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Chasing Demons

Chasing Demons

Life is hard.

And you know what?  It doesn’t get any easier.

Every day you have to fight and fight and fight.  And then you wake up and do it all over again.  It also seems that you are the only one struggling.  Others have it easier than you.  They have more money than you.  They drive a nicer car than you.  Their kids act better than yours.  Their job is better.

They are happier….

If you could just get that one break.  That one chance to make your mark.  To finally get YOUR way.  To get the things you want.

Over the last 38 years I’ve learned many things….the hard way.  In the paragraph above I described my feelings, but I am guessing that I might have described some of you as well.

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...things you own, own you...

One of the things I’ve learned is, the more money you make and the more stuff you buy; it does not make you happier or more fulfilled.  It is the relationships you have with your family and others that really define you.

The other thing I learned is that opportunities don’t just happen.  At least not for everyone and especially not for me.  I wanted to give you some thoughts today that might help you along your journey and maybe help you achieve the goals that you have made for yourself.

Diesel Laws

Law 1: If you want something, you have to work harder than you’ve ever worked to achieve that goal.  You have to work when others are sleeping.  You have to lay out a plan and execute small steps forward every day.

Law 2: Give when no one is looking.

Law 3: No one will ever give you anything.  If you want something you have to work hard to get it (see Law #1)

Law 4: Money, a lot of times, makes things worse.  Focus on the goal.   Focus on the feeling of the accomplishment.  Focus on the journey and you’ll always come out on top.

Law 5: The easiest time to quit is when things get hard.  But a man steps up and tackles each challenge head on, and he doesn’t quit…ever.

Law 6: You will fail, make no mistake. There will be times when you will not be successful.  (see Law #5)

Law 7: Make a commitment to yourself to be fit.  You have the responsibility to take care of your family.  You have the responsibility to be around a long time. 

Law 8: Take action now.  Do not hesitate.

Law 9: I can, I will; there is no try.  We do not allow the word “can’t” in the program or in our lives.

Law 10: Make sure you tell the important people in your life how much they mean to you every day.  Do not miss an opportunity to bring them up.  Reconnect with the people that made a difference in your life.

Chasing demons is about not letting all the stuff that happened to you in your life affect your ability to be great.

“We’re not talking about being victims, we’re talking about being victors” – Eric Thomas

Smitty

In the comments below, tell me about your “laws” you’ve set for your life.


By on January 21st, 2011

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Comments (26)

  1. Posted by - Trevor Lea-Smith on January 21, 2011

    Live well, be true to yourself, and be a man who lives with integrity and honor. This is a great post Smitty, it is incredibly important.

    • Posted by - Smitty on January 21, 2011

      Thanks Trevor!

  2. Posted by - Michael M on January 21, 2011

    When it is all said and done at the end of the day God is really the one in control. I work hard, God provides as He sees fit. Life is hard. But life is also less complicated and stressful when you know this.

    Great article Smitty.

  3. Posted by - Greg R. on January 21, 2011

    Great Post! The word can’t is an excuse, I just posted something to that effect on my blog last week!

    Thanks for all the great info Smitty!

  4. Posted by - Eric Frey on January 21, 2011

    Truly AWESOME post! I gotta spread this one around. A lot of those laws are playing through my head like a record lately. More people need to hear this message.

    Keep it coming, Smitty!

  5. Posted by - David Sonnenq on January 21, 2011

    Jim, your post pretty much says it all. Winston Churchill summed it up: “Never, never, never quit”.

    One more thought: These is much joy in working hard.

    Thanks for your post — it’s really good.

    Dave

  6. Posted by - Dave on January 21, 2011

    Awesome post Smitty, great set of rules to live by. I’m 34, had a few unfocussed, unproductive years, now finally doing what I always wanted and training as a Personal Trainer and coach, I want to help others reach the potential and by doing so, reach mine. These rules are basically the way I’m coming to run my life. Thanks for the great post. Keep up the good work!

  7. Posted by - Jason on January 21, 2011

    Well played. Great post! Plan to share your thoughts on my blog. Keep up the hard work Smitty, you’ve been doing some great things lately.

  8. Posted by - Brad Turk on January 21, 2011

    Well said. There are no shortcuts that pay off. Hard work and persistence are the only true paths to rewards.

  9. Posted by - Rick Walker on January 21, 2011

    Smitty-

    First off, great blog! Can’t believe I just found it.

    Hard work: too many people work their asses off searching for the holy grail only to find out more money = more problems. You make more, you spend more, your family suffers. I dont think anyone’s tombstone ever said, “I wish I would have spent more time working!”

    Hard work takes many forms. I work 40 hours a week for a pay check that provides my family with a house, cars, clothes, food, etc. I work HARD at home cutting and splitting wood to keep my house at 75 degrees despite the 5 outside. I work hard in my workouts and jiu jitsu so I can make it home every night to my wife and kids and can live long enough to set an example and make sure my boys grow up to be men of honor, men who strive to reach their goals and take life by the horns. I work the HARDEST at being an awesome dad and making sure I never, ever let them see the side of me that my father designed…

    My “laws”:

    Law #1: Strive to be uncomfortable every single time you workout.

    Law #2: Respect until it is time to not respect.

    Law #3: Treat your wife like the queen she is.

    Law #4: Teach your kids about respect and teach them right from wrong. Teach them about respecting adults, teachers, and the law.

    Law #5: Treat every day like it is your last. Make sure those around you know how much they mean.

