Your Daily Inspiration

“Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true.” -Leon J. Suenes


Recall your last week. What is one thing you can think of off the top of your mind that was inspiring to you? Just as well, in your recollection, what have you done to be inspiring yourself? Inspiration is something we recognize instantaneously and typically don’t forget right away, if ever. What does being ‘unforgettable’ mean to you?


It is a pretty incredible gift we are given to be able to become inspired and to go forth and be inspiring to others. We are literally handed the opportunity to have an influence on someone else’s life in the sense that our gestures or deeds could leave a life-long, everlasting effect on those around us. The unfortunate thing is that it can be easy to take this gift for granted and to forget that each of our actions has an effect on whomever we choose to surround ourselves with. And I don’t mean ‘surround’ in terms of just those we know on a personal level, but what about the other, more random people we come in contact with on a daily basis? The bank teller, the cashier, the waiter, the person on the other line of the phone… Or think about this; how about the people who are in your ‘comfort zone’, so to speak, who are always, always there for you? Do you forget that no person is stationed as being ‘permanent’ in your life? Make sure to find ways to inspire these people as well as we all can be guilty of becoming too complacent and too comfortable in our own life environment with what we expect to always be right where we left it. Inspire those around you! Make sure whether it’s just some random person you will never see again or your life-partner of 65 years, that you find ways to inspire all these people in your lives for your attitude, words, actions, and presence will help dictate how this person’s day, as well as your own day, progress and play out. How much better do you feel when a stranger gives you a casual compliment for no apparent reason and you are having one of ‘those’ days? Or what about when your significant other of years on end (who sees you EVERY day) notices how nice you look before you two go out for dinner? All these little things can have a profound effect not only on how this person views their own self, but how they decide to approach the day as well. You never know what a simple and common gesture might do for someone. And who knows? You could end up changing a life or two without blinking an eye! Never forget the power or simplicity.


If you want to go the other route into larger gestures, this, too, can have an obvious outcome on the person you decide to go a step or two out of your way for. It doesn’t have to be anything too drastic, but it will only benefit you in the long-run if you decide to give without expectations and prospects of receiving something in return right that moment. The more you give, whether it be something tangible or intangible, you will get what you give regardless of whether it is right then or later down the road. If you don’t reach out to others, odds are others won’t reach out to you. Keep that in the back of your mind the next time you see someone who could use your help or looks like they are just having a bad day. The things we take for granted are the things that make the profound differences in the lives of those around us. Although it’s cliché, the golden rule is key to remember and to live by.


A year ago this month was the first time I had ever stepped foot in Las Vegas. It was to complete an externship for my graduation from Pinnacle Career Institute, and I had absolutely no idea what to expect. Being from a small town and not having exposure to much city life, I was in complete awe as soon as I stepped foot off the plane. All I knew was that I was headed to ‘Boot Camp’ at the Professional Fitness Institute (PFI), and that I was more eager and anticipatory than I had ever been in my entire life.


Already inspired upon coming to Vegas as I was ecstatic to have finished my schooling, I really didn’t think life could get much better… Boy, was I wrong!


Just to touch on what PFI is all about, they are a company devoted and committed to producing the best professional fitness trainers in the world. In creating and implementing their ‘personal trainer program’ to their dozens of partner-schools across the country, they prepare aspiring fitness professionals posing as students to succeed in taking their National Strength and Conditioning Association- Certified Personal Trainer (NSCA-CPT) exam, which is arguably the most prestigious certification for personal trainers in the world. Each month, students who are on the last leg of completing their program fly in from all over the country to go through what they call a ‘Boot Camp’, where the students are introduced to various fitness professionals and celebrities, fitness venues and facilities around the Vegas Valley, a diverse agenda of activates to be performed and completed throughout the week, and, of course, the big (and sometimes dreaded) NSCA exam. The time the PFI staff invests into planning these long and amazing Boot Camps is truly unfathomable. They are constantly striving to produce qualified professionals who are dedicated to making a difference in the world. What they fail to mention in their curriculum is the difference they, themselves are making in the lives of hundreds of people everyday.


For my own Boot Camp, I had such a great time that I knew I was destined to be in Vegas from the first day on. The staff at PFI, consisting of Charles Ware (who runs the place), Chris Carpenter (Director of Ops), and Kristina Lindquist (the incredibly brilliant mind behind the education and curriculum aspect), gave me more inspiration in that one week than I had ever had in my entire life. On top of that, I was with about 40 other students who were completing hours as well, many of whom I still keep in touch with. The activities we performed throughout the week transcended my horizons and opened my eyes to a whole new realm of curiosity, and the fitness professionals we got to train with and learn from were just amazing. From the world-renowned strength and conditioning coach, Tommy Boyer-Kendrick, to the most decorated natural bodybuilder in the world (and UNIVERSE, according to his award collection), Ron Williams, to my own mentor, great friend, and Connect To Fitness colleague, Dr. Darian Parker, who came in and gave an unforgettable lecture on Residential Fitness (and in particular spoke about WTS International). The connections I made were what started my career in Vegas and with networking and if not for those connections, I would have never had such a smooth and perfect Las Vegas transition.


