid cultural growth, and technological supremacy
The number one building block of your presentations authenticity and energy and why without it you have no chance
Why you should study and learn storytelling like your life depended on it
How to engage an audience with more than just their eyes and ears and it will keep them engaged and encourage them to remember your presentation. I give you three strategies you can apply tomorrow
Why sticking to the "rule of three" will improve the message in your presentation
Practice makes perfect. This is especially true of public speaking. I'll give you two strategies you can use (right now) to become so comfortable with your content and material that your presentation comes off like a conversation
Why you don’t want to be someone else when you're presenting. I discuss why no matter how much you study and emulate great speakers, the only way to leave a lasting impression on a large audience is to embrace your own unique style
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram (Follow): https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Book: Talk Like TED - The 9 Public Speaking Secrets of The Worlds Top Minds (Carmin Gallo): https://goo.gl/UQD8a2
Book: The Storytellers Secret - From TED Speakers to Business Legends, Why Some Ideas Catch On And Others Don’t (Carmin Gallo): https://goo.gl/kGXjj1
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
9/25/2018 • 1 hour, 31 minutes, 36 seconds
E063: 10 Big Ideas On Reclaiming Conversation To Become More Connected To Your Team, Clients, and Relationships
We have sacrificed conversation for mere connection. At work, at home, with friends, and in love, we find ways around real conversations – instead choosing to engage with people via text, social media, email and other communication methods where we don't have to engage with people in real life (and reveal our true selves).
Without conversation, there can be no genuine connection. I don't believe that technology is the problem. But the unintended effects of technology are contributing to the problem.
Decreased empathy, feelings of alienation, superficial connection, and poor attention spans. Significant drops in productivity, creativity, and deep thought. Essential traits to innovation and participation in both business, relationships and life. Our generation is in serious danger of never experiencing the irreplaceable benefits of true/meaningful conversation.
Learning to use technology deliberately is essential to reclaiming relationships.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why conversation is an essential building block of emotional, psychological, and intellectual development, and what is making you lose it
Why you must stop making conversation "easy" because it’s crushing your ability to grow and deepen connections
Why solitude is more important than you think
How mindlessly surfing social media is robbing you of three things you need in your life
What a "device free space" is and how it can help you connect with your family, friends, and team on a much deeper level
How my belief of multitasking stopped me from getting things done
Why you shouldn't abandon technology, but instead learn to use it deliberately so that you can avoid its adverse side effects
How mentors can help you learn and teach new generations how to use conversation to connect, grow, and learn empathy
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram (Follow): https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Book: Reclaiming Conversation - The Power of Talk In A Digital Age: https://www.amazon.com/Reclaiming-Conversation-Power-Talk-Digital/dp/0143109790
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
9/8/2018 • 1 hour, 11 minutes, 23 seconds
E062: The 5 Leadership Myths That Are Stopping You From Building A Powerful Team
The road to a disengaged team is paved with good intentions. Nobody sets out to make their team overwhelmed, stressed out or miserable. But unfortunately, that often happens when people manage people.
As hard as it may be to accept, that horrible boss, manager or owner that you know likely isn't a bad person. In fact, if you got to know them, I'm sure you'd find them to be a good hearted person who genuinely cares about the well being of others.
So how do good people become bad managers?
It's actually something that happens unconsciously.
The problem is, "bad managers" have internalized a set of powerful unconscious ideas about:
(1) Why people don’t do what they ask, and
(2) What tools they have at their disposal to change that
Statistically 7 out of 10 workers either disengaged or actively undermine the efforts of their organization. Yes, you read that right. You’ve probably also read countless articles, blog posts and books filled with tactics to change that. But what you probably haven’t read — and what is shockingly entirely absent from the discussion — is the other side of the relationship: manager / team leader engagement.
As a business owner, I use to operate under the assumption that lack of team engagement was the employees fault. When the truth is it's a 50 / 50 split between the manager and the employees.
In this episode I share 5 myths that are stopping you from building a powerful team, and how to flip the coin in your favor.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The mistakes I made leading a team for over a decade and the powerful lessons I learned from them
How believing that “you can’t find good people” will keep you stuck under a glass ceiling
The number one reason you have team members leaving and the bottleneck to growing a powerful team to fulfill their vision and yours
Why investing time and energy into someone even if they will leave is the ONLY way you can improve your business
The formula to show you how much energy you’re wasting and how to turn it into a team growth catalyst
The reason a system and checklist won’t save you – I share the real problem
Why communication is extremely important, but also a crutch we tend to blame everything on when we're faced with a specific problem
The big mistake of separating yourself from helping your team grow professionally AND personally
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Say Less, Ask More and Change The Way You Lead - Coaching Habit Podcast: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/ep059-say-less-ask-more-and-change-the-way-you-coach-and-lead/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/30/2018 • 38 minutes, 22 seconds
E061: Sports Performance for Soccer, Youth Training and Lessons from Traveling the World w/ Matej Hocevar
Some call him the most interesting man in the world, I just call him my brother. From becoming a core justice translator at a record breaking 23-years old, to speaking seven languages fluently, traveling to almost 80 countries across the world, and coaching some of the highest level soccer players in Europe, you could say the title fits.
In this episode we dive into the topics of sports performance for youth and soccer athletes, coaching, heuristics, as well as lessons from traveling the world. There’s plenty of lessons to take and apply, one of the main ones being how to live life on your own terms.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Matej chose to pursue a career where he saw an opportunity and created a business that helped support his lifestyle, which also led to a business of passion
What made us start a gym in a market that didn’t exist with only the belief we could make it happen
Coaching high level professional soccer athletes and the challenges that come with it
How you can build trust by creating “results in advance” in just one training session
The keys to understanding who you’re working with and everything associated with them so that you don’t drop the ball and lose them as a client
Why you should use heuristics in program design and how not doing it may be hurting your clients results
Building relationships with clients so that what you know turns into what they DO
What spurred the “travel bug” and how it has turned into a lifestyle along with lifelong learning
Why you should travel and how it’s the secret to building compassion and empathy
3 of the biggest lessons from traveling the world
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram (Follow): https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Matej Hocevar Instagram (Follow): https://www.instagram.com/hochodervish/
Matej’s Website: http://www.entreprenurialnomad.com/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/22/2018 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 14 seconds
EP060: Creating Relationships To Upgrade Your Life and Spheres of Control
Have you ever created an assessment of who you’re around and how they affect your mood, behaviors, and energy? Assessing how the people you surround yourself with make you react/respond is crucial to not only the direction of your life, but also the quality of your experiences.
In this episode I explore the mindset around the reality that your life is strongly influenced by the people you choose to surround yourself with. I also share why I believe you have much more control over this than you think.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How you might be stopping yourself from growing and how to regain control
How I was able to upgrade my life by surrounding myself with the “right” people (I share two experiences)
Why/how we tend to take inventory of the wrong things in our lives and how to assess if you’re putting too much weight on the wrong things
Why deliberately choosing who you surround yourself with is a super power
How you may be unknowingly moving away from your goals, and how to fix this
The three spheres of control and how they are a blind spot in your road to success
How shifting things from one sphere to another can reduce your stress, and anxiety, while improving your ability action taking (I share a three step process that will help you make things happen in your life)
A method that will help you determine your path to surrounding yourself with the right people (so you can live your best life and grow your business)
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram (Follow): https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/ Precision Nutrition: www.PrecisionNutrition.com
17 Lessons and Rules to Building Phenomenal Relationships That Enhance Your Life: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/ep015-17-lessons-rules-building-phenomenal-relationships-enhance-life/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/17/2018 • 33 minutes, 12 seconds
EP059: Say Less, Ask More, and Change The Way You Coach and Lead
Everyone now knows that managers and leaders need to coach their people. There’s endless articles about it, yet hard to find actionable steps that outline HOW to become a good coach. Surprising given the fact that coaching continues to prove that it has “markedly positive” affects on performance.
You’re probably not getting very effective coaching, and you’re probably not delivering very effective coaching. But the truth is if you have the right tools and resources it’s not that hard to change that. Really you just need to want to be better than what you are right now.
In this episode I share a framework that will help you become a better coach, whether it's with your team, clients, bosses, family, or anyone else. Apply these steps today and see how you can improve on every level.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The three vicious circles that plague your workplace and the solution to solve them
Why shifting the focus from "the fire" to who’s managing the fire is key to team success and how to make that shift
How to move from performance coaching to development coaching and why doing the former too much is the reason why people are leaving your team
The seven essential coaching questions and the step-by-step process that will allow you to start using them today to get better results
How taming “The Advice Monster” is critical if you’re ever going to lead and succeed as a coach
Why your advice is not as good as you think it is and why you should talk less and ask more
The five key things you need to build a coaching habit and how I use them in my gym, with my team and clients (both fitness and business coaching clients)
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.vigorgroundfitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram (Follow Me): https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/9/2018 • 53 minutes, 38 seconds
EP058: Why Fitness and Nutrition Are Failing Us and What To Do About It
Americans have become some of the most active humans in the world. In the last 20 years, there’s been a huge increase in gym memberships and people are training more than ever. It may sound like things are (finally) headed in the right direction. The only thing is: they're not.
Obesity continues to climb as do cardiovascular related diseases, while general health is declining. So what's wrong? How does it relate to the lack of success in your body transformation?
This week I share the reasons behind the lack of transformation as related to your fitness, nutrition and lifestyle and give simple actionable steps to help you change and finally breakthrough the plateaus.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How much people REALLY exercise and why it’s not enough... or is it?
Whether or not you're training too much or too little
The study that shows the main reason people over eat and how to prevent it
Why changing this one factor in your lifestyle can help you get stronger, put on lean muscle, and lose body fat
Why the brain can only distribute so much energy, and why doing more may not make sense for you
How to improve your performance and why you’re focusing on the wrong one
The 5 success strategies that have nothing to do with training but will supercharge your performance
The “sweet spot” to training and how you find it
The reason you’re doing too much and how slowing down will help you speed up your results
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Luka’s Nutrition That Works (For Good) Presentation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrEkovPNUbw&t=2s
How Sleep Changed My Body, Mind And Life and Strategies To Change Yours: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/ep017-sleep-changed-body-mind-life-15-strategies-change/
8 Weeks Out Bio-force Conditioning Certification: https://www.8weeksout.com/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/2/2018 • 53 minutes, 21 seconds
EP057: The Hidden Key To Having A More Committed Team, Clients and Business
After I got off my 16th strategy call for fitness business coaching this month, and hearing that one of the bottlenecks in their business was lack of commitment from coaches and clients, I realized I needed to shoot this podcast.
While it’s a possibility that coaches and clients are not as committed as you’d like them to be. It’s probable that the reason behind this is something else. It wasn’t that long ago that I tripped over my own truth when dealing with this mindset... later realizing that it was in my control to change it.
In this episode I discuss a hidden key that is crucial to have success in building trust, commitment, engagement and drive in your team.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The true foundation of any business and why it's one many owners skip – leading them to failure
The reason you’re most likely the bottleneck holding yourself back from your team rising to the highest performance
The story of the hen and the pig and how it relates to the leadership in your business
The 4 stages of awareness and why you won’t achieve success until you take control of the first two
Why commitment sometimes means making tough, uncomfortable and unpopular decisions
How to develop the gifts of your team to then develop the business
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Vigor Life Podcast w/ Martin Rooney: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/ep055-everyone-is-coach-how-to-become-great-at-it-w/id1180256583?i=1000415714573&mt=2
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
7/27/2018 • 14 minutes, 18 seconds
EP056: 3 Big Lessons In Creating A Fulfilling Business, Relationships And Life
I have been in the gym business for almost a decade in a half. After reflecting deeply on where I am right now, I realized that there are some key principles and lessons (that I've learned along the way) that are crucial to not only building your vision long-term, but also to enjoying the journey along the way.
Some of the lessons come in the realm of personal mindset. Others come from creating deeper connections with others and helping people win. While others are actionable leadership strategies that you can implement into your business.
This week I explore them all.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why doing fulfilling work and the people you’re doing it with are the secret to long-term success and happiness
Why I spend 10-15 hours a week meeting people for breakfast, lunch and dinner — and how it has helped me create a super network
What “listen to yourself less and talk to yourself more” means, and how this concept is a game changer when it comes to taking action on your purpose rather than holding back because of your fears
How every person has a sign on their forehead that says _______ and how this is the secret to engagement, connection, and improving results with your team and clients
The 3 levels of conscious leadership and living and how to go from one that is holding you back, to one that is empowering you to live your best life
How your expectations shape happiness and unhappiness in life. I share the happiness equation
Why going from “to me” to “by me” is the key to creating meaningful work and relationships
How building from fear, even if you build success, will make you more afraid of losing it, all. I'll also teach you how to change
Why you might be creating from scarcity instead of abundance and how to build a legacy
How the only way to create the greatest work is through love, not fear
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.vigorgroundfitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
7/20/2018 • 32 minutes, 50 seconds
EP055: Everyone Is A Coach And How To Become Great At It w/ Martin Rooney
Do you believe that you’re a coach? Do you believe becoming a better coach would help you improve your business, family, profits, and lifestyle – not to mention how much you enjoy what you do?
I certainly do, and it’s at the foundation of all my businesses. This time around I sit down with my friend and one of the people that’s influenced me more than anyone else — to become the greatest coach I can be — Training for Warriors founder, Martin Rooney.
