“How you do anything, is how you do everything,” has to be one of the most profound quotes I’ve ever heard.

I think about my best athletes or most successful clients.

How they do anything, is how they do everything!

You see my most successful athletes apply themselves 100% to whatever it is they do and almost become obsessive in the process, they have to, if they are to succeed!

Obsessive about the food they put in their mouths to fuel their bodies. Obsessive about doing their recovery work to accelerate progress made from training and to prevent injuries and poor performance! Obsessive about taking the correct supplements at the right time for rapid performance gains. Obsessive about their training, following their training program to the tee!

They don’t take short cuts anywhere…or in any aspect of their lives….

Take former PIT athlete Carlton Rookie Matt Lodge-He undertook 7 subjects in yr 12 instead of the mandatory 6, he captained the under 18 NSW AFL Team, School Captain at one of Australia’s most exclusive Schools in Sydney, flew up from Sydney to train in THE PIT every few weeks, before that he traveled from Byron Bay twice a week to train in THE PIT the other 3 nights a week he traveled to Brisbane to train with the QLD state team. He was offered a recording contract from Sony for his musical abilities. He got straight A’s in his school work and finished in the top 1% of year 12 scholars. Impressive!

How you do anything, is how you do everything!

How we train in THE PIT is a metaphor for how we go in life-if you rock up go through the motions don’t put in any effort will pretty much mirror your life. As a PIT Athlete you’re held accountable to a much higher standard than that, you’re expected to put forth 100% effort, intensity and commitment and great things happen!

As they say obsessed is just a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated!

All the best for the week,

Joey

At the completion of one of The Pit sessions last week, I was having a chat to one of the most disciplined and committed Pit Athletes I have ever coached; Southport Sharks Senior Footballer-Callum Carseldine.

During our conversation Callum came up with this gem,

‘Joey most people don’t succeed because they can’t say no! They cant say No Because they don’t know what their priorities are’! (more…)

Greatness: Its your birthright!

I just finished reading a great book recommended by Adelaide Crows Superstar Kurt Tippett titled The Monk who sold his Ferarri by Robin Sharma here is an excerpt from the book.

“Push yourself to do more and to experience more.

Harness your energy to start expanding your dreams.

Don’t accept a life of mediocrity when you hold such infinite potential within the fortress of your mind.

Dare to tap into your greatness.

It’s your birthright.” (more…)

At Strongman Camp last Saturday morning we were fortunate to have one of Australia’s leading Mental Skills coaches address the athletes after the session.

It never ceases to amaze me that almost every athlete is well aware of the importance of their physical preparation and training, yet so few do anything to improve their psychological skills.

It’s simple you are what you think about and you are what you tell yourself.

So it better be positive and empowering! (more…)

Get out of your comfort zone!

Yesterday I decided to jump and parachute out of a perfectly good plane…

Why?

Because I can and to get out of my comfort zone…

(more…)

Will this hold you back?

After coaching athletes for  more than a decade, the most common psychological flaw that pervades the athletes mind, is the fear of failure….

What if I don’t succeed?

What if I fail? (more…)

I love hearing about athletes that have overcome adversity, been overlooked for selection numerous times, or told they’re not good enough and simply won’t make it. With the AFL Rookie draft last week there some surprise selections such as 29 year old Geelong player Orren Stephensen.

All your life they will say you’re not good enough or strong enough or talented enough; they will say you’re the wrong height or the wrong weight or the wrong type to play this or be (more…)

Congratulations to Matty Lodge and Former Lions Ruckman Broc McCauley who were selected in rookie list draft on Tuesday.

Both men were tearing THE PIT apart during off season break. Great to see their hard work rewarded!

Check out the video of Matty Lodge working on his repeat sprint ability on the tredsled during his off season break.

All the best,

Joey

What Would Everyone Else Do?

By Callum Carseline

Every now and again you meet a young athlete that really gets it! Callum Carseldine is one such athlete. A young man that displays maturity and leadership beyond his years, a man that bleeds passion and intensity. A young man that brings it to every single session and has done so for the last 3 years. He has never made an excuse or missed a scheduled session in that time. Hence, I feel he is well versed to deliver this article.

Callum Carseldine Deadlifting in THE PIT!

The success I want to achieve in my life is something only a minority have done. To become a part of the minority, I constantly look at what the majority are doing, and desperately force myself to do the exact opposite. This isn’t about being deprived and alone, it’s about achieving my potential and living an extraordinary life.

So let me ask you: (more…)

Do Not Resist Chances!

Chances should be taken like vitamins.

Let go of the brakes.

See what happens if you push and go 5 more kilometers.

Footbridges and obstacles be damned.

Find your own way across.

Don’t worry about the bumps and bruises. (more…)

Do You Have WIT? 

All of the most successful people and athletes I know display WIT. WIT stands for doing Whatever It Takes!

(more…)

So You Want To Become Number 1?

This is a guest article by PIT Athlete and Carlton Draftee and man of many talents Matt Lodge. If you have witnessed Lodgey train-he trains like a man possessed and has definitely earned the right to contribute his thoughts and this article to the website!

