Birthday Depression - Midlife Crisis Anyone??

YEAH so it's Charlotte's birthday today.. I used to love my birthdays. Every year I planned a huge party doing something crazy inviting all my friends. But for some reason I'm just not in the birthday mood this time. I guess I'm in the "I'm half way to 44 crisis" these days. I'm thinking about all the stuff I'm going to do with my life and I feel like I'm going to run out of time! Does that sound familiar to anyone else but me?

What's the deal with getting older anyways.. So unnecessary! Why didn't God just let us stay young and beautiful and kill us when we had to make space for other people to live on earth. Weird.. Maybe He'll change his mind one of these days.

But as my mom says about this getting old and ugly matter: "You're not the only one that gets old! All of your friends do too!" Um yeah I know it's not a big brainer to figure that one out, but it's so true! And since I know that words have so much power, I've decided to stop hating on getting older, but rather live my life to the fullest every single day. From now on I am YOUNG and BEAUTIFUL. I might not get younger, but I will definitely be hotter and smarter the older I get. So what's the big deal?


Train hard and make no excuses

-Charlotte

Money - The Limiting Factor?

Sometimes I wish was a multi billionaire... Although, becoming a billionaire is not a real goal of mine, I don't ever want money to limit me in any way. I'm going to travel the world, speak at conferences world wide, own my gym of awesomeness, learn from fitness professionals at different locations, not worrying about if or when my money will run out. But, unfortunately, right now it pretty much has the last word (Not for too long!).

These days I'm working 24/7 to earn enough money for my stay in LA. I've gotten the honor and opportunity to be a part of the Results Fitness team in Santa Clarita for 3 months in February next year. So unreal but yet so expected (more on this in another blog post!).

Outside of Results Fitness

As for now I'm working two jobs next to training a few people on the side (for free!) to make it happen. I'm not complaining by any means, it's amazing what a vision does for you. But if I had one (more) wish, it would be 48 hour days. That would let me excel in training people, work 3 JOBS, have enough time for family and hang out time with friends, and last but not least, create even more great connections with like minded individuals, reading and studying business and fitness all day long. (Warning; I might contradict myself right now) - you really can make that so called 48 hour day happen if you just prioritize and do the RIGHT work at the right time. I guess that was more like a slap in the face to myself.

So your take home lesson for today is (as Coach Dos would say); DO WORK, and you will not die (those were actually my words).


Train hard and make no excuses

-Charlotte

Don't Be Like the 99.9%

Earlier today I was talking to this one girl I'm working with about high ambitions and succeeding. This subject really intrigues me because I love to listen to and be a part of, so to speak, other people's thoughts and dreams. Giving them that extra push and confidence to believe enough in themselves and their ideal lifestyle, that it can actually become reality.

While talking to her about the future and what I do personally to get to where I want to be, there were a few things that came to mind;

1. Vision



"Where there is no vision, the people perish" Proverbs 29:18. You will not last if you don't have this. Everything will literally break down, piece by piece. This counts for everything you do in life really. It doesn't only have to mean your big dream, but also the small things in life, goals you want to reach. You need a vision.

2. You can't afford to just hope in yourself or your dream (and what's even worse, wish)

EVERYONE hope in themselves. Everyone hope that they one day will win the lottery. That their dream man or girl will fall for them. Holding your breath in hope that you will get that job you've been wanting for so long. If this is you, then I've got one thing to say to you: STOP HOPING. If you want to succeed you have to let this one go for good. To hope means you really don't have control over the situation and that luck is all that matters. While in fact, you do have a say and a part to play in the outcome. And one part you are responsible for is your mindset. To have the right mindset doesn't necessarily mean to be realistic. Everything doesn't have to make sense ALL THE FRICKING TIME! Anything is possible. Learn how to let yourself go and give your little logical brain a break before it overheats. Please!

Luck is also something I don't like to give credit to. Good or bad, luck is not what I rely on. I believe in myself. That's what you have to do too, not some "this will hopefully turn out good for me this time" mindset. If you don't believe in yourself hardcore, who else is going to believe you're the shit? A salesman will never be successful selling something he doesn't believe in. "Please buy my product, I don't know if it works that well, but I sure hope it does!" Would you feel driven to invest in something like that?