After hosting the Coaching Greatness course at Vigor Ground we dove into principles of personal growth and becoming a great coach and fulfilling your potential in every area of life.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why Martin loves coming out to Seattle and the lesson you must learn to become a super connector as well as super connected
How flying in a helicopter around Seattle turned from something with fear associated to it into an amazing experience
The secret ingredient missing in most businesses and one that no one taught you about in school
Listening to yourself is killing your dreams and what you should do about it
3 principles of coaching greatness and why you’ll never fulfill your potential without applying them
Why you should travel more and make a focused effort to connect with people you want to learn from
What’s difficult is scarce and what’s scarce is valuable; why growing your business is simple and learning this lesson will give you a competitive advantage
How to create a business that is different and unique based on what will stand the test of time (even if the internet goes down and there’s no more social media)
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Training For Warriors: http://www.trainingforwarriors.com/
Coaching Greatness Course: https://www.trainingforwarriors.com/coaching-greatness/
Martin Rooney Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themartinrooney/
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
7/12/2018 • 50 minutes, 14 seconds
EP054: How To Live A Better Life – 37 Lessons In 37 Years On Earth
A couple of weeks ago I turned 37. While I was sitting there on my birthday I was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling that I needed to document the life lessons I have learned over the years. So I did. Staying up to the wee hours of the morning to write them out.
I didn’t think much about it but then, but when I sent out my list of lessons to Vigor's email subscribers, I got an overwhelming response from people expressing how much my life lessons had helped them. Well, I decided to dig a little deeper into the subject. These are the 37 lessons I've leaned in my 37 years on earth.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How you can become your most powerful self by telling the truth and stopping your lies
Why you should consider changing your nutrition to become the best human you can be
Squat lighter, deadlift heavier, cycle loads and do more single leg work and you’ll be more muscular, less injured, and more athletic
What “Movement Hygiene” is and how it can change your mornings and your low back
How to become the director of your own movie and stop making excuses
Why helping someone achieve their dreams will fulfill yours
The secret to having the greatest mentors in the world for just a measly couple of bucks
How to become a better cook and get leaner while raising your relationship stock
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Detox From Diets Blog Post: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/detox-diets-truth-diets-fail/
Luka’s Mobility Exercises: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgkL4kyD9vA&t=128s
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
6/21/2018 • 57 minutes, 26 seconds
EP053: The Nutrition Principles For A Successful Body Transformation I Share With Our Clients | Part 1
When we offer intro programs to give people the opportunity to try out Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance I often include a live nutrition seminar. In this seminar, I cover the nutrition basis to teach people the principles that will help them take control of their transformation. I'm not taking for a short time, but for good.
I’m going to share these principles with you so you can apply them to yourself and/or your clients and start making changes right away.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The vicious cycle that keeps people stuck in the weight loss and weight gain loop and how to break it
The habits of highly healthy, lean, and high performing individuals; follow these and take control of your transformation
Why the leanest and healthiest people do NOT follow advanced nutrition strategies and actually have less stress and overwhelm with food
A lesson in how just one habit change helped people achieve 4x the fat loss over a group taking on advanced strategies
The step-by-step principles we’ve used at Vigor Ground to help clients change their lifestyle and nutrition without adding a ton of stress to their already busy lives
The drag and drop strategy to making your meals, keeping them delicious and in line with your goals
Strategies to make life and body transformation much easier
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/vigor-life-podcast/id1180256583?mt=2
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQ29YcBh-g6onRujX3wD_XA?view_as=subscriber
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Detox From Diets Blog Post: https://vigorgroundfitness.com/detox-diets-truth-diets-fail/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
6/13/2018 • 1 hour, 1 minute, 15 seconds
EP052: 15 Principles To Overcome Your Biggest Obstacles And Turn Theory Into Action
At many points in our lives we face resistance and obstacles. Some smaller than others. How we deal with these obstacles determines not only our success, but also the quality of our life.
I’ve coached thousands of clients to physical transformations and hundreds of gym owners to growing their gyms and creating a sustainable, profitable, and perennial business; and the key to each ones success were the principles I’m going to share with you today.
Overcoming obstacles breaks down into how we perceive things, how we act in the face of the obstacle, what we learn in defeat and failure and how we use that to grow.
Learn and master these principles and put them into action and your obstacles will become the stepping stones to growth and achieving your goals.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why struggle can be one of the most powerful catalysts in your life
What Rubin “Hurricane” Carter can teach us about personal power and overcoming the toughest situations life can throw at you
How some people can steady their nerves in the toughest of situations – I'll teach you their “secret” strategy
Why your emotions are your greatest gift and how to use them to get what you want most out of life
How becoming objective about situations can help you overcome even the toughest obstacles in work and life
One drill that will help you release the stress associated with your life struggles
How to zone out of all the problems in your life and zone in on the action that will help you achieve success
What Steve Jobs did and why you should emulate him
The lesson from Theodore Roosevelt that gave me a push to start another business
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (iTunes): https://goo.gl/8GBrDh
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/6GjqoA
Luka Hocevar Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Book: The Obstacle Is The Way (Ryan Holiday): https://goo.gl/ThzPtC
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/14/2018 • 59 minutes, 19 seconds
EP051: The Four Things You Must Address To Change Your Body (Or Anything Else) That Few Coaches Talk About – Part One
It’s important for information/content to be produced that helps people physically transform. Yet, the X’s and O’s of “this vs. that food” isn’t helping people create meaningful change. A fact proven by statistics.
Because of this I wanted to start (and continue) producing episodes that dig deeper into the reasons WHY people are having trouble changing their body; while creating awareness, insight, as well as actionable “next steps” around coaching conversations that aren’t often had.
This episode is part one of a two part series where I dive into that strategies that we deploy at Vigor Ground (on a daily basis) to help them successfully move towards their goals—and keep those results long-term.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why knowing the X’s and O’s of nutrition will give you knowledge, but won't facilitate your transformation
Why creating goals without “gravity” will ultimately leads to a rollercoaster of weight loss and weight gain (or lack of consistency in ANY other area of life)
How Identity and Values connect with your Goals to create the ultimate motivation— without the IVG method you’ll find yourself in a constant cycle of “lack of motivation”
How to use stress the RIGHT way and always progress while finding the “sweet spot” (most programs get this wrong and make people get stuck with their results even though they are working hard)
What balance really looks like in a real world example of someone who has had success with a body transformation
How to make sure you’re getting what you want out of your program (and not someone else’s goals!)
What deceptive messages are and why knowing what food to eat won’t help if you don’t figure this out and break the loop
Why you shouldn't try to eliminate bad habits, but rather work on __________ (science shows this works MUCH better)
What your day is really like and how to find the most powerful insights to own your day, and your transformation
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast (SUBSCRIBE NOW)
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (SUBSCRIBE NOW)
Luka Hocevar Instagram (FOLLOW)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
4/25/2018 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 17 seconds
EP050: 10 Big Ideas On How To Develop Culture That Breeds Success, Growth, Purpose And Results
What do the most successful companies and organizations in the world do that makes their teams work so well together and succeed? Is it just a “fluke” that some companies do better than others, or is there more to it?
From my studies and insight I share the clarifying power of cheesy catchphrases, the necessity of feeling safe (when developing ideas with a team) and how you can use the energy of crisis to crystallize purpose in your company, team or organization.
All successful groups (no matter how seemingly different they are on the outside) operate off an identical algorithm on the inside. The formula is clear, repeatable and applicable to your life/business. Dive into the principles and methods that you can apply to make your tribe function better and succeed.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why psychological safety and the answer to the question “Am I safe here?” are important factors that decide whether your business or team can work together and succeed long-term
The principles and tactics that have helped my favorite sports team (the San Antonio Spurs) become the most successful sports team in the past 20 years – despite having equal talent to other teams
The reason you must admit to your weaknesses and how doing so will improve your team
Why your team needs to see the connections between their current work, bigger picture long-term results and their future within the group – and the steps to make that happen
What Pixar, the Navy Seals and every other successful group does that is painful and yet necessary for smooth co-operation and success
Why inspiration is nowhere near as important as ___________ and the unique way you can work this into your business to get ahead of the competition
How Kindergartners beat top level executives and CEO’s in a challenge called “tallest tower” and the lesson that is crucial if you want to be able to beat other organizations with less resources and knowledge
What Harry Nyquist and Rochi Givechy did to make everyone consider them the super-power for their company, and how to do it in yours
How a restaurant super mogul turned a near catastrophe into the catalyst that made his company into the industry leader it is today, and how you can turn tragedy into triumph
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Luka Hocevar YouTube (Subscribe Now)
Book: The Culture Code - The Secrets of Highly Successful Groups (Daniel Coyle)
Luka Hocevar Instagram (Follow)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
3/20/2018 • 1 hour, 14 minutes, 27 seconds
EP049: Why No Tactic Or Strategy Will Ever Work In Your Life Or Business Until You Change This
The majority of the online space is made up of brands, businesses and people pitching you the best method, tactic and strategy to help you change your body, build your business, generate more leads, improve your health, or whatever else you’re looking for. It’s not that the methods and strategies they're sharing don’t matter. They just won’t work unless you don’t change your belief system first.
After working with 1,000’s of clients both in the world of fitness and in the world of business, along with studying behavior change and the science and biology of belief, I wanted to share some insights that will help you breakthrough the most important part of a successful transformation – your mindset.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How to change your internal stories so that they better facilitate your goals
Why millennials are more likely to achieve their goals than the older generation (over 60) and how this affects you
How cynicism becomes a self-protective behavior from past failures and why it might be the things that's holding you back from achieving success
What Zappos, Flight and the 4-Minute Mile have in common and the key to your superpowers
The 4 dead giveaways that determine whether your beliefs are holding you back
Why you’re not great at building relationships and the change you can make to your limiting beliefs that will fix this
How to tell is social media is having a negative impact on your life
How to upgrade your beliefs and change the trajectory of your life
Why having the resources to do something may actually make you worse at your job/career
Why your past doesn't equal the future UNLESS you make this ONE change
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Luka Hocevar YouTube (Subscribe Now)
Book: Best Year Ever - A 5 Step Plan For Achieving Your Most Important Goals by Michael Hyatt
Luka Hocevar Instagram (Follow)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
3/7/2018 • 38 minutes, 32 seconds
EP048: A Different Approach To Happiness and How To Make Your Days Better While Getting More Done In The Process
At the end of the day we’re all seeking more happiness. In this episode I share the secret to how you can significantly increase your happiness level, while teaching you how to become more productive and successful at the same time.
If you struggle to find happiness in your day-to-day life and would like to increase your productivity so that you can drive your career further and create more impact and profit, this is the episode for you.
HERE'S WHAT YOU'LL LEARN:
The truth about success and why the traditional teachings of it are making us miserable
Why success and happiness are not on the same line and how to put on a different lens so you can have both
Why you can search for happiness and how to actually achieve it
How to optimize your life and happiness with a simple exercise that will help you focus on the things that make you happy and eliminate the things that don't
The happiness equation that will explain why you may be unhappy and how to change it
Thoughts vs. reality and suffering vs. pain, two concepts you must understand to help you change your present
The 5 states of thought and how to shift yourself to the ones that are aligned with what you want to feel and achieve
The 6 grand illusions and the 7 deadly blind spots and how they alter your reality and keep you unhappy
How thinking about life like a Super Mario game will turn your anxiety into excitement and help you take on challenges rather than run from them
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Luka’s YouTube Channel (subscribe)
Book: Solve For Happy -Engineer Your Path To Joy (Mo Gawdat)
Vigor Life Podcast (subscribe)
Luka Hocevar's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lukahocevar/
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/13/2018 • 1 hour, 6 minutes, 2 seconds
EP047: 8 Ways To Communicate Better And Supercharge Your Business, Relationships and Life
No matter what you do for work, there's a good chance you have to communicate with people... at some point, or another. How well you do that determines not only your success at what you do, but also the quality of your relationships and connections outside of your workplace.
Having a framework for how you can improve the way you communicate with people might be the game changer that you need to make substantial improvements in your life. In this episode, I give you that blueprint, and discuss seven rules that will help you improve your conversation and listening skills.
I think you will be surprised by amazing conversation can be when you have these skills.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
7 rules that will help you improve your conversation and listening skills
Why we’re not listening to each other and why it's creating a divide in how we behave (I'll teach you how to fix this so that you can become more connected to people)
Why conversational competence is the missing link and single most overlooked skill in the 21st century
The myths and truths about what makes conversation great
The 4 stages that most people go through to improve their communication skills, and how to apply them to your life
The reason why quality human relationships are so important to us and why life sucks when you don’t have great relationships (and how to fix it)
The #1 rule for having a great conversation and connecting with people
Why going into every conversation wanting to find out something awesome about the other person will in fact help you find out something awesome about the other person
The power of “I don’t know” and why you should be using it more
Why building rapport is important but discover why you shouldn’t equate your experiences with others (it’s not about YOU)
Why conversations are not a promotional opportunity!
THE most important skill you can develop and the reason why I like to talk more than listen
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Luka Hocevar's YouTube Channel (subscribe)
Vigor Life Podcast (subscribe)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
1/10/2018 • 29 minutes, 9 seconds
EP046: 10 Big Ideas On Leading Teams, Influencing People and Building Relationships
Would you like to improve your leadership and influence skills so that you can be better at guiding, motivating and building a team?
In this episode I talk about the 10 big ideas that are the foundation to success in a position of leadership and influence.
