What Bodybuilding Taught Me

I did my first bodybuilding competition when I was 16 years old where I stood next to a guy that had double the leg size I did. I came last place. For the next two years I would workout as hard as I could. I went on to compete at the provincials where I would squeeze into the top three to qualify for the nationals.
Again for another two years I kept working as hard as I could doing heavy squats three times a week.

At the nationals, my proudest moment was looking at myself in the mirror before going on stage realizing I gave it my all.

I got on stage and won first place in Canada. The best part was that I had the best legs on stage.

Whether it’s business, art or sport it’s easy to get frustrated in the short term. When you’re putting in all this work but seeing so little progress. But being able to deal with this lack of progress is exactly what differentiates a winner from a loser. If it was easy everyone would be doing it. But most people fail because they can’t commit to the long term vision.

They have un-realistic expectations. They focus on the short term making them give up too soon.

Yet we all know that success isn’t a straight path.

I doesn’t matter what you are trying to master. There’s going to be failures along the way. Failing just means you’re trying hard.

You have to keep your eye on the vision and commit to showing up every day. Without second guess and without compromise.

There’s no magic solution. You get what you put in and the reality is that it takes a long time. So there’s no sense in complaining or wining or giving excuses why you want to quit.

Forget how long it will take and start enjoying the journey. Trust that it will work and commit to daily actions towards the grand vision. Because that vision is the most important thing you have.

Originally published at Jean-Luc Boissonneault.