"When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable."
Walt Disney



You have to believe it so hard that you know it. That's what Walt Disney was talking about. To know in your future. That's what I did. I remember how I used to lay on my bedroom floor closing my eyes thinking about what I wanted my dream life to look like. I used all five of my senses, I was feeling it, seeing it, smelling it, hearing it, and one day it was just like I could touch it. That's how real it all got to me. And that's how real it is today. You have to believe it, and soon enough you will know it.

(And if you are one of those people that wish you will make it, then I feel really sorry for you. That's just sad. That just means you've decided to lose before even taking the first step).


3. Do the opposite of what everyone else is doing (Be creative)




Have you ever met someone that has the exact same dream as you? They want the same thing, and now you're all sweaty and intimidated thinking "How the hell am I gonna be the best if they want to be the best also???? Someones gotta lose and that might as well be ME!" Well, first of all, you should have gotten rid of that mindset by now, knowing you can do anything and that no one can beat you in what you do.

Secondly, you can't afford wasting time worrying about what other people are doing, you have to focus on what YOU are doing to reach your goals (more on that later).

Truth is, chances are very high that somewhere out there, someone will have the same dream as you. They will want it just as much as you do, and would do anything to get there.

Then I have a question for you; Why is it that 99.9% of those people haven't reached it? Think about it for a moment. Many people want to become a movie star. How many out of the hundreds of thousands gets to make it a reality? Or how about becoming an astronaut? The chances for you to reach your so called "impossible" dream is very little. Extremely small considering how many people that has to give it up, or never seems to figure out how to get there.

I'm not trying to crush your vision or dreams, in fact I love that you have dreams, but I'm just being real. People have failed to succeed throughout the history, people fail today, and people will continue failing. But I believe you don't have to be one of them.

Be like the 0.1%.

What do I mean by that? It's quite simple really. Just look around you, think of your dream and think of what do people do to be the best? What do the general population do? The answer will be slightly different depending on what kind of vision you have, but in general, people follow the same path. They get up every morning at 7 AM. Eat breakfast while watching TV, maybe reading the newspaper. Go to school, pay or do not pay attention in class. Hang out with friends after school. Eat dinner. Do homework. Watch TV again. Go on Facebook. Stay up late. And when the weekend comes it's time to party.

I'm not saying this is what it's like for everyone, but what I'm trying to get across is that people generally have the same approach to success. Like there's some kind of recipe for how to get it done. That works for people that want a regular job at an office or a clothing store, but that sure doesn't work for big dreamers. It's like they have a picture in their mind that says: "this is what you need to do cause this is what everyone else is doing". And that's exactly why you need to slow down for a second, turn around and start walking in the other direction facing your fellow competitors. You are no longer racing them trying to pass them, but you are in the totally opposite direction, hundred percent focused on that which you need to do to become number one. Be creative, think new and the doors will open up for you.


Don't be like these guys!

4. Don't waste your energy on negative thinking

You have a choice!


This one is real key for you that really worries a lot when it comes to greatness. By this I mean thinking negatively about yourself, focusing on what you can't do, instead of what you CAN do. I used to shoot myself in the foot like that every day too. I would wake up depressed, dwelling upon what I suck at big time, and what I will never be able to be good at. I couldn't read any fitness blogs by other trainers because that made me think of myself as a loser, depressed thinking "it will take me YEARS to get there, what's the point??". So I had to take a break from reading blogposts from time to time, I got too discouraged. This all sounds very bad and (I know what you're thinking, "you are special") not like me at all, and that's right. It was very bad at the time.

The good news is I somehow along the way started to switch around the way I thought of myself and life. I made a conscious CHOICE to not think any more negative thoughts about myself, and rather focus on the positive. I made a deal with myself that every time I started thinking I couldn't possibly ever get there, or "this is too complicated for me to ever learn", I said the opposite. I made a stand saying: "No, I am amazing. I am the shit. I know how to do this. I am the best. I will rock this industry. I am a fast learner". I started to bless the successful people I so greatly admired.

And you know what... That changed my life.