I’ve devoted a lot of time to learning how to become the best leader possible in the last 5 years – hiring coaches, reading 100’s of books and taking countless courses. Here are some of the most important things that I have learned that you must apply to win friends, influence people and lead successful teams.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The 5 things that the world's leading doctors have found influence our happiness and how to apply that to yourself and the people around you
Why leadership is a learnable skill and the daily practices you can start doing to master it
The one thing you must NOT do if you want to avoid repelling people from wanting to be around you
Why you should admit your mistakes immediately and how this will build trust and put you in a position of leadership
How giving people a reputation to live up to is a secret weapon that not enough leaders use with their teams
The often unknown skill of radical candor, and why it's so powerful and how to employ it with people in your life to help them grow
The three things that you must remember ALWAYS if you want to build powerful relationships
The number one mistake that leaders of teams make that causes them to lose respect and staff productivity and how to fix it
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Book: How To Win Friends and Influence People (Dale Carnegie): https://goo.gl/K1s7CV
Book: Radical Candor - Be A Kick Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity: https://goo.gl/osrTdt
Vigor Life Podcast (subscribe)
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (subscribe)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
11/6/2017 • 37 minutes, 16 seconds
EP045: How To Get Better Results With Your Clients and Unique Tools From The Coaches Toolbox
Frequently I dig through my notes (that date back years) and find myself getting more "aha" moments from those old notes than I do from anything new that I've learned.
Last week I stumbled across an old 5-year journal that housed some coaching secrets that I rarely discuss. One of those secrets is the solution to the common bottleneck that many coaches run into when it comes to getting their clients continued results with training and nutrition.
In this episode I also reveal some of the things that I’ve learned from the masters that have not only helped me get results for my clients, but also help myself.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
Why you and your clients aren’t making “bad choices” but are stuck in a thought pattern that is leading you and clients away from their goals – I will teach you how to stop this behavior
The reason all your fitness and nutrition knowledge won’t help if you don’t understand this one concept then eliminate it from your client's perception
How to help your clients get rid of their biggest roadblocks
The first thing you have to do before becoming the most effective coach in any area – this one will surprise you
How time can be a threat to people when there’s no expectations set, and why the unknown leads to anxiety; which then leads to _________
Why sentence stemming is my secret exercise to help unlock breakthroughs for my clients
What you can do with your clients fears to help them overcome them—so that you can get them results they never had before
The coaching super power that most coaches lack, and how I stumbled upon a little known secret to develop it
The judgement check test that will help you see if you’re doing the things that you hate to your clients
The mistake you’re making that is costing your clients their results and how to address it so that no client ever leaves you again
How to make every training session finish on a memorable moment
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: https://vigorgroundfitness.com
Book: You Are Not Your Brain - The 4 Step Solution for Changing Bad Habits, Ending Unhealthy Thinking, and Taking Control of Your Life (Jeffrey Schwartz): https://goo.gl/eBHmtc
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VigorGroundFitness/
Book: Conversations with God: https://goo.gl/NMQm5D
Vigor Life Podcast on iTunes: https://goo.gl/hcB0Oy
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
10/25/2017 • 43 minutes
EP044: 11 Ways To Pattern Interrupt Yourself To Success
How do you feel about interruptions? I think we can agree they’re not the best... unless they’re interruptions to your habits and aren't taking you away from your goals and results.
In this episode I share eleven pattern interrupts that you can use throughout your day, week, or month to shift you away from your current patterns and mindsets — that aren’t helping you succeed — to new ones that will steer you towards your goals, desires and dreams.
These are actionable strategies that you can use RIGHT NOW. Choose the best ones for you and start making positive changes in your life.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How I used pattern interrupts to change the trajectory of my life
4 ways you can change your morning and turn it from stress and anxiety to clarity and power – this will allow you to walk out of your door every morning ready to dominate your day
How to create your own “change” university with a simple 20-minute morning ritual
The strategy that I use to disrupt myself out of stress, anger or anxiety in 3 simple steps that takes less than 60 seconds
Why meditation is a powerful tool, but doesn’t work all of the time. And what I do when I need to pattern interrupts fast
A very short intense workouts that will kick you into a different gear when you're having a tough day
The 10 questions that you can ask yourself after meditation that will help refocus you to your goals and give you power
How to analyze your environments and change the way you feel and perform with some small changes
How to use my simple "Positive Focus" strategy when you're feeling down so that you can shift your thinking away from negative thoughts
How I got double the work done after playing PacMan and how you can use this technique to supercharge your results
The secret you don’t know about going to events that is even more powerful than the information or the people
How traveling can be the catalyst to finally doing things you’ve been afraid to do but know you want to
Why I went crazy and threw out 60% of my belongings so that I could breakthrough to the next level of life and business success
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Book: The Dark Side Of The Light Chasers (Debbie Ford) - Reclaiming Your Power, Creativity, Brilliance and Dreams: https://goo.gl/U1tK9t
Book: The Right Questions: Ten Essential Questions To Guide You To An Extraordinary Life (Debbie Ford): https://goo.gl/ScFvds
Book: The Gift Of Fear And Other Survival Signals That Can Save Your Life (Gavin De Becker): https://goo.gl/o7n3eA
Warrior Week: www.WakeUpWarrior.com
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
10/17/2017 • 40 minutes, 46 seconds
EP043: 4 Motivational Secrets To Overcome Resistance And Get Out Of Your Own Way
In a lot of ways we are our own worst enemy. We self-sabotage. We procrastinate. We put roadblocks in our own way, and we make excuses for our behavior to make us feel better ourselves when things don't go our way.
We all do it, but why? And is there something we can do about it?
The simple answer is yes, and in this episode I get into how so that you can get out of your own way and finally make things happen for yourself.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The reason you don’t do the things you know you need to and why you must have these 4 tools in your arsenal to change your self-defeating behavior... for good
How Craig was able to find a way to overcome his challenges, training and toughness to become part of the Special Operations Force (SOF) team—and how you can use his strategy to win when times get hard
The “opposite rule” and how embracing it will help you stop quitting so that you don't have to start from ground zero ever again
How to break the underlying patterns that are taking you away from your goals
How to face your fears and go after everything that you’ve ever wanted in your life
How to turn your fears into your strength and how I used this strategy to get over my debilitating fear of public speaking
Why your feelings are false, how they’re messing up your results, and how you change can the behavior
The question that will put a stop to your bad habits and help you focus on your actions so that you can drive your life towards what's most important
The one thing that connects all of the healthiest cultures in the world and how it can help you improve your health, business and personal life
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Business Summit: www.VigorGroundSummit.com
Book: Essentialism - The Disciplined Pursuit of Less (Gregg McKeown): https://goo.gl/6CJPqt
Aubrey Marcus Podcast: https://goo.gl/EQo4Ku
Take Control of Your Body, Nutrition and Life Seminar: https://goo.gl/C9GAFs
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Book: The War of Art (Steven Pressfield): https://goo.gl/jRSq8C
Book: Turning Pro - Tap Your Inner Power and Create Your Life’s Work (Steven Pressfield): https://goo.gl/j4UZpD
Book: Do The Work - Overcome Resistance and Get Out Of Your Own Way (Steven Pressfield): https://goo.gl/qPZTPN
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
9/20/2017 • 45 minutes, 3 seconds
EP042: Principles, Strategies and Mindsets for Success In The Fitness Industry
Every time I travel to events and mentorships I learn new things. Sometimes I hear stuff that I’ve heard before but from a different perspective and get an “aha” moment that allows me to take action on it.
Apart from that, the relationship building and connecting with other high level fitness professionals and entrepreneurs is priceless.
Combining the above always gets me fired up, inspired and always leaves me with a book full of notes that I am ready to take action on.
Recently I was at my 10th Perform Better Summit in a row followed by the two12 event in Denver, put on by my friend Adam Bornstein. In this episode I share my insights, but also really crack down on what it takes to be successful in fitness business (or any other business for that matter).
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The 3 reasons I travel to events and why you must too so that you can becomes the best coach, leader and successful business owner
Why going to an event to get “tons of tactics and strategies” can be detrimental to your success
The missing ingredient in your personal success and why you're still not seeing it
The 3 types of happiness and how you can integrate learning and connecting with other people to supercharge your success
Why obsession is necessary when working to become the best in the world at something
The top skill-sets the best coaches in the world have and why they're the one’s you NEED TO build
The future of the fitness industry and how you will be able to stand out
Why fitness is NOT saturated and the _______ strategy that will always win
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Business Summit: www.VigorGroundSummit.com
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Precision Nutrition: www.PrecisionNutrition.com
Perform Better Summit: www.PerformBetter.com
Two12 Event: https://two12.io
Jason Ferruggia - Renegade Radio: hhttps://goo.gl/GQiak9
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
9/12/2017 • 1 hour, 58 seconds
EP041: What Works and Doesn’t Work When It Comes To Nutrition and Lifestyle Coaching with Cody McBroom
At Vigor, the most common questions that we receive are centered around nutrition, lifestyle and habit change.
Taking control of your daily (potentially bad) habits is one of the hardest things to do – which is why we have decided to host regular podcasts where we dive deep into the kind of coaching we provide for our clients here at Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance. The same coaching that has allowed us to help thousands of clients breakthrough and change their body for the long-term.
In these podcasts we are going to focus on everything from nutrition choices and mindset frameworks, to coaching questions, our methods and strategies.
Our goal with these podcasts is to help people, potentially like yourself, make positive changes to their nutrition and lifestyle. We also want to help coaches looking for advice on how they can improve their coaching practices.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The principles that make up the foundation of coaching, and why understanding them can help you change in any area of your life
Why your nutrition “special situation” is a real life example of human diversity, and the simple steps that will help you breakthrough your plateau
The reason why many of your health and medical issues can be rectified with lifestyle and nutrition changes
Why worrying about “special scenarios” can distract you from moving the “big rocks” that will help you get where you want
The fundamental skillsets and habits that all the people that are lean and healthy stick to... which are surprisingly simple concepts
Why “fad diets” have become so popular and how we get our clients to choose what's right for them
Why asking better questions of yourself and your clients is one of the key secrets to better health and coaching
The Super 7 Readiness questions that we use to help us discover what our clients coaching needs are so that we can coach them better
The 4-steps to identifying the behaviors clients take on for success
The A-B-C list for how you can discover which foods your clients will want to eat to achieve their goals, and the training program that will compliment their nutrition program
Why humans always tend to find the negative in situations and how to change that, both in yourself and with your clients... and how this is a key skillset when it comes to nutrition success
The habits that your health and fitness icons follow, and how to apply them to your life
The strategy that will add 30-minutes of productivity to your day and how it can make a huge difference in your life
The best post-workout nutrition for athletes wanting to stay lean and build muscle
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Business Summit: https://vigorgroundsummit.com/joinus
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel [SUBSCRIBE HERE]
Vigor Life Podcast on iTunes [SUBSCRIBE HERE]
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Mind Vs Muscle Podcast [SUBSCRIBE HERE]
Boom Boom Performance: www.BoomBoomPerformance.com
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/30/2017 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 28 seconds
EP040: My 3 Biggest Insights From Attending This Top Entrepreneurial Event
Last year I went to an event my friend, Adam Bornstein puts on called two12. This annual event brings together some of the top entrepreneurs in the US, and gives attendees the opportunity to spend time with them in an intimate small group setting. It's the place to be if you want the latest business, life and relationship building advice.
When I was there I got a number of key insights from both the speakers and my fellow attendees that I've been putting to action ever since. Here are my most memorable.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How I’ve been able to build so many quality relationships in the industry plus simple tips on how you can too
Why doing more of less and finding out what your unique abilities are is going to improve your life and exponentially grow your business
The reason you sedate and spend a lot of time and energy on things that don’t move your business forward and how to turn it around
The simple formula I use to break down any goals so that I can see the daily actions I need to take to succeed
The reason behind why even just 5 habit changes in a year can completely change your life — which 5 are you focusing on?
The quote of wisdom to live by and put on your wall
How you can extract wisdom from your life that is as profound as the one from the Greek philosophers
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Book: How To Win Friends And Influence People (Dale Carnegie): https://goo.gl/HPQbqT
Book: Never Eat Alone (Keith Ferrazzi): https://goo.gl/WCdd7E</a
Two12 Event: https://two12.io
Unique Abilities 2.0: https://private.strategiccoach.com/store/products/191
Best Self Journal: https://bestself.co/products/self-journal
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/23/2017 • 29 minutes, 34 seconds
EP039: Dietary Myths Debunked and Nutrition Coaching For People Struggling With Progress with Cody McBroom
One of the most frequent questions we receive at Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance is about our nutrition coaching. The inquiries come from both clients and coaches (from other training facilities) and typically include a note about how the tactic they read about on the Internet didn't work.
The messages also include the question, "What do I do now?"
In this episode Cody and I discuss the strategies that we use daily to successfully give our clients amazing results. We also go into the deeper principles surrounding HOW we help clients crack to the code to their nutrition and make a long-term change to their lifestyle.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Common dietary myths and how they continue to distract people from the correct nutrition principles
The “Mindless Margin” and how it is slowly causing you to put on weight unknowingly
The reason why people eat old popcorn without noticing that it is stale and how this behavior will affect your body transformation results
Three easy changes that you can make to your environment that will help you achieve your fat loss goals
The kick ass strategy that will teach you how to focus on smaller segments of your macros and how it will make everything easier for your clients on a weight loss journey
The mysterious reason why we eat past full — that has everything to do with our beliefs and experiences — and how to break the pattern
Why studying Sherlock Holmes and being a detective is critical to be a great nutrition coach
How food companies created a perfect combination of foods that create a dopamine reaction in our brain that makes it hard for us to stop eating
The answer to the question, "Should you prescribe macros or not?" and how to apply the answer to a client's (or your) nutrition plan
What to do when a client gets discouraged and starts falling off of their nutrition plan
The reason people lose self-esteem and how to fix it
How to make bad habits harder to do and good habits much easier to do
The answer to the question. "Does intermittent fasting work and when should I use it with clients?"
