The date is April 18th, 2011. Poised at the keyboard, fingers dancing in excited unison, is an up and comer. A spring chicken. And he’s thinking to himself, “shit this is gonna be fun. I know what I’m doing. People are gonna be lined up and banging down the door for this knowledge I have. I’m gonna change the world, man!”

Poor spring chicken.

Fast forward to January 17th, 2017. Lines stretching all the way to Terre Haute weren’t exactly formed. Nor was a hinge damaged or displaced from its perch. Things didn’t quite pan out the way he thought. But… it’s also not quite been 6 years either. Many mistakes were made. And in hindsight, most of them were necessary to have evolved to where our subject is today. Those mistakes will continue as they should. Tweaks will continue to be made at each failure. Seminars will continue to be held, regardless of how many people plop their butts in the seats. To paraphrase the situation, “onward and upward”.

I don’t know why, but for some reason today I’ve been reflecting a lot more than usual. Thinking back on all my former clients and if I was able to give them the best from me. Thinking back on some of the crazier things that I’ve come across. From the woman literally showing me her bare skinned belly to show me where the fat needed to come off to the guy who swore by the GOMAD diet. For those wondering, that’s an acronym for Gallon Of Milk A Day. I’ve thought about how my whole approach to diet and lifestyle changes is so very distant from what I used to teach. Meal plans? What was I thinking? Dialing in macros to the exact gram? Why in the world did I ever think anyone would adhere to that?

I’ve thought about the different office venues I’ve resided in. From a fancy, marble floored, chandelier entry way to a square in the upstairs of a gym within an industrial complex (great gym by the way). And to where I am now. My own, albeit small, gym and nutrition counseling room here in Carmel, Indiana.

I don’t know what lies ahead, but who does? That’s the fun part, after all. What I do know is that I will continue to do my best to provide quality nutrition and exercise advice to whoever is willing to listen… and hopefully simultaneously open up their checkbook. I have certain specific business goals that I want to meet as well as personal ones too. I’d imagine you do as well.

So I suppose my goal for this post is to get you to thinking about your goals and what is important to you. Don’t just be a passenger or go through the motions each day/week/month/year. Don’t don’t. Do. Be you.