Playing The Cards Right

Talent is Overrated. Hard work isn't. I believe people with lots of talent too often take it for granted and don't become the best they can be. Whereas people with little or no skills, but has a dedication for what they're doing, pursues the "impossible" (a word I rather not use), and in return, reaches the top. It's all about willingness, going beyond what you think is accessible. Your mind is the only stumbling block there is. You need to teach your mind to think life and not death and tear down the walls that are keeping you away from what's in your heart. And when that's accomplished, the only thing you need to do next is to stay focused on your goal. Staying focused on a goal simply means to sacrifice. It means to give up the hundred other things you enjoy doing and rather spend that time developing that one passion within you. You can't be the greatest at everything, but you can be awesome at one. You better figure out what that one thing is.

"Plan for the future, but live for today". John Wooden, one of the greatest basketball coaches of all times said something I'll never forget; “Make every day your masterpiece”. It doesn't matter what you did yesterday, or worry about what tomorrow's gonna look like. What matters is what you're making out of this moment. You can't change the past, and you sure can't do anything about tomorrow, because it has yet to come. So why waste your time regretting something or hoping for something that wont change anything? Planning is important, living in the future isn't. Make good choices today, and those choices will pay off tomorrow.

Keep your eyes on the goal and work with the end in mind. Whatever you do, don't let anything or anyone take your vision away from you. Learning how to say no to the good, and wait for the great will take you to new heights. But this is a challenge. Often it seems meaningless in that moment of time. Why wait for something you don't even know what is yet, right? Or maybe you do, but you want to play safe and settle 'cause you don't want to risk anything.

There is something about having a dream and knowing it will come to pass. When I close my eyes, I imagine my gym of excellence. Down to every detail. I know what my staff is going to be like, I can clearly see the main room; machine free with only the most essential equipment, such as TRX's, Dumbbells, Kettle bells, Prowlers, Tractor wheels, plyo boxes, medicine balls, bands and much more that I don't know the name of yet. I see people pushing one another, seeing the best in one another, not worrying that their partner might get better or faster results than themselves. I see hard work and satisfied clients. I see the best gym in the world yet. Did I mention machine free?

I haven't always been like this, but one day I decided to choose to believe it will happen. Not can, but will. Since that day there hasn't been one day I don't think about ways to get to my final destination. I can't help but to think new, and to not only see, but also grab a hold of the opportunities that's set before me. When I encounter new people, I screen them and evaluate them, thinking; “Can this person be a part of my team?” When I enter someones gym, I think of better ways to run it.

I know you wished that your dream job would one day fall into your lap from no where and “wops” there you are on top of the world. But (un)fortunately that's not reality. (Even though surprisingly many people seem to believe the opposite). I've learned to understand this; Just play your cards right and you will succeed. Hard work pays off. Every. Single.Time.


Train Hard and Make No Excuses,

-Charlotte

What's Your Awesomeness?

Today I once again got to listen to someone who didn't think she was good at anything. The conversation started out by me asking what she was doing next year and what she wanted to do with her life. "I want to become a nurse, a midwife", she responded. Didn't seem too excited about it. That's when I just had to ask her a few questions. "If you could do anything, what would it be?" She didn't know. "Alright let me put it this way - What is it that you're good at?" This time she seemed more sure about her answer. "Nothing". Wow..That's all she said! Honestly I wasn't surprised, because that's what most people think of themselves here in Norway, but I gotta tell you, it amazes me every time I hear it. I just don't get how some people can think so badly about who they are. It actually pisses me off how someone's got tons of potential but because of poor self esteem and negative thinking the world will never see the light of it. What would happen if everybody lived out their fullest potential?
I've come down to this conclusion;

You can't be human and not be good at something.

It's literally impossible to not have one single talent.

You see, when I ask people what they're good at, they immediately think of the great singers out there, dancing, playing an instrument, or a sport. Don't get me wrong, all those talents are really great, but it doesn't necessarily have to be any of those things that make you awesome. Let me ask you this, do you continually go out of your way to help people? When you and your friends are making plans for a trip to Las Vegas in the Spring, do you find yourself arranging the whole thing, putting all the pieces together? In your organization, do you always see new and better ways of doing things?