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Book: Motivational Interviewing in Nutrition and Fitness: https://goo.gl/4xVBDt
Mind vs. Muscle Podcast: https://goo.gl/oCRNKh
Luka Hocevar YouTube: https://goo.gl/6GjqoA
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/9/2017 • 50 minutes, 37 seconds
EP038: How To Become The Master Of Your Craft And Accelerate Your Learning In Any Area
One of the questions that I get asked over and over again is, “How do you and your team at Vigor Ground learn so much so fast?”
Growing up I was a kid who always got into trouble with teachers and had a tough time learning, so I am continually humbled by that question.
As an adult I am obsessed with learning (and perfecting) my craft. In this episode I cover some of the principles around how I learn and accelerate results at Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance. I also dive into how to apply those principles to your life. Everything from the best way to learn for YOU, the 5 components of learning, the pyramid of deep learning and the exact way I go about becoming a master at my craft.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The 3 main learning styles and how to know which one will help you learn the fastest
The shocking truth about how little you learn from "just reading" and what you can do to maximize your skill-set
Why you should learn, take notes, do it yourself, then present to people to warp speed your coaching
The “secret” behind my accelerated learning and why I have gone to 170+ seminars and courses in the last 10 years
How to get deep knowledge infused in your brain like Neo in the Matrix by using my stacking model of learning
The reason we call it “active learning” and the link missing from your life that will help you increase your learning speed
How you can apply this framework to your life and have people asking you how you accelerated so fast
The 5 components of learning and how to use them to become a Jedi learning master
Why the real philosophers took action and didn’t just pontificate (wisdom comes from action)
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance: www.VigorGroundFitness.com
Vigor Life Podcast: https://goo.gl/hcB0Oy
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/6GjqoA
Book: Ego Is The Enemy by Ryan Holiday: https://goo.gl/EwLMBb
Mark Fisher: www.MarkFisherFitness.com
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
8/1/2017 • 28 minutes, 27 seconds
EP037: Your Greatest Asset And How To Get The Best ROI On Your Body, Business and Life
Most people don’t have an investment plan (personally, financially, etc.). But as I have said before, without a path and a plan the default is always struggle.
For people that do invest, it tends to be in others.
In this episode I cover the most important philosophy when it comes to personal development and why even people that “know this” end up investing in areas that lose them time, health, money and life!
Learn how to change where you invest and get the best return on investment ever.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How to brainwash yourself to success and my strategy to go from a knucklehead who barely showed up at school and got in trouble all the time to reading 100+ books every year and owning multiple successful businesses
The shocking answers that I got from some of my close friends when I asked them what their number one asset was (and why these answers should scare you)
The not so hidden secret behind what your number one asset is and why most people STILL don't invest in it
The difference between your number one asset and your number one investment and how they are closely related and either making your life amazing or miserable
Why you should become a linchpin even if you don't own your own business or work for a company
Where your “daily deposits” go and how they're building your human life capital
Why you’re betting your hard earned money into someone else’s “bets” and expecting to win
My morning investment for my mind, movement and emotions
The secret to beating failure and making it your bitch
The “take it to the bank” mentality and how it applies to every area of your life
Why you need to invest daily if you are struggling with your relationships
=> What “the King eats first”means and why a lot of people misinterpret it as selfish (when it's really the KEY to a better relationship with yourself)
The exercise that will help you create clarity around the question, "Are you working towards or away from your goals?
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Wake Up Warrior: www.wakeupwarrior.com
Book: Linchpin - Are You Indispensable?
Renegade Radio with Jay Ferruggia: https://goo.gl/7AMG7c
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
7/19/2017 • 16 minutes, 11 seconds
EP036: How To Be Ruthlessly Productive, Successful As A College Drop Out, And A Recovering Fitness Junkie w/ Nate Green
Have you ever doubted yourself and what you can achieve? So did Nate Green after having a 1.7 GPA in college. After dropping out in his first semester, Nate decided to pursue a career as a personal trainer, and hasn't looked back since. Despite all his self-doubt, he took action. First transformed himself, then helping others do the same; which opened a world of opportunities for him.
From being an editor at T-Nation, a key figure in the growth of Precision Nutrition, a marketing genius behind some of the most successful launches in fitness, and a thoughtful and inspiring writer for his own Nate Green brand, Nate has a ton of wisdom to share.
In this episode Nate opens up about the skill-sets that he feels everyone can benefit from (no matter what field they are in). How to become ruthlessly productive, how to cut out the things that slow you down and enjoy your life (while still checking off everything on your to do list) and how he became a recovering fitness junkie.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Nate had a 1.7 GPA in high school
Why he dropped out of college in his first semester, had low self esteem and how _________ changed everything for him
Why the secret of better writing is hanging out on the Eminem fan forum - Nate gives us the details
How gaining 40 lbs of muscle in a year changed Nate’s confidence, mindset and drive to succeed in other areas of life
“How to not have a real job ever” – a question that may spur you to find new possibilities in your career
Why finding mentors and building relationships is “fast-tracking” for any industry
The 3 best ways to become a better writer that will help you with marketing, better communication and beating your competition if you own a business
How to never be out of business and always be valuable, and why it's all about building “transferable” and “base level" skills
The secret to better writing and marketing
The two questions that will make all of your communication clearer, more effective and successful
How Nate wrote, 'The Hero Handbook' in hours and how you can create great work fast
The daily rituals that make Nate happier, healthier, more productive and took his relationship to the next level
Why you shouldn’t take in any more information and why it may be stopping you from achieving your goals
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Nate Green: www.NateGreen.org
Precision Nutrition: www.PrecisionNutrition.com
Book: Essentialism - The Disciplined Pursuit of Less (Greg McKeown)
T-Nation: www.T-Nation.com
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
7/12/2017 • 41 minutes, 56 seconds
EP035: The Price You Pay For Being Unremarkable And How To Fix It
Being able to look at the obstacles in your life, as well as observe others struggles (and extract the lessons) may be one of your greatest skill sets... especially if you're able to apply what you learn.
In this episode I share two of the lessons I extracted this week. One being that marketing is the price you pay for being unremarkable – and how this applies to your body, being, relationships and business.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The 4 things you must do to constantly improve yourself, your competence and your business
The strategy that I took from Ryan Holiday that will help you create endless content, ideas, team strategies and write a book
How ________ is the price you pay for being unremarkable – and how to fix it
The question that will help you face some hard facts while also creating more opportunity than you can imagine
The small habit that helped me drop body fat and look the leanest I have in a long time
How changing your body can be done with strategic shifts day-by-day and how that can create massive results for you over time – in this episode I outline three shifts that changed mine
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Business Summit
Book: The Obstacle Is The Way - The Timeless Art of Turning Trials into Triumph (Ryan Holiday)
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe Here)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
6/28/2017 • 21 minutes, 7 seconds
EP034: 18 Things All Great Coaches Do
Would you like to discover the formula to build a new skill-set? In this episode I break it down for you.
I’m always studying what the greats do in the areas of their art/skill. When I want to improve a particular skill-set I study coaches who have it – by reverse engineering who they are, what they do and how they do it.
After studying the greatest coaches and working with/under some of the world's best, I asked myself four questions which helped me reverse engineer the 18 things great coaches do.
Discover what they are and how to use them.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
The four questions to ask yourself when reverse engineering the greats coaching skill-sets (or any other skill-set for that matter)
The three daily action steps you must take if you’re working on dominating your niche and leading the marketplace
The “UPR” skill that most coaches don’t pay attention to that will cause you to fail with your clients and prevent you from getting results if you don't work on it
"Be the _________ not the guru." (and why this sentence is at the core of true coaching)
Why you're not the hero, your clients are
The “Three L’s” that make up a key skill-set (this is something that most coaches don't put enough effort into)
Why you're not getting enough data
The “Cascade of Consequences” and how it affects you, your clients and your team (and why you MUST understand this concept to succeed)
How not “getting” your clients will create a wall between you and them and why you won't be able to help them until you do
Why fixing weaknesses is NOT what you should focus on with your clients
The “Radical Candor” and why you need it to be successful with your coaching, communication and business
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Business Summit (Learn More Here)
Luka Hocevar YouTube (Subscribe Here)
Vigor Life Podcast (Subscribe Here)
Book: Radical Candor - Be A Kick Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity
Gary Vaynerchuck (View Now)
Vigor Ground Team Blooper Reel (Watch Here)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
6/20/2017 • 36 minutes, 57 seconds
EP033: My Positive Addictions And How To Dominate Your Day
This episode is almost a year old, but the mindsets and strategies that I outline within it still have the potential to transform your day from a health, happiness and productivity standpoint.
What we do today, over a lifetime, may be insignificant. Yet, what we do every day, over a lifetime, becomes the only significance.
Discover some of the positive addictions you can add to your day that will significantly change your life.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Why I bought 300 books and took a trip to NYC to hang with Gary Vaynerchuk
The first thing that I do in the morning that has changed my day (it only takes 5 minutes)
Why the bridge from where you are to where you want to be is filled with behaviors, and how to choose the positive addictions that will help you reach your goals
How the Vitamix added an hour to my day, saved me $20 and helped me become more productive
The 25-minute combo that will get you focused, help you see opportunities, reduce your anxiety and help you dominate your day
The mistake most people make that guarantees you will continue to be stressed no matter how much you achieve (and how a 5-minute daily habit can put and end to it)
One of the most powerful habits you can do in the morning that will help your relationships
How you can download the model for success from people you aspire to be in any area of life
How to create a plan to dominate your day and chip away at it daily
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Max Shank - 5 Minutes of Flow
The 5 Minute Journal App
Luka Hocevar YouTube (Subscribe Here)
Nate Green
Wake Up Warrior
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
6/13/2017 • 26 minutes, 44 seconds
EP032: The Myth About Changing Habits And Commitment To Your Goals
One of the things I regularly mention is that it doesn’t matter if you do your best if you don't do what is required. That doesn’t mean that doing your best isn’t extremely important, but there are certain requirements that need to be done if you are to achieve anything in life – and often there is a disconnect between what you are doing and what is required.
A big part of achieving anything is the habits that you develop – which either take you towards your goals or away from them.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
My thoughts on some of the myths for creating habits
Why I show up at midnight to do a podcast, and how it's what you’re missing to get the results you want
Why the people preaching at you who can build a habit in 21-days have got it all wrong, and how you can accelerate your change
The simple and easy trick that will help you take control of your daily battle with bad habits
How to break the habit loop currently stopping you from making changes in your life
How to use training to change your body and also train your mind to be more focused – which will in turn give you the ability to change your habits
The power of "the morning ritual" and how it can train you to pattern interrupt your bad habits
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness
Luka Hocevar YouTube (Subscribe Here)
Book: Deep Work - Rules For Focused Success In A Distracted World (Cal Newport)
The Vigor Life Podcast (Subscribe Here)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/23/2017 • 13 minutes, 59 seconds
EP031: How To Master Your Craft, Love The Process, and Make Life One Big Adventure with Lil B
How do you go from living in a 300 square foot room with two friends, hustling to just get by (in a far away country that's not home), to becoming on of the best black and grey tattoo artists in the world?
That's the story of “Lil B” Hernandez, my good friend, and the person who has stabbed me more times than I can count... with a tattoo needle that is.
In this episode we talk about everything from mastery of your craft, the mindset behind growth and success, traveling the world and how attaching yourself to things can be a ball and chain for life.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Lil B took something that he was passionate about and made it into his business
One of the biggest mistakes most people make in business and how Lil B found a way to make his tattoo art elite – this is a secret business lesson
The secret to becoming a master and sought out expert in your field
How we use humility as a weapon that allows for constant growth and improvement
How to take people's visions and dreams and use your expertise to make it a masterpiece – and how you can do the same in your business
What makes Lil B fight the system and travel the world living life like one big adventure
The life experiment and why Lil B likes to sleep under the stars in places like Japan
How success can take you down the wrong path and how to prevent it with an unorthodox principle
Why relationships are your biggest asset and source of happiness
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Lil B Tattoo
Lil B Instagram
Luka Hocevar YouTube (Subscribe Here)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/18/2017 • 30 minutes, 22 seconds
EP030: Renegade Lessons To Being Healthy, Wealthy and Wise From Your 20’s To Your 50’s w/ Jay Ferruggia
Jason Ferruggia has gone from building one of the first, and most successful underground gyms, to going broke, to building an incredibly successful online business. He is now the host of the Renegade Radio podcast – which has millions of downloads.
Renegade Radio is an entertaining and informative show that empowers you to unleash your strongest self. You get motivation and strategies to build your body, strengthen your mind, and live a life without regrets.
In this episode Jay and I talk about the biggest lessons, mindsets and strategies to build a fulfilling life in the areas of healthy, wealthy and wise - from decades of our experiences, mistakes and triumphs.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The best way to train for the rest of your life to stay strong and lean, without beating up your body so that you can also have longevity – The answer will surprise you!
The message Quest Love put out on social media that shined a light on the disconnect between fitness professionals and people wanting to change their lifestyle, and how it can affect your results
Why we fit pros need to “come into their world” if we want to help others change their habits
The best diet for getting lean, healthy, having energy, and building longevity and a life with less sickness
How to breakdown eating more or less protein, carbs and fat whether your focus is longevity, performance, or getting ripped
How being an introvert or extrovert affects your training in different ways and how not paying attention to it could lead you away from results
The 3 biggest mistakes when starting a business and the one thing you MUST avoid at all costs if you are starting one
The astonishingly different approaches to starting your own business, and why you shouldn’t listen to some guru’s advice
Why getting more personally involved with charity causes and your community will help you be happier, more productive and more profitable
And much, much more
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Jason Ferruggia
Renegade Strength Club
Renegade Radio Podcast (Subscribe Here)
Vigor Life Podcast (Subscribe Here)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/10/2017 • 44 minutes, 21 seconds
EP029: The Two Not So Magic Questions That Will Get You To Better Results
There are certain perspectives in life that create awareness to truly help you change. One of them for me was finding out the difference between difficult/easy and difficult/difficult. The first time I heard this was back in the day from my friend Alwyn Cosgrove, then later on again from John Berardi.
