Passion

I have two pt clients (and more importantly friends) that I have worked with for a long time now - since the mid 90's! These two were both at the top of their respective career fields. Both extremely successful and both sinking 100% of their energy into their work. I watched them both retire six to seven years ago and I've watched them both become depressed, and age twenty years in that time. I've tried every trick in the book I know to inject some form of passion into these two guys. I've learned a major life lesson, one that is often heard and more often probably blown off; One needs to create their own passion and motivation. You can find motivation from another person but it usually doesn't last. These two guys sunk their whole lives into their work. You pull that out from under them and they have nothing else to fill the void. I've watched them try different hobbies, only to get frustrated because they couldn't pick it up easily, their patience has diminished with age, and they're used to being great at the one thing they were passionate about. It's an extremely sad thing to witness. Hindsight showed that maybe they shouldn't have retired. I also work with a guy the same age as these two who did just that. He's continued to work, although at a much less commitment than he once did. He also developed other passions in his life at a young age and pursued them - his passions being tennis and skiing. His outlook on life in general is the polar opposite of my two other guys, and I base this on the fact that he never left his passions.

Bill Gates and Warren Buffett were recently doing a Q&A on some show. Two of the more brilliant and successful minds of our time and also they happen to be friends with each other. They answered many questions on the current economic situation in our country. One young woman who was in college and had yet to select a major asked them what career they thought would be the hot, up and coming one that she should focus her studies on. Gates gave a technology answer and went into more specifics. Buffet, for the first time during this show, disagreed with Gates. I'm paraphrasing, but he answered with something like; "Pursue a career in something your passionate in. Just pursue passion. Then, you will be successful. There aren't nearly enough young people these days truly pursuing their passion."

I don't care what you're passionate about, but have a passion and pursue it daily. Give it just a bit of time when that's all that you have or a lot of time if you can spare it, but each day, work on your passion.

Cheers,

EH

2010 EH Plunge Recap

Saturdays Plunge - you couldn't have asked for a better day in January here in CT. I was actually hoping for some single digit air temperatures. Temps that make you scared to expose any skin in fear that it may turn grey and crack and die and then turn black. OK, a bit dramatic since the plunge isn't held on Mt. Everest, but mid 40 degree air temps felt as though we were cheating. However, no matter how cold or warm the air temperature was, there was no denying just how cold the 35 degree water felt upon diving in. I gave a brief talk before we plunged and talked about how easy the plunge is, in that you run down, dive in, then run out. We did the plunge for a young man named Alex Convertito who was struck by a drunk driver in September and is currently undergoing the toughest battle of his life. He cannot run down the beach and dive in the water then run out. He's presently paralyzed from the waist down. Compared to what Alex is going through, The Plunge is a piece of cake. Through the generosity of friends of mine and strangers to Alex, we raised quite a bit and Alex's dad Mark said that they were going to use these funds to purchase a wheelchair for Alex. Thanks everyone for your support and generosity. Alan Neo Cyberpunk Starbuck Apollo Consuego Madonna McDougall raised over $600!!! Awesome Alan. I know I hit you guys up often for these charitable events and you all always come through. You have no idea how much I appreciate this support.

We stuck with tradition and headed out to The Bar in New Haven the night of The Plunge for some fun, pizza and beer. The Bar is a one stop shopping place; they have great brick oven pizza, microbrewed beer, big TV's w/ the playoff games on, pool, and even a night club in the back. The place was packed and there was a great turnout from The Plungers. A group of 15 from here in Monroe rented a driver and van to take us in in case it got a bit silly, in which it did. It was a late night and made Sundays training a bit more of a challenge but was well worth it. We need to do this more often!

Cheers,

EH

Devastating

I started a group on Facebook (I've been really standoffish about Facebook, but it's actually been beneficial for things like this group forum that will become a great message/sounding board for many of yours opinions hopefully) and I just posted this, which I thought I'd also post here:

Off topic for this group, but the devastation of Haiti has leveled me. Text "HAITI" to "90999" to donate $10 to the Red Cross if you can. The US State Department very quickly put together this number to channel relief contributions directly to first responders who will be on the ground there. Anything must help, right?

Cheers,

EH

Zoot!

I’m very excited to welcome Zoot Sports on board as a sponsor for 2010! As many of you know, I only represent companies that I truly believe in and that offer products that are proven and a cut above. Their running shoes are the best. I will soon have a discount code for all my athletes who are interested in ordering Zoot products.

Cheers,

EH

ps - keep checking my homepage ( www.hodska.com ) for the daily strength challenge!

Some 2010 And Cleanse Thoughts

We are moving the Daily Challenge to my homepage at www.hodska.com! Please go there each day to get your daily assignment. It's not that hard.

So we are off to another new year and with that , many of us feel a need to wipe the slate clean, dig up some motivation, set some new goals. I'll admit that I am one of those that likes to refocus during January and lay out a plan. The problem is that the average person usually is back on their "old" track by mid February. What do we do to not be average? Part of this is that we don't focus enough on the process and instead look more at what we "hope" the outcome will turn out to be. Another part is that we don't switch things up enough and stay with the new routine long enough to establish new habits. I hear a lot of people "hoping" they have a great new year. What about taking control and making it happen? I think that we make choices of hope more often than decisions. Choices of hope are obviously when you "choose" to do something and hope it turns out well. It's a lucky process. Where as decisions are about thinking it through and owning it. I know that some will think there is no difference but think about it a bit more. Now what are you going to do this year that separates it from all the other years in a positive way? Furthermore, what's the process going to be to assure this happens?

All my athletes and quite a few others are currently on my cleanse plan. I certainly am enjoying the detoxing after this past holiday season! In regards to The Cleanse, it's not nearly as bad as most make it out to be. We live in a society that doesn't know what it's like to feel the slightest bit of hunger. It's actually OK to be a bit hungry. No we're not starving and we don't need to stuff our pie hole the minute we feel the slightest hunger pain. If you are doing The Cleanse, hang in there, the results are well, well worth it - trust me!

Cheers,

EH

Cheers,

EH

Jan 5th Challenge

Today, do 5 supersets X 20 reps of:

Pointer Planks
V-ups

Cheers,

EH

Jan 4th Challenge

Today, do 5 giant sets of:

push-ups (if new, do 10 reps or do 20 reps from knees, if strong already, do 20 reps w/ feet up on bench)

Squat/Shoulder Press Combo - 15 reps

Sit-ups w/ Twist - 20 reps (10 to each side)

Cheers,

EH

Jan 2nd Challenge

Back at it again today! I have much more to post and hopefully will find some time today but more than likely it'll be tomorrow. I have decided to switch the challenge to Twitter. I'll be setting this up this week at some point. For today:

5 giant sets of:

walking lunge/snatch combo (16 reps)

pointer planks (go into a standard plank position, then lift your right arm off the ground and point it straight out in front of you while simultaneously lifting your left leg off the ground, hold for a three count, return to plank position and do the left arm and right leg. This equals one rep. Do 10 reps. these are tough.)

two count toe touch stretch (bend at the waist yet keep your back flat. stretch towards the round about 6 inches in front of your toes as far as you can comfortably go and hold for a two count, come up slightly, then try to stretch a bit further again for a two count. exhale while in the lower position and try to relax. don't bounce. You can also do this in front of a step if you are very inflexible and aim to touch the step. Do 25 reps slowly.)

Cheers,

EH