My Advice to the Young Men I've Coached

​My advice to the young men I’ve coached
 
Some of you are setting to graduate high school in the coming weeks. Others are beginning to enter their senior year.  Maybe your just finished your first year of college or are going right into the workforce. You are at a very defining point in life where your path will be set.  For what it’s worth, this is a quick summary of my advice to you.

One of the biggest lies you are told in high school is when teachers says “you wont get away with this in college.”  The truth is, you are currently being held to some of the highest standards of your life.  You must be in your desk for first period by the bell in the 7am hour.  One minute late is not acceptable.  Late work isn’t accepted, and if it is, it is penalized. You are pressed to be heavily involved, be it in sports or other extracurricular activities on top of the full time job of being a student.
 
We are entering a period of time of consistently lowered standards for adults.  The truth is, once you graduate high school, and enter adulthood, you need to take it upon yourself to set your own standards.  And you do it for YOU. Not because someone is forcing you to.  Here’s the tough part; you have to live up to those standards you set for yourself.  Here is a list of my suggestions.
 

• Always be on Lombardi time.  Those of you who lift here know what that means.  If you’re supposed to be somewhere at 10, arrive at 9:50, prepared and ready to go.  Be the guy who if you are even a minute late, people start to worry.  This shows that you are reliable, a forward thinker, and a problem solver.  You think ahead at the possibility of traffic or other delays, and adjust ahead of time.  No amount of skill or education can make up for someone who’s unreliable.
• Always do your best work, regardless of what it is.  Even if you get what you consider at the time, a menial job for money in college, work to be the best at it.  There is always reward in quality work.  This is also habit forming.  Set the stage early about how you approach work, and the pride you take in your own image.
• Always be completely honest and up front about everything.  Nothing beats honesty.  Even when it can be awkward or uncomfortable.  You’ll always be more trusted in everything if you’re seen as someone who keeps it real.
• Continue valuing your physical development and health.  I cant tell you how many guys it seems  let them self physically peak at 18.  You may feel invincible now, but the dad bod creeps up fast when you put health on the back burner.  It may be a hard truth, but those who visibly take care of themselves have a higher chance of being taken seriously.  
• Take advantage of all opportunities. This is one of the biggest regrets older men will bring up, that they missed out on opportunity.  Fear of failure only holds us back. I believe this is because we worry about people seeing us fail.  But never concern yourself about the opinions of those not trying anything. It’s the age old “man in the arena" concept.
• Life is too unfair to have soft fragile hands.  If you’re reading this, then this issue has been cured with rough barbells.  But get your hands dirty and beat up once in a while.
• Always be louder with your actions than your words.  Ninety percent of people do way more talking than they do doing.  Stand out by being the one getting things done.
• Remain humble but stand down to nobody.  If you're confident in your actions as mentioned above, nobody can knock you down a peg.  Don't get over your skiis but don't get shoved in a corner either.  Walk through the door chest first.  
• Be unrelenting in standing by your principals and these standards you have set for yourself.  They aren’t your standards if you are easily persuaded away from them.  Don’t feel like drinking at any particular time?  Say no and move on.  Anyone who doesn’t respect it is a boy, not a man and their opinions are of no mater.  They’ll still be wannabe frat boys at 35 while you’re killing it.  Want to favor your health over a party lifestyle?  Do it and be complete unapologetic about it.

If you leave my weight room after spending multiple days a week for multiple years here, having only gotten better at lifting weights, then I have failed you. On the surface, we are in here building muscle and getting stronger.  But in the background, the weight room is meant to teach us lessons and shape better people.  I wish you the best and hope to see you in here whenever you’re back around!
 
Now go kill it!
 
Mike.