I have made asking myself two simple questions an ongoing part of my life to help me figure out what I needed to drop and what I needed to do more of. Learn those questions and the perspective that help me eliminate some things while adding others to improve my results in all areas of life.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
Why doing "hard" things and working hard may be the reason you're stuck and not getting results
Difficult actions have two sides of the coin – find out if you're putting time and effort into the wrong one and how it's taking away from what you want and creating a pattern that's hard to break
The ONE thing that creates more stress and anxiety in your life and how to eliminate it
The secret to uncovering your roadblocks — the two questions — discover what they are and how to breakthrough
What the "opposite day" is and how can it help you clarify what the next step to success
The reason why you fall back into old patterns after you start having success, and how to finally break that pattern and reach your potential
RESOURCES AND LINKS
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe Here)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
5/4/2017 • 14 minutes, 36 seconds
EP028: Practices To Do Better Work and Live A Better Life – The Happiness Advantage
A few weeks ago I went to Brazil with my brother to shoot a documentary on movement culture and how environments trigger behaviors. The trip however ended up being so much more than that – becoming one of the best experiences of my life.
I realized how much we chase "things" to create happiness, when in actuality we can have happiness now, in every aspect of our lives.
Happiness is a powerful beast that will actually help you achieve the success that you want, while also improving your life.
In the episode I talk about real actionable strategies and practices that you can implement daily that will help you be happier, have more energy, more cognitive capacity and do better work that leads to success.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
The revelation I had while playing foot volley on a beach in Brazil, and how it will shift your perspective on life
The single biggest reason it's so hard to be happy
7 ways to be happy RIGHT NOW
The 3-minute exercise that my friend made me do that made me realize how I choose not to be happy (and so do you!)
Why we have the formula for success all wrong and how to flip in on its head for massive results
The biggest problem with external goals
The sad and unfortunate reason we listen to critics in the first place
The dream we all have that is completely wrong
The huge mistake when studying the average and why it has made you unsuccessful
The secret sauce in “falling up” and how it is the key to happiness and growth
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Luka Hocevar YouTube channel
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
4/26/2017 • 59 minutes, 5 seconds
EP027: Overcoming Adversity And The 5 C’s Of Building A Legit Sports Performance Business w/ Andy McCloy
Have you gone through hardships in your life and feel like you won't be able to achieve your dreams because of them? In this episode I sit down with my friend Andy McCloy, who — like me — has had to overcome a tough and "colorful" past to get where he is now.
Andy fought through adversity to build one of the most successful sports performance businesses in the south, and in this episode we discuss how.
We talk about everything from growing up and getting into trouble, the catalyst that lead Andy to make a change, and how fitness and youth sports inspired him to build his business – while mentoring kids in their early teens all the way up to pro ranks.
Andy's philosophy will give you a lot of insight into the success of his programs and the blueprint to succeed in any career.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
What lured Andy to a life of crime and the catalyst that made him realize things have to change
The secret lesson that is responsible for success in some people and failure in others
The book that shifted Andy's mindset and planted the seed that he could become whoever he wanted to be
A secret to success that most personal development programs miss - you master this and you have a tool that will help you overcome the hardest of times
How your environment's trigger your behavior much more than you think, and the step-by-step process to shift what you do fast
A new way to present your business, the "BCI wheel" and how you can implement it into any fitness business (especially those geared to youth sports performance)
How to influence parents that you are the right coach for their kids based on more than just the X's and O's of training
The 8 spokes that create a super athlete – mind, body and soul
The reason Andy is not big on "sport-specific" training when it comes to youth, and why it's something they don't focus on much at BCI
The astonishing way to make better decisions in your business
The 5 C's of building any great career or business — whether it be a gym or anything else — and the bonus "C" I add at the end that you must master whether you like it or not
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
BCI - Body Creations
Book: Awaken The Giant Within (Tony Robbins)
Book: The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
4/18/2017 • 1 hour, 22 seconds
EP026: Advanced Muscle Building and Performance, Personality Types and Coaching Mastery w/ Christian Thibadeau and John Rusin
What if there was a better way for you to get muscle building, strength and performance results while staying injury-free? What if there was a science that would allow you to stick with a workout consistently?
Christian Thibadeau and John Rusin, two of the world's top strength, hypertrophy and performance coaches join me to talk about the big mistakes most people make when it comes to improving their physique, strength and performance – while staying pain-free.
Also, they share insight about training people with different personality types, and how those personal characteristics affect training, nutrition, recovery and compliance. This is some extremely insightful information that you most likely haven't heard yet!
To cap it off, we dive deep into what it takes to be a great coach and some of the biggest traits that are currently lacking in the fitness industry.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How to assess personality types to determine what will help a client stick to their programs, get better results as well as feel better throughout the day
The 2 things that every client must do to get results and how many people get this wrong because of ________
The secret to getting people to stick to their training and nutrition program, and how you may be (unknowingly) getting it all wrong
How to create the most effective warm up for different personality types to get them ready for their workout based on John Rusin's '6-Step Warm Up Blueprint' (getting this wrong can make a client's performance go down and make the session suck)
A new ways to assess your clients to determine what is going to work better for them in warm ups, training, nutrition and supplementation
The secret to helping "hard gainers" put on muscle, and why most programs are making it harder for them
Why you shouldn't change exercises much (if at all) for certain personality types and the step-by-step process to progress them, have them coming back and get them addicted to their training
The astonishing reason that clients may be falling off your programs even when you put in all the time and effort to make them perfect on paper
How I create programs based on personality types and my "meal" analogy (this may be the simplest way of viewing and creating programs)
How to create a program with a client to get them better results
How eating carbs before and during a workout can really improve some individuals training sessions, while making others really sleepy – find out where you fit in
Why going low carb can spell disaster for someone who is introverted, anxious and an over-thinker (I also go into why going low carb and having "cheat days" won't work long-term for these people)
The missing links in the fitness industry to becoming a master coach and why you should be dumber
A list of the supplements to take for each personality type to improve their performance and make them feel better all day long
And SO much more
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Dr. John Rusin
Christian Thibadeau (Thibarmy)
Advanced Strength, Muscle and Performance Coaching Seminar (For Tickets)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
4/11/2017 • 1 hour, 32 minutes, 38 seconds
EP025: Total Human Optimization, Pursuing Your Vision and Building a Great Team w/ John Wolfe
I met John Wolfe years ago while studying kettlebell training. What initially struck me about him was his approach to and philosophy about training – I loved how he implemented unconventional training methods into any program as a way to upgrade it.
John, who is now the CFO (Chief Fitness Officer) of Onnit, joins me to talk about everything from how to build culture, a community that connects instead of divides, and powerhouse teams that encourage individuals to step into greatness. We of course also get into unconventional training.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
Why John left his own business to join Onnit and how you can be happy and successful by putting yourself into the right career
The secret to long term growth and success - "It's not about how much money you make but ________."
How to learn some of the best lessons from the things you did wrong – or even better, learning from other people doing things wrong
The principle that can be implemented to attract the best talent and a powerful tool that you can use to make great connections (both total game changers!)
The 3 C's that laid the foundation of success at Onnit
The "magic formula" that makes the best teams and companies tick and why you MUST do this if you want to create a strong team in your company
Why a "choose your own adventure" style of training may be the best way for people to stick to fitness long-term
How I broke the record in the Viking Mace Challenge while being hungover at the Onnit grand opening
How to create experiences that keep people coming back – the cornerstone of ANY business
Why you're the most successful when you choose your path and do what you love the most — and how you can help people in your organization do that
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Onnit Academy
The Pack Fitness Business Coaching
Vigor Life Podcast iTunes (Subscribe Here)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
4/4/2017 • 35 minutes, 44 seconds
EP024: How To Win At The Sport of Life
After my basketball career I struggled to find the motivation and structure to get the things I wanted to accomplished done both personally and professionally. It took a lot of trial and error — falling on my face (a few times) — and the help of mentors who helped guide me towards my goals for me to get to the place I wanted to be.
The revelation that really shifted things for me was that I am still an athlete, but now my sport is life and everything in it is my playground.
In this episode I share my perspective and the strategy that helped me break everything that I wanted to achieve down into monthly, weekly and daily targets/practices. A strategy that will help you dominate your days.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How I struggled after ending my basketball career with feelings of loss and a lack of purpose and what I did to turn it around
How putting all my energy into my business actually damaged things that matter to me and the steps to avoid the same mistakes
The philosophy and structure that allowed me to improve all areas of my life at the same time
My secret ritual that gives me energy every night while also firing me up for the next day
The small change you can make to supercharge your results in the next 90 days (in whatever area of life you choose)
The game that will get you everything you want in life
Why Super Mario Brothers and bosses will make you realize obstacles are the secret sauce to success
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Wake Up Warrior
Vigor Life Podcast
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
3/31/2017 • 23 minutes, 37 seconds
EP023: How To Get Out of Pain and Stay Away From Pain w/ Physical Therapist Dan Swinscoe
When I or one of my clients is injured I always want to make sure that I have a network of the most knowledgeable and caring people available to help me/them get back on track with training and living life to the fullest. One of those people is Dan Swinscoe.
If you have ever been hurt or injured you understand that the only thing you want to do is get out of pain and get back to doing the things that you love pain-free (and keeping it that way). To get the best results, short and long-term — when it comes to training for body composition and performance — staying injury free is key.
In this episode Dan and I discuss how to get out of pain and how to stay pain-free so that you can be your best at whatever you choose to do.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How pain changes the way we move, live and think and how it affects every part of our life — and what to do about it RIGHT NOW
What I learned from a devastating back injury that I suffered 6 years ago, and how you can learn how to avoid making the mistakes that made (I also outline the principles and strategies that helped me get back to 100%)
How the biggest injuries are caused by the little things that we do in everyday life (even if you are a high level athlete or trainee)
How your back is like a credit card and what happens when you keep bending it the wrong way – I also answer the question: are sit ups really bad for you?
The best way to strengthen your core, flatten your stomach and see your abs (the show and the go of training)
The checklist for how to get out of and stay out of back pain (make this a ritual and your low back will thank you for life)
The shocking truth about whether you should squat and deadlift (this answer the age old question)
The 3 simple principles to fix nagging shoulder pain to keep you from having to get surgery down the road
The "what NOT to do" list when coming back from injury and the biggest misconception when it comes to rehabilitation (this is one even doctors get wrong many times)
The big reason I love Zumba and why you should too (and why it may be the exact thing you need)
Strategies and tips to help you stay away from pain and injuries for good (put this on your fridge!)
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Dr. Stuart McGill: Ultimate Back Fitness and Performance
Peak Sports and Spine
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
3/22/2017 • 54 minutes, 16 seconds
EP022: How You’re (Unknowingly) Choosing Failure and How To Change It
This week I wanted to share a perspective that a friend and I were talking about that tends to keep people from achieving their goals. I also get into a simple exercise of awareness that will help you break through if you’re currently struggling to achieve something.
It's no secret that our perspective, subconscious beliefs, fears and mindset guide the decisions and actions that we take. Shifting my perspective has been monumental in my own life – taking me from not believing in myself, to a life of crime and failure, to where I am today.
The tools, strategies and stories that I share in this episode are the same ones that I used to transform my life. They’re also the strategies that now help our clients at Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance undergo deep transformations.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How everyday you choose your "can't” and why that's holding you back from everything you want in your life
The magic question that determines if your beliefs and actions are taking you away from your goals or towards them
Why the turkey story may be exactly how you're treating certain areas of your life that you want to change, but can't
The power of looking into your own stories and how to start breaking them down and create new ones that actually get you results
The 4 stages that move you from doing things that are hurting you, without you even knowing it, to the actions that will give you success
A new way of thinking that will keep you on track and help you achieve your goals
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel (Subscribe Here)
Vigor Life Podcast (Subscribe Here)
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
3/15/2017 • 12 minutes, 3 seconds
EP021: Nutrition, Lifestyle and Habit Strategies That Work (And Go Against What Most Media Tells You)
I sat down with coach Cody from Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance to talk about the perspectives, mindsets, skill sets and strategies that we implement with our clients to help them change behaviors and get them closer to their goals — while making fitness and nutrition a sustainable stress-free part of their lives. We dig into some very specific examples as well as shine a light on some of the things that most fitness media pushes as the solution, when it fact it may lead to a roller coaster of weight loss and weight gain.
If you look deeper at this conversation there are many strategies that you can use in principle to help change your behavior — whether related to nutrition or any other lifestyle factor. As I’ve said before, nutrition coaching is more about inter personal skills and psychology than it is about the x’s and o’s.
