I just returned from Los Angeles and an incredible IDEA World Conference. 12,000 fired-up fitness pros and great CONNECT time with some passionate folks. It really was a great show. And between Perform Better going on over in Providence, RI, and the BeachBody Conference down in Nashville, over 40,000 fitness pros and coaches were immersed in learning and great experiences this weekend.
For me, I was at IDEA. And it was one of the most memorable and best IDEA World shows that I’ve been too. Highlights included:
· Teaching ENERGY EXPLOSION session in Showcase Room on Saturday in front of 200+ trainers. The energy was off-the-hook and the session had a very “special” spirit to it. Thank you to all in there who made that so special. And yes, I really did rip off my shirt & spout water out of my mouth in the beginning of the session. 🙂 #ENERGY
· For the first time ever, my wife Melanie shared the stage with me. She not only was on the stage for the entire workout with Jesse Dietrick and Amanda Mittleman, she did the complete “yin” cool down & yoga flow at the end of the workout. She was radiant and beautiful and all the attendees loved it… she’s such a great instructor!
· Amanda Mittleman getting recognized as finalist for “Personal Trainer of the Year” and making her teaching debut. Great job Amanda!
· We had 17 TD Mastermind Members present at the conference (and 4 of them were presenters; 2 had booths in Expo Hall; and several were helping out as IDEA assistants). Awesome showing & representation by all the Masterminders!
· We had a STRONG Fitness Quest 10 contingency. We had Melanie, Julie, Larry, Jesse, Pat J & 10 interns up at IDEA rocking the house. And Brett Klika, Craig Valency, and Pat Jak were presenting also and did a spectacular job. Great FQ10 presence!!
And as tired as I might be from a crazy busy weekend, I’m equally inspired and energized by all the great people and ENERGY that was abuzz at IDEA. It truly was electric!
For me, I have one more week before I can slow down and rest. This is the last week of training the NFL guys before they report for training camp. It’s like 2-minutes to go in the 4th quarter and we MUST finish strong. It’s time to step-up and finish our 5-week summer program on a high-note.
This week, the WOW is going to be “EDGE.” I wrote an article on the 10 Ways to Create an Edge in Sports & Life, that is relevant to all people who want to succeed.
I know I talk about it with my pro athletes that we must have an EDGE.
I talk about it with trainers that you must have an EDGE in your business.
And I talk about it with all my clients I work with in business and life performance…
If you want to be great and you want to stand-out, you MUST create an EDGE.
What’s your EDGE?
WOW = “EDGE”
Take a look at the article below and then create YOUR EDGE!!!
One thing I always tell my athletes is they must “create an edge.” It could be developing physical strength, blazing speed, or incredible power. Or it could be time spent in game preparation, studying the tendencies of an opponent, or the attention to detail in film review.
Right now, as I put my finishing touches on my NFL players who are preparing for Training Camp in less than 2 weeks, I’m doing everything possible to help them create an EDGE… physically and mentally.
Regardless of your role in life, we ALL need an EDGE. Let’s take a look at 10 of my top ways to create an EDGE in sport, fitness, business, or life…
#1 Stay Hungry – The best of the best desire to be on top. And to stay on top. It’s not easy to stay “hungry” when things are going good. Find deep intrinsic reasons why you NEED to perform exceptionally everyday. Find areas of weakness in your “game” and strengthen them. Stay passionately focused on your mission and your purpose and never be satisfied with just being “good.” Be YOUR best!
#2 Outwork Your Competition – I use this one all the time on my athletes. I tell them that “so-and-so” (their competition or foe) is over on the East Coast working harder than they are. If they have any sense of PRIDE, they will not let that happen. You create an edge by “outworking” everyone. Then you have a physical and mental edge.
#3 WIN – don’t defend the title – Y’all know what happens when you play “Prevent Defense,” right? It PREVENTS you from winning. This is because you let up the intensity and get soft. Do not get soft and get beat because of a passive mindset.
The minute your systems in your business get weak, you will get beat.
The minute your team becomes mediocre, you will get beat.
The minute you stop paying attention to the little things, you will get beat.
The minute you stop innovating and evolving, you will get beat.
Bottom line, play aggressively. Try new programs. Try new classes. Don’t believe what happened 3 years ago will necessarily allow you to win today. Tighten your systems and enforce them. LEAD your team. Play to win!
#4 Sweat the Small Stuff – Greatness is 100 little things done well. Make sure EVERYTHING you do has your stamp of approval on it. Walt Disney said, “Everything speaks.” I love that!
#5 LOVE the PROCESS, not the PRODUCT – Coach John Wooden used to talk about how games are won and lost in the practice sessions. Vince Lombardi is legendary because of his preparation from Monday-Saturday. It’s easy to love the games. Will you practice like you NEED to be GREAT on game-day?
It’s no different in business and life. You must embrace your journey. We often want things “now.” But they don’t always come now. Sometimes it takes months. Sometimes it takes years. Sometimes it takes many years. The 10,000 hour rule states that you need to do something for about 10 years or about 10,000 hours to be great at it.
So you might as well enjoy the ride. Find joy in the process. Love the process. And be ready to take detours along the way.