Every sports person will tell you that they always had one quote, one saying or one life motto that they adopted their life and their approach to their professional sport upon. Within AFL circles and particularly in my position I was at within the Carlton Football Club, I’ve been privy to many words of wisdom from accredited and dignified football personalities – namely, Chris Judd, captain of Carlton and Robert Harvey a former development coach in 2009-10. Both men echoed the same words:

“The harder you work, the luckier you get.”

(more…)

  The Strongman Crew take the Mount Warning Challenge

Strongman Crew at the start the hike

Saturday 5th November 7am, 45 Athletes aged from 10-70 years of age took on the Mount Warning Challenge. Which also happened to serve as an unload week and form of active recovery to accelerate progress between training sessions and mentally re-fresh the athletes after a solid 3 weeks.

The Strongman Crew at The Summit

The Mount Warning Hike served a dual purpose:

1. To solidify the training group.

2. To further enhance athlete and parent relationships!

3. Active Recovery to provide the athletes with the ability to regenerate and refresh both physically and mentally.

4. To appreciate nature.

“As strong men it’s important to have a deep appreciation for nature. Sometimes in modern living we miss the daily exposure to and involvement in nature and the earth.

In some of the larger cities, one almost rarely sees the sun, and exposure to the forest is rare. Being exposed to nature is said to increase our gratitude, appreciation and receptivity.” King, I.

 Strongman Crew Recovery and Flexibility Session

See you Saturday,

Joey

References:

1. The Way of the Physical Preparation Coach. King, I.

Don’t Catch This Disease!

There’s a disease that is running rampant through society and if you’re not careful it may infect you as well.

It’s not a new disease, it’s been around for a while…

It’s called Excusitis…and is characterised by rationalisation, justification, excuses and negative self talk.

This disease literally kills your life by crushing your dreams, passions and the very essence of your inner being and the essence of life within you.

By nourishing your body with Strong Food, Strong Intense Physical Training, Strong thoughts and an environment of positive driven people here in THE PIT-you build up strength and immunity to the disease. (more…)

Failure is Impossible

Act as if failure is impossible and your success will be assured. Wipe out every thought of not achieving your goals whether sporting, academic or business wise. Be brave and set no limits on the workings of your imagination. Never be a prisoner of your past. Become the architect of YOUR future-this is exactly what we do in THE PIT.

YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN!

All the best,

Joey

Excellence

At Saturdays Strongman Session Yellow Leader Jersey recipient Ethan Mackie addressed the Group with this quote for what Strong Man stands for!

“If you preach excellence, but walk mediocrity you are nothing more than a common liar”

Well said, and a mantra that will be ingrained into the Psyche of the group.

All the best for the week,

Joey Hayes

Never Give Up!

One of my favorite quotes by one of the greatest athletes of all time! ‘I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.’ Michael Jordan.

What happens when you fail after you’ve given it your best?

How do you prepare yourself when you don’t get what you’ve been waiting for a very long time?

Do you regret wasting your time preparing for something when you’ve failed?

Do you crumble?

Do you beat yourself up?

Or do you use it as a learning experience and keep persuing your dreams until you reach them.

Two choices two very different outcomes.

The choice is yours!

All the best,

Joey

I saw this quote and immediately thought of Rugby League Player Nat Barnes. This is a man that has talent beyond belief and he works incredibly hard, both on and off the field and is true gentlemen. In every competition he’s played in from NSW to QLD, he’s always been the leading try scorer in the league.

Like fine wine he keep getting better with age, now at 29 years young he’s getting what he deserves. He just picked up a contract with the Brisbane Broncos. Let this be a lesson to any athlete that has a dream-Never Let the Odds Keep You From Doing What You Know You Are Meant To Do! Be proactive and make it happen!

Nat, congratulations we’ll see you in THE PIT this week.

Joey

He’s coming off a Best on Ground Display and Premiership Winning Grand Final Captain Honours-picking up a lazy 65 possessions. He’s peaked at the right time of the year!

Strong, Fast, Explosive and Bullet Proof, looking fresh in his PIT sessions and ready to dominate this weekends AFL Testing!

From everyone in THE PIT all the best,

Joey

Strongman Camp Won’t Be Run the same way in October 2011…

It’s going to be Even Better!

I’m constantly looking for ways to give you the unfair advantage and get you results faster to ensure you dominate your competition!

In the past few months I’ve travelled to some of Australia’s Leading Sporting Clubs to pick up new ideas…….

I’ve even poached some of their Experts to help take Strongman Camp and your training to another level.

How am I going to Improve Strongman Camp 2011?

1. Expert Coaches…From Elite Sporting Clubs-That’s right you’re going to access elite coaches from professional Sporting Clubs. An 0pp0rtunity to impress in front of these guys…who knows what may happen?

2. Expert Sporting Skill and Technique Biomechanical Analysis-from Elite Coaches. Imagine having elite feedback and your sports skills analysed by experts? What would that do for your skills?

3. Brand New Professional Training Drills taken from Elite Clubs and Unbelievably challenging Cross training activities you’ve never done before…that will challenge
you mentally and physically!

Click Here to Register and Find out How Strongman Camp can Accelerate Your Sports Performance.

90% of the training positions are filled so click here to register so you don’t miss out on the chance to sky rocket your performance!

I look forward to seeing you there!

Joey