If you’re looking to change your habits to help you achieve your goals then don’t miss this episode.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
What NOT to do – even though it’s what main fitness media pushes when it comes to your nutrition
Why Cody and myself fall into level 1 when it comes to nutrition, even though we stay year round, and the reason most people take on too difficult of a behavior change and fail
The limiting factors that are stopping you from changing your nutrition and lifestyle for good
One of the key factors to improving the quality of the nutrients you are getting into your diet, and the drill we use with clients to add variety and success into their nutrition plan
Some ways to build fundamental skills that are fun, build community and end up transforming your habits long-term
The SIMPLE and yet fastest way to change your environment and change your night time eating and snacking
How to cut out caffeine, alcohol and sugar beverages with success and improve your hydration
The “all or nothing” mindset that rarely gets us ______ and gets us _________ most of the time
The MOST important habit anyone can develop and the strategies you can implement to help you develop it
The HALT acronym and how these questions can stop you from thinking you’re hungry when you’re not
One of the reasons why it's so easy to overindulge in the foods that don’t help you lose weight or build lean muscle
3 skill sets you need to learn of you want to avoid repeating a cycle of frustration with your nutrition
The step-by-step approach to eliminating all the things that are holding you back, one-by-one (this simple strategy works but most people don’t do it because it’s so easy)
The one habit that can change your energy levels, make you feel better, think clearer and treat people nicer
And much more
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Boom Boom Performance
Precision Nutrition
Jason Ferruggia
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
3/9/2017 • 57 minutes, 25 seconds
EP020: The Not So Secret Principle Of Success That Is The Key To Everything I Do
Many years ago I read a book with a quote from Steve Martin as the title that really hit home for me. Not only has the quote been etched into my mind ever since, I also have a poster of it up in my office, a screenshot on my desktop, and note cards with the phrase written on them.
Excessive? Maybe, but maybe not.
This quote reminds me to focus on the process while highlighting an important fact: no one is to blame for my failures, and it is my responsibility to hone my skills so that I don’t get ignored in the areas I want to excel in.
Whether it’s personal or business, the advice and perspective I give in this episode will help you focus on the right things to help you achieve the things that you want. Taking control of your nutrition and lifestyle choices, becoming the best at your skill — and getting recognized for it — creating deep meaningful relationships, creating wealth, or just being able to dominate pick up basketball at your local gym, all comes down to this mindset.
Discover what it is and examples of how to take action on it.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Steve Martin figured out the principle that helped him (in spite of some huge struggles) become one of the best and most recognized comedians in the world
The secret to reverse engineering any type of success you want to achieve — no matter the area of focus (i.e. your body, mindset, relationships, business, or anything in between)
How to know if you’re mixing up the steps in the process and hindering your own success
What to do if you caught in a cycle of falling on and off of your wagon to progress
How my friend Hieu used the same process to put on 25 lbs of muscle and get leaner, while becoming a pretty damn good photographer using this same step-by-step approach
The mystery of why so many of the world's greatest artists came from one small city in Italy in a very short time period in history, and why they are still considered among the best to this day. I’ll teach you how to steal their secret
How I developed myself as a strength coach while training 5-6 hours a day and playing professional basketball **This is the key to how you can change anything in your life right now
My rant on whether you should be teaching a certain skill set to someone else or focusing on yourself and succeeding at that craft first
How Tony Robbins fast-forwarded his success with this strategy and how you can use it in your field/industry
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Book: So Good They Can’t Ignore You - Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest For The Work You Love (Cal Newport)
Book: Deep Work: Rules For Focused Success In A Distracted World (Cal Newport)
Vigor Life Podcast on iTunes (Subscribe)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/27/2017 • 22 minutes, 45 seconds
EP019: The Strong, Jacked And Pain Free Training Model w/ Dr. John Rusin
Years ago I spoke on stage with Dr. John Rusin and after listening to him I started digging into his writing, training and philosophies. They aligned with so many of my thoughts after pushing my body for decades and having a number of injuries that really threw a wrench in my progress and even my career in sports.
Going heavy, fast and hard at all times when it comes to training — even though it may sound “beast mode” — is actually a sure path to feeling beat up and in pain, which will ultimately stall your progress. Dr. Rusin has found a model that works with just about everyone when it comes to getting strong and jacked without the risk of injury.
If you want to maximize your performance over the long-term you have to follow and pay strict attention to a smart model of programming, form and training. If you follow what most advice tells you then you’re likely to get injured at one point or another. Dr. John Rusin joins me on the podcast and will change your perspective of what smart training really is.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How Dr. Rusin created the pain-free high performance training model after working with some of the highest level athletes in the world and realizing that most people get injured and believe that it’s just part of the training process (when in fact many training injuries could be prevented)
What attracted me to the FHT program and ultimately drew me into Dr. Rusin’s philosophy
The reason Dr. Rusin turned down $100k as a physical therapist to become a strength coach and start from the ground up
The principles that you should follow if you want to dominate at pick-up basketball, flag football or ultimate frisbee and look like a muscular athlete for the long haul
The HUGE mistake that most trainees make when it comes to building strength and muscle (this is most likely completely off your radar)
The 3 issues you must address for optimal performance
The biggest misconception about body part splits and what gets the best results long-term
Why the long game approach gets you the best results (many times even short-term)
How to keep training fun and not burn out while also building muscle and improving strength
The “pie” analogy for how to fit your most important goals into your training program (this has helped many see a different perspective while simplifying it)
Why using less weight can make you stronger and get you better results
How to unlock the “parking break” that may be stopping you from improving your muscle mass and performance
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Dr. John Rusin
Functional Hypertrophy Training Program
Dr. John Rusin and Christian Thibadeau Seminar
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/21/2017 • 56 minutes, 13 seconds
EP018: Strategies And Tools To Help You Change With Less Overwhelm
In the past I had a tendency to take on a ton of action steps, then get frustrated when I completed fewer tasks than I set out to accomplish. This pattern quickly became a vicious cycle that kept me from achieving the things that I wanted to, while making me feel stressed about the fact that I wasn’t hitting my targets — which left me with a sense of failure.
With time, a lot of studying and coaching I realized that there was a better way to approach achieving my goals — and feel good about it when I did. I wanted to share this process — which I now teach to Vigor Ground clients to help build behaviors that lead to long-term results — with you so that you can implement them in your life and start seeing the results that you want
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
The ONE thing that you need to know to keep you from feeling like you're shooting in the dark or driving around with a broken GPS
The four questions that you must ask yourself before before outlining action steps for what you are looking to achieve. Without these you may be putting energy into a plan that is doomed to fail
Why you can't live life like the Super Mario Bros and skip a level to get faster results; and why sticking with 'Level 1’ — no matter what your goal is — is the fastest and most sustainable way to achieve your goals
The limiting factors that are stopping you from changing your nutrition and lifestyle, and how to apply the lessons from these limitations to any part of life and overcome your obstacles
The "magic formula" that gives you easy tasks that will help you change faster. Once you accept this process you will make progress in every area you want to improve in
How to build confidence and self-esteem – a strategy that will become the catalyst for you changing your life (most people have blinders on when it comes to this, and I explain why)
The step-by-step blueprint that outlines how to break down your goals into daily practices (this in itself is worth the price of admission)
How I breakdown “building muscle” into behaviors and how you can apply this process to all other areas of your life
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Vigor Ground Year Long Transformation Challenge Men
Vigor Ground Year Long Transformation Challenge Women
Fit Bar Cafe
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/14/2017 • 36 minutes, 11 seconds
EP017: How Sleep Changed My Body, Mind And Life And 15 Strategies To Change Yours
How much are you sleeping? It’s a question that the average American answers with 6.8 hours (this is a statistics – most people don’t actually know the exact amount of sleep they getting) which is down by about an hour from the 1940s, and continues to drop. Sleep is the magic potion that helps improve your body, cognitive function, health, performance, and even your relationships. Yet many people tend to brush it off because it's not as sexy as a superfood, supplement, or transformation exercise program. If you are one of those people, it’s time to change your view of sleep and start making time for it.
In this podcast I share how and why I went from a guy who slept less than 4-5 hours per night to a regular 8-hour per night sleeper. And dive into the science behind why sleep is important. I also outline a few strategies that you can implement right now to help improve the quality of your sleep.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How I went from a hustler and active member of #TeamNoSleep to crashing and burning – and how I got out of that hole
How I started training less and sleeping more, and why that help me get leaner, stronger and happier This may be the bottleneck keeping you from seeing results
How sleep affects your relationships more than you can probably imagine
Why people like The Rock, Diddy and 50 Cent can sleep less but still get a ton done – and what they could actually achieve if they slept more
Why sleep is the missing ingredient in long-term fat loss This is clinically-proven
Why going to bed at the right time is more important than how many hours you sleep
Why the first and last 90 minutes of the day make or break your entire day, and how to make it count
Why poor sleep quality depresses brain function and leads to poor performance at work
How to calm your mind so you can fall asleep faster
What mineral deficiency can cause severe sleep problems (and how to fix it)
Why caffeine in the morning can be a good thing but taking it later in the day can crush your sleep — unless you have _____
My ritual of the Russian Bath House and how you can re-create this in your home and sleep like a baby
The $8.99 investment that was a game changer for my sleep
What Buddy Morris considers his #1 tactic to health, and why he recommends doing it naked
What foods to eat to get the nutrients you may be deficient that may currently be sabotaging your sleep
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
LeanKit: See Your Work Flo
Onnit Supplements (For Sleep)Book: Sleep Smarter - 21 Essential Strategies To Sleep Your Way To A Better Body, Better Health, and Bigger Success (Shawn Stevenson)
Sleep Mask
Bedside Lamp Smart Morning Wake Up
Quarterly BioHack Box
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/7/2017 • 47 minutes, 53 seconds
EP016: Lessons From Richard Branson and How To Create An Environment For Success
Last April I visited Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands and got the chance to spend time with Richard Branson, Yanik Silver and the Maverick group of entrepreneurs. This trip was made possible by an Evolved Enterprise Award that I received for Vigor Ground Fitness — an award that is given to individuals who have built a business that is helping change things in their community in creative charitable ways, while influencing other small businesses to do the same.
The trip was not only motivating, but also inspirational because it helped me realize that I can do so much more when it comes to supporting others in my community.
In this episode I explain how/why our environment shapes us, and how you can mold your environment to help you succeed.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How environments trigger behaviors and what that means for your success, or lack of it
What Richard Branson did with Necker Island to create an environment that helps him do meaningful work and lead a fulfilled life
How you can make small changes that create big results in transforming your own environment, even when you can’t buy your own island — I’ve had to deal with that reality too
Why you need to imagine the people and places that trigger you to take actions towards your goals
The importance of writing out where you are currently at, and why the difference is “the gap”
How to assess and make a change to your environment if it isn’t serving you and/or keeping you from reaching your goals
Why people are drowning in information and thirsty for transformation
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance Coaching
Vigor Life Podcast [SUBSCRIBE HERE]
Vigor Ground Fitness Business Coaching
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/1/2017 • 12 minutes, 18 seconds
EP015: 17 Lessons and Rules To Building Phenomenal Relationships That Enhance Your Life
There's few things that make life more fulfilling than relationships and experiences. When you combine the two it really makes for the best life. In the last three years of speaking I kept getting asked the following question: “Luka, how did you create so many meaningful, powerful relationships in your life?” To answer this question I decided to look back and share my thoughts, experiences and 17 lessons that I have learned over the years that will help you build phenomenal relationships in your life – whether they be in your business or personal life. I also go into how you can create things that help people and do meaningful things in business with your friends – which is one of my favorite things.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
Two things that your life will suck without – and how most people don’t pay attention to them
A little secret I figured out to help connect me to just about anyone – that will also work for you
The #1 rule — when it comes to building relationships – and how if you break it
How this tactic and 10 minutes of your time can make you stand out in a crowd and supercharge your business relationship building
Why looking someone in the eye can tell them about your self confidence and create trust
Why taking risks is a rule when building powerful relationships and the reason why most people don’t take them
What the “Like Formula” is and how knowing and mastering this can change your relationships, business, and life
Why focusing on the motive to meet with someone can be the recipe for failure
Why the best business relationships are with people who you respect, enjoy and have a great personal relationship with – and how to create these sorts of relationships
Why the higher up the ladder you go the more cautious people will be about your advances, and the steps you need to take to build trust fast
One of the most important rules when it comes to creating relationships and building trust – and the proven way to bring that rule to life without making any mistakes
The strategy I use to to add remarkable value to other people using a 4 x 6 card – this has become the secret to supercharge my networks
How my experience with a hair stylist (I know I have no hair but hear me out) in Santa Monica can get you to build better relationships and bring happiness to people's lives
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Book: Little Black Book of Connections - 6.5 Assets For Networking Your Way to RICH Relationships (Jeffrey Gitomer)
Book: Never Eat Alone; And Other Secrets To Success, One Relationship at a Time (Keith Ferrazzi)
Book: Choose Yourself - Be Happy, Make Millions, Live The Dream (James Altucher)
Book: The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F@*k - A Counterintuitive Approach To Living A good Life (Mark Mason)
TED Talks
Wake Up Warrior
Jason Ferruggia
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
2/1/2017 • 47 minutes, 49 seconds
EP014: 5 Things To Help You Live A Better Life and Achieve Coaching Greatness with Martin Rooney
The originator of the fitness system Training For Warriors and my good friend, Martin Rooney drops by to talk about his new book, "The 5 Things" and how he has traveled the world and accumulated lessons, ideas, and action steps through his journeys. Discover and learn how you can lead a fulfilled life, and get a better body, better relationships, a better career, business and finances by following Martin’s system.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How Martin traveled the world, learned lessons and ideas and broke them down into 5 actionable steps you can take today
Why fitness is making things confusing and how it's what's stopping people from taking action and getting results
Martin's 5 BIG things to live a better life and how you can start taking action on them today
How Martin wrote a chapter of a book while driving in the passenger seat in Slovenia, and how it applies to your life and getting results
The 5 F's to living a better life and how missing any one of these can break down all the others
What "the line” is and how you are walking past that line every day to achieve all the things you want in your life
The power of doing small things consistently (that are not overwhelming) and how it can create a snowball effect of results in your life
Why asking yourself the right questions and "watching" is the first step to awareness, and how it can be the kick in the pants you need to motivate you to change
The rituals that Martin and I do while on the road, and how your rituals determine your day and life
What to look for on a resume that will predict that person's success < this is crucial to any business owner
Why you shouldn't listen to things that help you just once and instead should repeat them over and over again
The 3 forms of happiness that make up your life and how you can create an endless amount of "colors" to your life's experience through this philosophy < this episode is worth the listen just for this!