    Law #6: Reach your max heart rate daily.

    Law #7: Don’t live like a sheep…be prepared for EVERYTHING always.

    Law #8: No matter how many times life kicks you in the sack, get up and push forward.

    Law #9: Limit sugars, processed food, alcohol. Dont smoke. Dont do drugs.

    Law #10: Teach those who are loved by you the benefits of a healthy lifestyle. You may just add years to their lives!

    Those are my 10 Laws.

    Keep it up Smitty…and as an one old friend to another…take time to smell the roses…

    -Rick

  10. Posted by - Joseph Pasciotty on January 21, 2011

    This was exactly what i needed to hear. This brought up my spirit some. Ive been going through a really rough time between being out of work trobled relationships and tring to start up a new career in Personal training and also going to become a Strength coach and setting the bar high for myself … ive really come to see that you need to be patient eat a little crap every now and then and work hard because sucsess doesnt just get handed to you , you need to hustle and mark a name for your self. I stay positive and keep looking at the bigger picture but its seem like when your at your lowest you notice everyone around you who is doing better than you and make you wonder how it was soo easy for them, but by seeing that make me grind harder to achieve what i need to achieve . Chasing Demons … its what i do everyday.. thanks Smitty.

  11. Posted by - Craig Caudill on January 22, 2011

    Stellar. Thanks Smitty.
    craig

  12. Posted by - Jasveen on January 22, 2011

    Thanks Smitty, Had a couple of rough days always look forward to reading your and zach even-esh’s emails u 2 not only make people stronger physically and mentally through exercise but have been great in helping someone especially like me get me off my ass work to get to where i want to get. Thank you and God Bless.

    never stop. always keep fighting and stand strong. 🙂

  13. Posted by - Ricky Sen on January 22, 2011

    Inspirational Smitty,

    This is going straight on to my wall so I can read them every day…
    Ricky

  14. Posted by - Steve McKanna on January 22, 2011

    I began teahing high school PE some years ago. My first day in home room(a math room)this quote was on the wall. ” Talent, means little in this world, there are millions of unsuccessful,unfulfilled talented people among us. Determination, perseverance, and hard work are the keys to sucess.” I have used this as my mantra ever since. You have a great site Smitty, keep up the good work!

  15. Posted by - McB on January 22, 2011

    I love this stuff. It’s the kind of messages I try to give to my students at school – especially the older ones who “seem” to not care. But they do. They need to know we do too. Thanks – maybe I’ll show this to a few of them. So they’ll know it’s not just “teacher talk”, bla bla bla, lol.

  16. Posted by - Mike D on January 22, 2011

    Great post Smitty! A lot of people have forgotten that to have the success that others have involves work – hard work. Those people who have built something from nothing have one thing a lot of us have lost, which is a basic work ethic. Unfortunately, the society we live in has conditioned us to believe in the “quick fix”, or as I like to call it, “the 5 minute abs mindset”!

    Put the work in, learn from your experiences and the inevitable mistakes that you’ll make on the way and push forward. Life, unfortunately, is HARD (for the majority of us). The sooner you work that out, the better prepared you’ll be for the crap it’s going to throw at you and the obstacles it’s going to put in your way.

    Two good quotes to keep in your head when times get tough are these:
    “Anything is possible to him who will try” – Alexander the Great
    “If you are going through hell, keep going” – Winston Churchill

  17. Posted by - mark on January 22, 2011

    I like Ricks laws too. Great post!

  18. Posted by - David on January 22, 2011

    # Rule: It has to be YOUR goal; if you’re doing it for someone else it won’t work.

  19. Posted by - Arlene on January 23, 2011

    Smitty,

    GREAT POST!

    This came at a really perfect time for me because one of my dear friends is going through a very deep depression. I sent him this article and after talking with him, I feel that it made a positive impact on him.

    Some of the laws which I believe:

    1. When things get you really down – just remember these words: This too shall pass.
    2. Try to do a small act of kindness every day.
    3. You are the company you keep.
    4. Let Go and Let God.
    5. These are the words I always say to myself before I lift a heavy weight: If you can see it and conceive…YOU CAN ACHIEVE IT!
    6. Don’t complain and don’t explain.
    7. IT’S THE JOURNEY – not the destination that is important.
    8. When you fail, and as Smitty has said…YOU WILL FAIL…ask yourself this question. What can I learn from this?
    9. I never believe in limits or boundaries and always believe that anything is possible…if you work hard enough toward that goal!
    10. Never hesitate to tell the people who have made a difference in your life – how special they are to you and how blessed you are that they are in your life. Keep your heart open and share the love inside.

    Thanks again for a great inspiring article Smitty.

    Arlene 🙂

    p.s. I really enjoyed reading your Laws, Rick.

  20. Posted by - Arlene on January 23, 2011

    Oops, left out a word in #5:

    If you see it and conceive it…you can achieve it.

    Arlene 🙂

  21. Posted by - Radio Matty on January 23, 2011

    Printed ’em out and hung ’em on the wall. A great constant reminder for when things get really hairy.

    Good post!

  22. Posted by - Billy Matney on January 24, 2011

    Smitty, thanks for the “Diesel Laws” post, really needed it at this time. Great post!

    • Posted by - Smitty on January 24, 2011

      Thank you Billy!

  23. Posted by - Michal R on February 17, 2011

    Smitty, those are great!
    I alredy printed the out and hung it on the door in order to ensure that I kick serious ass every time I leave my bed.
    Thank you so much!

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