Yeah now you know where I'm getting at. The point is, the most visible talents and abilities aren't always the best ones. You got to figure out what your specialty is, what is it that you are good at? And don't lie to yourself and say "nothing" like that girl I talked to today (who btw changed her perception of herself by the end of our little conversation). If you honestly don't know, sit down for a moment and think about the past 24 hours. Did you pick up that trash even if you didn't have to? You will start seeing a pattern in your life, and that's what you're good at. (I'm not saying picking trash is your destiny, those little things like doing something for other people, something you're not obligated to do, reveals your character. Picking up somebody else's trash tells me you are good at serving) And by good I don't necessarily mean excellent. Don't worry, there is time for improvement! But how can you be the best if you don't even know that you're good?





Train Hard and Make No Excuses

-Charlotte

Are You Ever Gonna Get Off Your Ass?

There's no way I can count how many times I've encountered people that don't know what they're doing with their lives. These people seem to live an okay life. They go to school, or work, they go for their daily run (right), they get up in the morning and know exactly what their day will look like, the next too. To no surprise, they're bored with life. They're sick of doing the same things day in and day out. You would think being aware of this would make them take action and do something. But the worst part is that THEY DON'T. They don't even care. I know that deep down there's something saying "there must be more than this". But sadly this voice isn't loud enough to cut through the thick wall of ignorance. It's like they got the idea that life chooses randomly who reaches the top, and who gets to eat dirt or clean toilets at a local mall.

After watching people living their lives, doing what they think they need to do, what's expected of them I'm thinking... Who's in charge of their decisions? Obviously you have responsibility for your own life, but other people's opinions matter to some extent to the most of us, the question is how much. And if those opinions matter more than yours, you're letting them take control over your life and your decisions (Notice I said "letting"). If people weren't so afraid to stand out, to break out of the evil circle of the "normal human behavior", I'm sure we would get to see the cure for HIV and cancer, excellent businesses born (and reborn), and revolutionary ideas that would turn the world around.

Do you know your true potential?

Who is willing to take a risk and go after what they were made to do? I am a hardcore believer in the fact that everyone walking this earth has a destiny and a calling on their lives. And that every single person has the ability to get to that place. "Too hard" and "Not being good enough" is no excuse for not starting to pursue what's in your heart. You might not be the next world champion in gymnastics tomorrow, but that doesn't mean you won't ever get to own the title.
Helen Keller, an auther, political activist and lecturer, was deaf and blind. Look how much she achieved in her lifetime. These days, so many people make up excuses why they're in the position they're in. Why they haven't gotten that job as a manager, the reason they can't play an instrument, why they're not in shape, why they can't pay their bills in time. And to be totally frank with you, I'm sick of hearing them.

I want to propose to you to start taking responsibility for your actions and get down to business. Only you have the power to change the outcome of this journey called life.


Train hard and make no excuses
-Charlotte

YOU'RE DECEIVED!

This is my first day as an "unofficial" trainer! I assessed my sister at the gym bringing my laptop and everything. Yes, we did get some extra looks. But back to the "unofficial" part. Yeah you heard me. Unofficial. Sadly I haven't gotten my certificate yet. You know one of those things that should in theory qualify you to train people? But there is so much more to this profession than just having a piece of paper with your name on it. School is one thing, how good you really are is another. Anyone can become a certified personal trainer. Your 85 year old grandma can do it too. Having it on paper is easy. It's the experience with training people and constantly educating yourself that makes you successful. I've talked to people, trainers that don't know crap what they're talking about. Their training philosophy is completely screwed up and here I am thinking "Dude.. You've done this for 5 years now and you're still in??" Advanced trainees and athletes can easily see through this and figure out who to trust, but the average gym goer just looks at their deceiving smiling faces and then at their cute little certificate, thinking they MUST know their field. Hey I don't blame them. How would they know right?


It might sound like I'm the number one master in the industry right now and that I know the answer to all your questions. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, I'm not.


But I will be.


Am I full of myself? No, I just know what I'm capable of. And I know this; I never give up. I never stop reading, studying, listening, asking questions, watching how the best guys do it. I've chosen not to be ignorant but learn from the people that have walked the road before me. I used to be so stubborn I didn't ever want to change my mind about anything, or even worse, change my opinions. Even if I actually thought the other person were right after all. It would make me look weak, and I'm not weak! At least that's what I was holding on to. How stupid.


So I would encourage you to start educating yourself, because if you don't, you're really falling behind. Take the plugs out of your ears and start listening to people that knows their field. And remember.. Nothing is set in stone (well most things aren't).



Train hard and make no excuses
-Charlotte