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Book: The Book Of The Five Things - Powerful Lessons For A Happier, Healthier and Richer Life (Martin Rooney)
The Training For Warriors System That Is Changing Fitness
Book: Resilience - Hard Won Wisdom For Living A Better Life (Eric Greitens)
Vigor Life Podcast (SUBSCRIBE HERE)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
1/24/2017 • 34 minutes, 58 seconds
EP013: The Sword In The Stone and What’s Stopping You From Getting What You Want
After one of my quarterly mastermind events, that I attend in Laguna Beach, I had a revelation while listening to a friend talk about the full story of King Arthur and the sword in the stone. It’s a story that most people never hear that made me realize why I sometimes get stuck in certain areas in my life. It also gave me insight into why a lot of people never get what they want.
When it comes to reaching any goal, it’s not only important that you surround yourself with people who have achieved what you want to attain. But also equally important to surround yourself with people who you trust and will point out the things you may not see or want to hear. By doing so you will be able to learn from your mistakes then apply change moving forward. Without this type of environment it’s easy to get stuck in a “cup de sac” – spinning circles and wondering why things never change for you.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:
How you can learn from the military “hot wash” – which will teach you how to learn from your mistakes so that failure becomes a stepping stone, and not a roadblock
What the story of King Arthur and the sword in the stone has to do with breaking through your limitations and ultimately seeing success
The truth about HOW you get what you want, and why you may be struggling to pull the trigger and take action on the things that you want
How to avoid living a life of quiet desperation and live up to your standards
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Book: Extreme Ownership - How US Navy Seals Lead and Win (Jocko Willink)
Book: Choose Yourself - Be Happy, Make Millions, Live The Dream (James Altucher)
Vigor Life Podcast (SUBSCRIBE HERE)
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
1/17/2017 • 8 minutes, 22 seconds
EP012: Nutrition For Real World Results w/ Real People (That Are Busy, Stressed, Overwhelmed and Ready To Change)
I invite one of our Vigor Ground coaches, Cody McBroom to talk shop about nutrition. Not the nutrition that you hear about in trendy magazines and in the thousands of diet books that push "the _______ diet that will finally help you get results." But rather the type of nutrition that is backed by science and teaches you how to make sensible (sustainable) changes.
Over the last decade I've studied countless nutritional approaches, (trying and testing many of them on myself and with my clients) been taught by some of the world’s best minds, made many mistakes, learned from those mistakes, and have continued to study and apply everyday to help Vigor clients achieve the best results. In other words, results that stick while allowing them to live a fulfilled life where nutrition changes become a part of their life NOT a source of stress in their life.
We consider nutrition changes a success with our clients when we affect body composition, health, and performance. If we don’t make a positive change to all three of those areas we know that there is a piece missing in our nutrition plan that’s creating a bottleneck. So if you’re currently following a diet or nutrition plan that’s changing your body but hindering your performance, or maybe making you feel really healthy but not making you feel confident in the way that you look that should be a sign that you’re not following the right nutrition plan for you.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How most nutrition programs affect one, or at most two aspects of the holy trinity (body composition, health, performance) and why not focusing on all three will eventually lead to a bottleneck in your results
The top 3 roadblocks in most people's nutrition approach and how to fix them
Why you get cravings and a simple approach that will help you start getting rid of them while also helping you up your energy level and achieve a body composition change
The truth about superfoods
Why diets are a vehicle fuelling the obesity epidemic and why the philosophies of Amazon 1-click buy, Netflix, food delivery, etc. don't transfer over to results with nutrition
Why the X's and O's of nutrition and fat/weight loss are less important when it comes to nutrition coaching
The cost of becoming lean and ripped and why you have to ask yourself, “is it worth it to me?” if that’s the transformation goal you are working towards
What "metabolic adaptation” is and how it could be causing you to fall into a yo-yo diet cycle
The magic question that determines whether you should take on a new habit (or habits) to succeed **This question can revolutionize your transformation (and can be applied to any area of your life)
How you can help clients become aware and have them help you coach them **This is far more effective than telling them what to do
The secret to stopping emotional eating cycles and how this could be the key to your breakthrough
How hitting the wall in my personal life was the best thing that could have ever happened to me and how it affected my nutrition and lifestyle
The reason why men are statistically more stuck when it comes to lifestyle and nutrition changes, and why women typically see a shift faster
How environment trigger behaviors and why the fastest way to change your behavior is to asses your environment and change it to one that supports your goals and dreams
The nutrition path that YOU should take
And much more…
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Precision Nutrition
Boom Boom Performance
Vigor Life Podcast on iTunes (subscribe)
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Onnit - Total Human Optimization
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
1/10/2017 • 46 minutes, 34 seconds
EP011: The 12 Principles Of Coaching Excellence And How To Use Them In Training, Business And Life
Do you think that you are a coach in the line of work that you do? I'd have you consider that we are all coaches in certain areas of our life, or at particular times in our life. Most people view a coach as someone who is in charge of a sports team, and don't really see themselves as having (or needing) the skill-set. But when you dig into the "assets" of top professionals in any industry, especially one that is service-oriented, you will find that these individuals have a lot of the same abilities found in the job description of a coach.
A dad is a coach. A friend is a coach at times. A leader is a coach. A sales person is a coach. A ______ is a coach.
We are all coaches in one way or another, and one of the most critical abilities that we can learn to improve our life is self-coaching;, which also leads to helping others at home, at work, and in life.
Here are the 12 principle of coaching excellence I cover that are crucial to your self-development:
Know, Do, and Coach
Teach and Communicate Effectively
Control Information Transfer (aka Keep It Simple)
Being a Motivator - Unlocking Motivation and Potential
Asking Good Questions
Leading by Example
Displaying Commitment
Coach Excellence
Crediting (Shining A Light) On Success
Taking Responsibility
Challenge The Process
Inspire Shared Vision
Apply these principles into your life and business day in and day out (start with just one or two daily practices then build the skill- sets) and you will not only excel in your career, but also build better, stronger, and deeper relationships in all areas of your life.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How coaching principles can improve your business, your family, and your relationships and why you're shooting yourself in the foot not improving these most valuable skill-sets
What "been there, done that and still doing it" means and how it applies to hiring coaches or being a coach yourself (this is the key to not falling out of integrity with yourself or the marketplace)
Why less is more when it comes to communication and how studying under the world's best coaches made me realize that I needed to shut my mouth more – discover how to up your coaching game by saying less
How trying to sound smart can make the client feel dumb, and why your ego will ruin the results they are getting – and the simple solution to get clients better results
Why you can't create motivation for someone but you can unlock with the "secret” to knowing what that person’s driving forces are
How the science and art of storytelling is a skill-set that that can skyrocket your influence and will be a critical factor that makes or breaks your coaching and business in the next 10 years
How asking the RIGHT questions can help people solve their own problems and why most coaches suck at it (and a great example of how to get better at this)
A critical principle that if not followed can instantly destroy your integrity in any field (skip this and it will be hard to recover trust)
Why emotions are overrated and the 3 steps to true commitment while shaping your identity (discover what most people do that is turned on its head)
Why you're wrong about everything (and so am I) and how it's the best thing that could ever happen to you
What I learned from Richard Branson that helped me find new ways of innovating for my clients and the Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance gym
How solving a problem including a frail old lady, your best friend, and a girl of yours dreams can determine how well you will find solutions in your business
Why sharing your story can be the catalyst for clients to choose your business, inspire them to follow their own dreams and be more compliant with their actions (this goes for your team in business too)
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Book - Co-Active Coaching: Changing Business, Transforming Lives (Henry Kimsey-House)
Book - Motivational Interviewing: Helping People Change Behavior ...
1/3/2017 • 59 minutes, 53 seconds
EP010: Lessons From A World Class Coach, World Champion And Owner Of A Respected And Successful Dojo w/ James Foster
Not only is James Foster a well respected coach in the BJJ community with one of the biggest BJJ schools in Washington, he is also the Super Heavy Weight World Champion and a inspirational leader who serves the local community in many ways. Coincidentally he is also the coach that has beat me up during training sessions to teach me life lessons.
We sat down to talk about the challenges of succeeding both as a coach, a champion and a business owner while being able to keep integrity and living your values; and how that is crucial if you want to avoid losing yourself and being able to maintain your pace in the long game.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
Why you should train with your competition and how it is the key to gaining the edge
How James started his academy out of circumstance (to not have to continue to drive 4 hours to practice) rather than a goal which led to his long-term career and passion and the lessons he gained from it
The momentum of the MMA craze and how it helped James grow his dojo and business, as well as how he dealt with the tides turning and having to shift and make changes to keep his business running
How becoming a black belt is the beginning of this journey and how it can help you with your life and business
How the secret to success with coaching and working with teams is communication, and the question that makes it clear what the other person is hearing (this will help you tremendously with any relationship, personal and business)
How what you believe to be your strength is actually your weakness, and how you can change it and open up a world of possibilities in your life
How not aggressively seeking feedback, taking constructive criticism and thinking you know it all is a guaranteed way to stall your progress in any career or relationship
How the fear of the unknown is what's holding you back from breaking through to the next level; and how 5 minutes can save your months (or even years) of being stuck in a rut
The exercise that will help you find your blind spots in your game, and how you can speed up your progress by identifying them
How tapping out and failure are the steps to success, and how changing your perspective on these can change the speed of your growth
Why video game bosses teach you the secret of success
The "secret sauce" that helped James go from 2nd in the world, to losing in the first round, to finally winning the World Championship in 2015
The power of rituals and routines and how they can help you in anything you do in life
How the mental side of any game can make or break you and how to supercharge your results by spending more time on the mental side
How to discover if you're tying your identity to your accomplishments or whether you're tying it to your character – one leads to a more fulfilled life, while the other leads to unhappiness
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Foster BJJ
James Foster's YouTube Channel
Book - Crucial Conversations: Tools For Talking When Stakes Are High (Kerry Patterson)
Book - Nurture Shock: New Thinking About Children (Po Bronson)
Book - Originals: How Non Conformists Change The World (Adam Grant)
Book - Give And Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success (Adam Grant)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
12/27/2016 • 1 hour, 16 minutes, 6 seconds
EP09: How I Ended Up Achieving More By Doing Less – The ONE Thing
Do you find yourself having too much on your plate and are you feeling overwhelmed by it? If you believe that you are not good at multi-tasking and need to get better at it, I'd have you consider the possibility of doing the exact opposite.
What I mean is doing more of less.
Despite the fact that I read books about multi-tasking and it's skill that we teach our clients here at Vigor (with great success) I always thought that I had it all figured out – and could get away with doing a lot of things at once. Until I couldn't. And so life forced me to look at the alternatives and really start working on the concept of "the one thing." Once I really committed to implementing this in different areas of my life I could see why it was so powerful and effective.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
Why the majority of people fail when it comes to New Year's Resolutions, or any other life-changing commitment when they do not follow this simple guideline
The truth about how much you will achieve if you take on too much (the stats don't lie)
What a "keystone habit" is and why it can be the key to changing your results when it comes to your body transformation (or any other important lifestyle shift you want to make)
How changing just one thing every 2-3 weeks can be the missing link in your strategy – it's not overwhelming and yet very effective, especially if you've been struggling with change
What my morning ritual is and how it buys me extra time and focus throughout my day, while putting me in a place of power... I only invest 30 minutes into it
Finding your most effective time to work and how this can prevent you from spinning your wheels and being frustrated with having "brain freeze"
The one thing I did to improve nutrition and get hours more study time every week – and how you can create a similar shift for yourself
The secret strategy I used to make sure money gets saved and compounded and not used up just "because it's there"
How accountability can bring all these actions to life and enhance any commitment that you make
LINKS AND RESOURCES:
Book - The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do In Life And Business (Charles Duhig)
Book - Loving What Is: The Four Questions That Can Change Your Life (Byron Katie)
Luka's YouTube Channel - SUBSCRIBE HERE
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
12/27/2016 • 12 minutes, 1 second
EP08: The Three P’s That Are Essential To Your Success With Your Body and Business
You’ve heard it before, “just do what you’re passionate about and everything will fall into place.” I disagree. Although passion is important, if it’s not combined with the two factors that I get into in this episode you’ll be spinning your wheels never really finding what you love to do on a daily basis; which will transfer into every area of your life.
If you find yourself asking the following questions, this podcast is for you:
Why can’t I stick to a workout program?
Why do I keep changing jobs and never feeling like I’m getting close to finding “the one”?
Why are my relationships short and unfulfilled?
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
What the real secret to success is **This is something that Steve Martin said and had a whole book written about, and why I have this quote in my office so that I see it every day
The “Passion Trap” and how the search for your life’s work is making your working life miserable, and how to change that
Why skills trump passion in the quest for the work you love
Why I was not passionate about basketball and how the anger from being rejected fuelled me to practice more which led to more ________. And why you should create passion, not search for it
The one question we always ask our clients that you must also continually ask yourself if you are to peel the layers back and find purpose in the things you do. Without it you may find yourself constantly falling off from your commitments
What is the "5, 6 and 7” strategy when it comes to finding your true purpose
How you overestimate what you can do in the short-term and underestimate what you can do in the long-term and why it's stopping you from achieving your full potential
How I discovered that “never quit” is B.S. and why you SHOULD quit on certain things
Discover the combination of the Three P’s and look at things through a different lens to find out how you can break through plateaus in work, training, relationships or anything else for that matters in your life.
