Vigor Life Podcast

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 bee

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 hav

 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

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 int

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 y

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 les

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 c

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 t

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

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 w

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 c

 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

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

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

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 stage

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 holdin

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 Listeni

 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

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 u

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