Here is something I’ve had validated by a dozen peers and associates who’ve been around the strength industry for decades.
I’ve never claimed to be an expert at anything, but know how to get strong for powerlifting very well. I’ve lived it now for 37 years, competed for 20, have a degree in exercise science and nutrition, worked as a personal trainer for a decade, founded @elitefts 21 years ago, spent over a decade at WSBB, have sponsored close to 100 of the best lifters to walk the earth, and so on, and so on.
I realize every week what more I need to learn, but have covered a lot of bases thus far.
I get asked, where do you learn from? Specifically about strength.
The answer is from those who are currently living it... HARD. I mean living it like nothing else matters. This is where I learn the most. This is how I personally learned the most so it only make sense that it’s the best place to gain insight.
Here is an interesting fact that ties back to my first statement.
I bet in the course of one year I see 40-50 “industry experts”. Most as visitors to our gym, or in other places I visit. I’ve learned from almost all of them, but can count on one hand how many asked me a single question. Known experts in strength development - not ONE question unless it was to simply validate something they believe.
Why should they ask? They already know all the answers, right? If they stay in the industry ten more years (doubt it) they will see they really don’t know shit. I know this because I’ve been through it, and came out the other end realizing all the learning opportunities I lost before my ego came around.
Learn from those willing to die to get better, and those who’ve been around long enough to know what they don’t know.
You know how I know this? They are the ones that pound me with questions and discussions about training – and not to show me how smart they are, but so they can become better.
The rest is just infotainment.
Find a meathead coach or lifter that’s been around 3 decades and ask them to read this and ask them if I’m wrong.
This won’t be popular- but true. Now you have the secret.
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