LINKS AND RESOURCES IN THIS EPISODE:
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Traffic and Conversion Summit
Book - Scaling Up: How A Few Companies Make It And The Rest Don’t (Vern Harnish)
Book - So Good They Can’t Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion In The Quest For The Work You Love (Cal Newton)
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.
12/20/2016 • 12 minutes, 1 second
EP07: Moving, Feeling and Performing Better With A 5-10 Minute Daily Investment with Max Shank
Max Shank's simple yet effective training and life philosophy caught my eye a while back, but it wasn’t until I started applying it that I really noticed its power – especially when it comes to movement, strength and performance. Instead of starting my day with my usual morning routine, I started plugging in his “5 Minutes of Flow” and found myself feeling better because of it. I also hit a number of lifting PR’s 3 weeks later.
The core of Max's philosophy is creating a foundation where you can safely build strength, power and endurance without breaking down your body. In other words, the name of the game improvement, durability and longevity.
Many of us pursue improving our body and performance at the expense of our health. But what if you can build muscle, lose fat, and increase performance without having to sacrifice your life, sanity or body?
In this episode Max explains his philosophy to training through the lens of economics, and simplifies how you can get great results doing the right things for you – strategies that will not only make you fit, but also make you happier and healthier.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How Max’s frustration with the fitness industry inspired him to start a movement that seems too simple to work, but gets results backed by science and real-world case studies (including one from myself)
The one trick that gets you to do things you don’t want to do, but gets you results (every time) **This is so simple you’ll wonder why you haven’t been using it all along
How something completely different, like playing the guitar can actually help you with your body, getting your workout in, or even getting a project done that you’ve been stuck with
The secret Leonardo Da Vinci figured out that will help you carry over skill-sets from one things to another, and how to apply it in your life
What the “amateur's gift” is and how you can excel at something (in a fraction of the time) following these rules
How “5-Minutes of Flow” can help create options in your life and help you figure out what you want to do
Why both Max and I are fans of Zumba for the majority of people when it comes starting their fitness journey, and how many people in the industry discourage people from starting (even though they are trying to help)
The program that will help build a foundation so that you’re able to answer “YES” to questions like, “Hey, do you want to do [insert any sport or activity]?”
How Max created programs that get serious results through the lens of economics, and why you should consider learning economics if you want to improve your time management, fitness performance, relationships and career
The two things that are missing in schools that could change your future and why it’s important to build these skill-sets
The “Marshmallow Experiment” and how it determines your chances of success in the future
Why modern fitness marketing is a hoax that creates unreal expectations and a cycle that hurts your health, life and mindset
The myth of the “before and after” picture and why it isn’t helping convince people that you (and your gym) can help them achieve their body transformation goals, and the one strategy you can use (right now) to help people believe in you AND themselves
Why small daily actions are the “secret” to getting you all the BIG things you want in your life
How one small action can amplify the rest of your day (just like throwing a snowball down a hill can create an avalanche)
LINKS AND RESOURCES IN THIS EPISODE:
Max Shank - Better Every Day
Ultimate Athleticism - Zero To Hero Guide To Strength, Health and Flexibility
Book - Education of Millionaires: Everything You Don’t Learn In College in How To Be Successful (Michael Ellsberg)
Book - The Power of Habit - Why We Do What We Do In Life And Business (Charles Duhhig)
5 Minute Flow
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share?
12/14/2016 • 43 minutes, 31 seconds
EP06: Why You Have Cardio All Wrong And How It Can Save Your Life (3 Things You Can Start Today) with Joel Jamieson
What if the world's top conditioning expert told you that one of the missing links to your results (no matter your goal) was cardio? Would you change it?
Joel Jamieson joins me to talk about...
How he went from training football players and strength athletes to the humbling realization that he didn't know a whole lot about conditioning
How he used that realization to become one of the top conditioning experts in the world
Why in many ways cardio training is still in the dark ages, and how most people just do it on the side with no goal or true way to measure their results.
In this episode we dive deep into how cardio affects movement and why movement screens don't matter if you don't pay attention to ________ . We also discuss how your brain is the most important aspect of cardio, and why more is not always better.
After listening to this episode you'll be able to take action on the 3 things you can do NOW to improve you training program by implementing cardio into it the RIGHT way.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
How Joel went from being a high level strength coach to the realization that he didn't know as much as he thought he did about conditioning
The legend that Joel open his gym next to that helped him warp speed his knowledge of conditioning in MMA, and the secret lesson you can take from it
Why "cardio" is still somewhat in the stone ages when it comes to mainstream fitness, and what you can do to accelerate your knowledge of it within weeks
The reason movement screens won't help your program if you don't pay attention to what happens when you're _______
Why your brain is the most important factor in conditioning and how you can use this tip to improve all your training
The 3 simple steps you can take (right now) to take your conditioning (and any other training-related goal) to the next level
The secret sauce that may also be the missing link in your training program that has NOTHING to do with being in the gym
How planes, helicopters and Russian bathhouses might be your missing link to getting stronger, faster and more conditioned
And the two things Joel is excited about that are going to change the fitness industry for good.
LINKS AND RESOURCES IN THIS EPISODE:
8 Weeks Out
The BioForce Certified Conditioning Course
Ultimate MMA Conditioning Book
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes!
12/13/2016 • 51 minutes, 6 seconds
EP05: Two Coaches, Two Transformations, 50 lbs of Muscle Gained, 30 lbs of Fat Lost – And The Mindset Behind Success with Theo Bowie and Cody McBroom
Do you have a goal of transforming your body? Are you looking to lose body fat, improve your energy levels and increase strength? Are you looking to put on a lot of muscle because you're frustrated with being skinny?
If you've ever worked towards a particular transformation goal, how have you felt when you've started to achieve that goal only to hit a plateau or fall off of your fitness plan all together?
In this podcast I talk with coach Theo Bowie and Cody McBroom about their transformations and how it inspired them to become coaches that help others finally breakthrough, transform and keep the results they're after for good.
Both coaches have undergone personal transformations on opposite ends of the spectrum: One gained 50 lbs of muscle, while the other dropped 30 lbs of body fat (while also adding muscle). Both of these results were over the course of 12-18 months.
Discover mindsets, strategies and tips that you can apply TODAY that will help you along your transformation journey.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN
The simple steps that can completely change your body in a year, and how to apply this "secret sauce" to all areas of your life
How you can put on slabs of quality muscle, not just weight, without having to bring a calculator with you everywhere you go (to calculate your macros)
How changing your body can positively affect all other areas of your life – from your career, relationships and confidence, to money and purpose
How the "Cody No Back" program helped Cody build a powerful back and ad some serious strength to all of his pulls
How anger and frustration can be the best fuel to achieve your goals, and how knowing when/who to use this strategy with is can make or break your results
The difference between "what you do" and "who you become"
The ONE thought that can completely change the direction you're going and give you back the power you need to achieve everything that you want to
How to break free from the cycle of caring what other people think
How sharing your struggle(s) will allow you to better connect with people, and help them achieve great things in their life
How trying to be positive all of the time can create the "Positivity Trap" – and the negative effects that can have on your life
An exciting new way to stop yourself from getting into a spiral of negativity when bad things happen
The trick that will help you overcome anxiety (which will not only help you overcome anxiety, it will help you get more done!)
Why you should get a dog (Tyson, the dog, makes a special appearance)
And MUCH MORE
LINKS AND RESOURCES IN THE EPISODE:
Vigor Ground Fitness
The Pack Fitness Business
Warrior X
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel
Boom Boom Performance
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes!
12/9/2016 • 44 minutes, 10 seconds
EP04: How To Avoid One Of The Biggest Mistakes That Set You Up For Failure When Setting Any Goal
People lie. I'm not talking about lying to other people, I'm talking about the lies that we tell ourselves about what we want and what we're willing to do to get it.
There's no greater "set-up to fail" situation then when you set goals for yourself that don't matter to you. It's like inputting the wrong location in your GPS, then feeling stupid, disappointed and unfulfilled when you arrive at your destination.
In this episode I address how to find clarity in what you TRULY want, and the 3 things that will show you what really matters to you (right now) and how to change them.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
Why the fastest way to progress is to tread slowly (contrary to what most people will tell you)
How I continually failed at achieving my goals until I realized the REAL reason I couldn't follow through with them
What finally motivated me to get serious about what I set out to do
The 3 things that will determine what really matters to you (right now) and the awareness test that will let you know where you're directing your efforts and focus
How your inner commitments match your external actions, and how all it takes is a piece of paper and a pencil to align them
And the "focusing question" that will remove overwhelm and help move you closer towards your goals.
LINKS AND RESOURCES IN THIS EPISODE:
Wellness FX - The labs I got all of my blood work done at (locations around the country)
Book: Dark Side Of The Light Chasers - Debbie Ford
Luka's YouTube Channel: Subscribe Here
Vigor Ground Fitness and Performance Gym
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes!
12/6/2016 • 10 minutes, 33 seconds
EP03: How To REALLY Get Results With Clients And Your Unique Success In The Fitness Industry with Dean Somerset & Tony Gentlicore
Would you like to discover how some of the top coaches approach training their clients?
In this episode, Dean Somerset and Tony Gentlicore talk 'Real World Strategies' to get their clients results.
Both of these coaches are world class trainers who have managed to create fail proof strategies to help their clients achieve great things, creating successful (long-term) online presences and building their businesses as they do.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
How to guarantee that you WON'T get results with your clients, and "the missing ingredient" (used to help clients achieve training and nutrition results) that is often over-looked
Why some of the world's smartest experts and practitioners actually let their clients choose what they're doing rather then giving them the "exact plan," and how this can change the game for you as a coach
The "perfect" program and why it's far from perfect
Why teaching your clients "the game" is essential, and why so many businesses fail because they don't realize this
How to start creating a presence in the fitness industry and the ONE THING you must overcome if you're ever going to build a successful business (offline or online)
The answer to the question: "Should fitness professionals study in other areas of expertise? if so, which ones?"
And what the roadblock to getting results is—even when you know all of the X's and O's.
LINKS AND RESOURCES IN THIS EPISODE:
Tony Gentlicore
Dean Somerset
Complete Hip And Shoulder Blueprint
Luka's Instagram
Onnit - Total Human Optimization
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes!
12/6/2016 • 38 minutes, 3 seconds
EP02: How To Overcome Fear And Do Everything You’ve Ever Wanted In Life (Practical Tips And No Fufu Stuff)
Has fear ever stopped you from doing things in life?
Do you feel like you're currently stuck and not moving forward because of your fear of _______?
The whole notion of "fear" in today's world is irrational (most of the time), yet it stops us from achieving many of the goals we set for ourselves. Fear has stolen more dreams than failure EVER will, yet you still may be giving it more power than it's worth.
Here's the truth: People who overcome fear are not "fearless." They act in spite of fear; and there are certain tactics that they deploy that you can learn from to take back control of your life.
In this episode discover the mindsets and actionable steps that you can take to overcome your fears and "turn your shoulders to the man killing spears." (fear)
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
What you must value more than security to be able to overcome fear and achieve great things
Why the advice to "Just go for it! No matter how hard it is" is not great advice
The "sweet spot" that will help you continually progress in your life and how it's "just over the edge" (I talk about this at 6:06 and I think you'll be surprised by the truth)
The "grab the cockroach method" to making progress faster than you ever thought possible
What the "call to action" button is, and why you should reconsider what you think is "bad" because it will actually help you get what you want in life.
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Episode 1: The Most Important Step To Take Control Of Your Body, Business and Life
Book: The Way Of The Superior Man - David Deida
The Aubrey Marcus Podcast
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel
Onnit - Total Human Optimization
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes!
11/26/2016 • 12 minutes, 45 seconds
EP01: The Most Important Step To Take Control Of Your Body, Business and Life
Tired of never following through with the promises that you make to yourself? Well, it's time to address that.
In this this episode we'll cover the question: "What are the securities and insecurities of being an entrepreneur?"
The answer could also be what's stopping you from achieving ALL of your pursuits and goals in life. In fact, the perspective you glean from this episode could help shift how you look at your body, your business/career, your relationships, and even your mindset.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
One of the main differences between being successful in business (or any other project)
Why you should want to have pressure if you truly want to start a business (or anything you want to achieve for that matter)
The "security trap" that's actually creating insecurity in your life (fall for this and you're in trouble)
And the 3 things that you should do regardless of how you feel when it comes to being successful in your body, business and life, period.
LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:
Vigor Ground Fitness
Luka Hocevar YouTube Channel
Onnit - Total Human Optimization
Thanks so much for joining me this week. Have some feedback you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes!
11/26/2016 • 8 minutes, 48 seconds
EP 00: Vigor Life Origins And The Puzzle Pieces To Your Transformation
I'm excited to announce the first ever episode of Vigor Life.
IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN:
The origins of the podcast
Why a body transformation happens in the brain (based on the habits that YOU create)
And how changing your body and life is a puzzle and WHY you need to become a detective to find your limiting factors before you can address them one-by-one.
While I believe that fitness is one of the BEST VEHICLES to help empower you to become a leader and go after what you want, build self-esteem, and get stronger (inside and out), there's more to a transformation than you may think.
Over the last decade I've trained thousands of people and developed a coaching program that helps people (perhaps like yourself) piece together their own extraordinary life.
This podcast will be a combination of thoughts, perspectives, strategies, tactics, stories and inspiration from myself and some of the world's top coaches in strength, fitness, nutrition, movement, behavior change, business, and much more.
In each episode I will give you at least one tactic to act on to help lead you further down your path to achieving the change that you want in your life so that you can become better every day.
Which leads me with one question: Are you ready to become a better version of yourself?
Thanks so much for joining me this week. If you have some feedback that you’d like to share? Leave me a review on iTunes.