#6 WIN the DAY – Do what it takes to WIN the DAY. Each and every day. Athletes become great because they develop routines and have the discipline to follow those routines even when they don’t feel like it. And then they challenge those routines again to continually get better and better.
High performers in life are no different. Each and every day, put down 5 things on your “To Do” list that you must do (this is your Daily 5!) and do them. Life coach Brian Tracy calls it “Eat that frog.” Do the things that you MUST do early in the day. Call the people you NEED to call, not WANT to call.
Suck it up. Leave any “baggage” at home. Be the most positive person you know. Find a way to make each & every day a “winning” day. Then watch how you get Mo-mentum in yo’ life.
#7 Challenge your own Routine — The best of the best are always looking to improve. You can’t get complacent. The best want to challenge the status quo and find better, more efficient ways to get even better results.
How can you improve your own personal routine?
· How about your early morning “holy hour” routine?
· How about your own personal workout routine? Are you being serious with your workouts?
· What about your nutrition? Is it time to challenge your own eating habits? Is it time to give up desserts, breads, and processed or packaged foods? Need to supplement more consistently to get that slight edge? We are just talking a 1% edge.
· How about at work? How can you be a better leader? What can you do to more consistently bring out the best in others? Can you improve your lead-generating systems, your sales systems, your assessment system, or other systems?
Regardless of title, occupation, or your role on the team, what can you do to challenge your routine to elevate your energy, your focus, your clarity, your leadership, and your success? And then DO IT!
#8 Be a “Game-Changer.” High-level athletes often thrive on being an “IMPACT” player where they know their performance can change the face of a game. They are not afraid to make mistakes.
How about you? What is your game-changing move? What are you going to do to stand-out in a crowded field? How can you maximize YOUR talents to make the biggest difference for the most number of people? Are you ready to be a game-changer?
#9 Get the Job Done. The best athletes aren’t always the athletes who win. Some athletes are very gifted but never win a championship. There are often many reasons for this but I always find it interesting when I find “less” athletic athletes playing and winning at high levels.
The bottom line is that the race does not always go to the biggest, the strongest, or the fastest. It helps to be these but I often say, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard!”
In the fitness industry, the big box gym does not always win. As a matter of fact, I am not sure they win very much.
The high-end gym or studio that sprouts up in your neighborhood doesn’t necessarily make it if it moves too quickly. What I mean by that is if the owner has sunk a ton of money into start-ups and making it “pretty” and the systems and people can’t support it, it will be belly-up within 9-12 months.
The bottom line is that regardless of your “size” or your “strength” or your “speed,” find a way to get the job done. Surround yourself with people as smart or smarter than you. Never stop reading and learning. Attend workshops and conferences. Be part of a Mastermind group or attend a Mentorship program. Be relentless in your pursuit to make EVERY customer happy everyday.
#10 AND THEN SOME. I had to say it! I love saying “And then some!” Why? Because it’s true. Everything you do, over-deliver. Customer service. Customer experience. Value-adds. Giveaways. Teleseminars. Culture. Leadership. Results. Hardwork. EFFORT… AND THEN SOME!
There you have it. 10 great ways for you to create your edge in life. Regardless of your sport or career, title or role on your team, commit to excellence and continue to create IMPACT everyday. Train hard. Eat right. Live inspired!
“10 In—10 Out.”
Todd
Todd Durkin, MA, CSCS, is an internationally-recognized performance trainer, bodyworker, speaker, author, and owner of award-winning gym Fitness Quest 10 in San Diego, CA (one of the Top 10 Gyms in the U.S.). His outstanding team of 38 professionals deliver extraordinary service in personal training, sports performance training, massage/bodywork, Pilates, yoga, physical therapy and chiropractic. Todd is the Lead Training Advisor for Under Armour, regular contributor to Men’s Health, and author of The IMPACT! Body Plan.
Todd Durkin created a “DOSE of DURKIN” to motivate and inspire people through weekly text messages every Monday morning that infuse video, audio, or just plain text messages. They are guaranteed to get your mind right and fire-you up. Check out DoseOfDurkin.com to OPT-IN and start receiving your FREE messages.
Todd is also the President/CEO of Todd Durkin Enterprises where he conducts motivational keynotes/presentations, educational & leadership workshops, he operates a Mastermind Group for dedicated fitness entrepreneurs, and he presents internationally on health, fitness, peak performance, and success in life.
You can follow him on Twitter and Instagram at @ToddDurkin, his FB Fan page at ToddDurkinFQ10, or sign up for his monthly motivational newsletter at www.ToddDurkin.com. You can get more information on his facility at www.FitnessQuest10.com or www.ToddDurkin.com.
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Welcome to Todddurkin.com, where you’ll find everything you need to achieve your coaching, speaking, fitness, and wellness goals. Todd Durkin is a world-renowned trainer, coach, and motivational speaker, committed to helping you unleash your inner champion. From his bestselling books and online courses, to his high-energy live events and personal coaching services, Todd Durkin offers a wealth of resources to help you transform your body, mind, and spirit. Discover his innovative training techniques, nutrition plans, and powerful mindset strategies, and get ready to take your performance to the next level. Explore Todddurkin.com today and start your journey to a better you.