After my hours were completed and it was time to return home to Erie, Pennsylvania, the inspiration that had been sprinkled all over my life never left. From home, I kept in touch with the staff at PFI and sure enough, a few months down the road PFI contacted me expressing interest in hiring me permanently at their facility as a Boot Camp instructor. So, to make a long story short, and a short story even shorter; I was moved out here about six months later. Now, I am on the staff of few at PFI headquarters to actually instruct the same Boot Camps that forever changed my own life with the same people who forever changed my life and I have the opportunity to meet an incredible batch of current students filing through the personal training program that I can only hope to make an impact on and assist in forever changing THEIR lives in some way. You see, when you help someone else, you get something back in return whether it’s something on a mental or emotional level or whether it’s something physical. Although I hesitate to use the term ‘karma’ as I really prefer not to hold a word responsible for what works or doesn’t work in our favor. I hear all too often people using the word ‘karma’ to describe their current state of life when in reality, they should be looking at how or what they are or aren’t doing. All too often ‘bad’ karma is simply the result of breaking rules, being selfish or unkind, or just simply not reaching out to or for help. We need to understand that in order to get something in return, we have to give something first or after. ‘Good’ karma stems from those who are consistently dedicating their heart and soul to that of benefitting others. There is a self-fulfillment involved when you are someone’s inspiration and you can look at that vice-versa as well.


At PFI’s Boot Camp, from the time the students arrive from the airport to the time they board back up on their planes and head home, I am consistently in awe of these individuals. Ranging from all ages and backgrounds, each student brings something new and unique to the table and it’s always a surprise to see where the week is going to start as well as end. As soon as the students arrive from the airport, they are taken to their hotel to drop off their belongings, and then brought back to PFI for their warm welcome, lunch and usually some sort of activity as well whether it be a circuit training workout given by the one and only “Dr. Death” (once again, Darian Parker), or being taken to the Bodies Exhibit at the Luxor. Regardless of the activity, what I find desperately inspiring is how the students interact with each other. Many of them arrive knowing only a couple other students in the program, and there are always a few that come alone bearing no previous connections. Besides the fact that being an instructor at the Professional Fitness Institute is pretty darn awesome, one of my favorite components during these week succession is to watch the progression from the time the students arrive to when they leave. Always, always on the first day everyone is segregated into groups somehow with either the people they knew from school or the person they sat next to on the plane, or even just sitting alone because they don’t know anyone at all. One of the first things we do at PFI is divide the students up into random teams and they are to remain in these teams the entire week to compete for team points, which later account for prizes at the end of the week. The students go from not knowing the name of the person sitting next to them to putting full trust into each member of their team as they go through the activities and events that make them work together. There are always a few people that stand out from the get-go that are already programmed on team-player autopilot from the second they walk into the room. These individuals are exceptionally inspiring to watch as they unite their team and the rest of the Boot Camp together each day and create that harmony needed to become a true team. Throughout the week, they are paired up with the other teams they are competing against so they have a chance to get to know the entire Boot Camp. The activities are so fun to observe and the doors that open for the students are just phenomenal.


Working Boot Camp, for me, is like a personal training session multiplied by however many students are attending each month. Fitness is something that is universal and something that has profound effects on every single aspect of the human body. It affects us mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually and has the ability to amalgamate people to other people. It is something that is very personal to us and when fused together with other like people, the outcome is nothing short of inspirational.


During the week, there are many times where I find myself getting emotional, myself, in watching these different interactions between complete or almost complete strangers and how they choose to inspire others on their team or in camp at will. All of a sudden you will see someone start to lose energy during an intense workout and you can tell if they take another step or repetition that they are going down. They are just above and beyond their own physical capabilities in what it is they are doing and can’t find the motivation within themselves to take another step. Then, all of a sudden, another student will see this and run over and start motivating the person to keep going and that they ‘can do it!’. Almost always, the person who is failing will get up from where they are at and will raise their chins up just a little bit higher in the process. And this continues on throughout the week. You begin to see a bond happening between not just the teams, but throughout the entire Boot Camp as well where the fine line between individual teams begins to diminish and you see one solid team of aspiring fitness professionals. The gratification in watching this happen is something that no words can describe. It is truly amazing what a little inspiration can do.


You get what you give in every circumstance in life. I mean, think about it, as health practitioners and professionals, isn’t it the nature of our CAREER to give without expecting anything in return? Sure, our clients pay us for our services, but wasn’t it our intention to begin with to get into the health, wellness and fitness industry to help other people get well, stay well, and achieve their dreams and goals? We are essentially dedicating our lives to that of inspiring other people in a way that will help them make everlasting lifestyle changes to help them live a better, easier and more fulfilling life. Although they are purchasing our services, they are also looking to purchase US in hopes that we can provide our wealth, knowledge, experience and practices to benefit them because we become their inspiration. You cannot be selfish when you are in this industry, nor can you not be compassionate for other people. Our industry is all about giving and providing and that is how we should carry ourselves in every circumstance. We are life-changers, plain and simple, and it is and always will be our duty to genuinely want to make these changes in these people regardless of the compensation.


In essence, we need to always keep an open mind and put ourselves in others shoes, for it is our actions that ultimately influence the people and things around us. Keep with you the indescribable feeling of how you feel when you find inspiration and take some of your own and dust those around you with it everywhere you go. You might just make someone’s life by doing so.


Until next time, Faithful Reader…


“Do we not all agree to call rapid thought and noble impulse by the name of Inspiration?”- George Eliot


“Without inspiration, the best powers of the mind remain dormant, and there is a fuel in us which needs to be ignited with sparks.” –Johann Gottfried Von Herder