=============
Introduction
=============

I’ve lifted more weights than I car to remember.

I’ve run more sprints than I think my body allowed.

I’ve logged more miles than the average human being should attempt.

I’ve trained hard and studied even harder.

I’ve prided myself on being strong, explosive and in great shape.

I use to find comfort in knowing that there were very few human
beings alive at my weight who were as strong as me.

And then my bubble got burst.

In my first trip to Europe to practice judo, I could not believe
the strength disparity between me and some of the other
competitors.

Not many of them, but a few of them.

To that point, I had never been man-handled in my life. I mean,
I’ve been beat on a couple of football plays and have been caught
out of position, but I’ve never had a man line up in front of me
and dish out an utter and complete @$$ whipping and there was
nothing that I could do about.

This happened to me in 1998 in Tata, Hungary at a judo camp.

I can remember walking off the mat in utter disbelief. So much so,
that I had to try and fight this guy again.  The second time was
worse than the first. The second time sent me to the hospital in
Hungary, followed by an immediate trip home, and then another trip
to the hospital, followed by several doctor’s appointments, MRIs,
x-rays and follow-ups for a wrist injury that put me out of judo
for 3 months and severely limited the flexing and extension of my
right wrist.

I truly am “wearing” that @$$ whipping that I took that day.

================
What I Learned That
Day…
================

I learned that there was MORE to sports. I learned that there was
more to study, more do to, more that I had to learn about training,
more that I had to learn about supplementation and more that I had
to learn about conditioning.

So I pursued everything in all the areas and I found out that
genetics plays a huge role in success and so does the acquisition
of knowledge and then I discovered that when you couple those two
things with spectacular doping practices, that Gold Medals are
possible.

Now I AM NOT SAYING THAT ALL ATHLETES THAT HAVE GOLD MEDALS USE
DRUGS!! LETS GET THAT STRAIGHT.

What I am saying is that there is a very high percentage of
athletes who have won medals at the Olympic (especially gold
medals) who are (how can I say this……let me use a biblical
word….)  unclean.

Some are unclean.

And knowing what I know now, when it comes to playing 17 games of
football a season and you (the fans) expecting your favorite
players to play and to be at the top of their game every week -
that is just UNREASONABLE.  But YOU expect it, just like I do.

We expect athletes to get banged up, knocked around and to get back
out there because they are getting “paid to do a job”. The one
thing that we don’t want to admit sometimes is that the job that
they are performing requires some tools in order to do it.  That’s
where we have a problem.

Quite honestly, I don’t really have a problem with drug use. Nor do
I call those people cheats. Just like I don’t call people who
believe in abortion “killers” or “murderers” – THAT’S NOT MY PLACE.

My job is to live my life as I see fit, set a stellar example for
my son and for my clients, to operate in such a fashion that “The
Man Upstairs” will be satisfied with my work, labor and efforts and
to make my wife happy so I can watch football on Saturday and
Sunday. That’s it.

I’m not a finger pointer, a snitch or a tattle teller.

If I’m supposed to have something, the man upstairs will make sure
that I get it.

My job is to position myself to be able to receive it.

I’ve NEVER complained when I’ve lost to a “needle leaner” because
those people have a problem that I’m glad that I don’t have.

They have self-esteem issues and they will NEVER know how good they
actually are or aren’t because they will lean on the needle for
success.  In life a “needle” or a quick fix pill or a get rich
scheme will not be available.  You will have to wake up at 5:30 am,
strap on your running shoes, put on your headphones and pound the
pavement as the pavement pounds you back.

That’s just the way it goes.

==============
Now On Another
Note
==============

Winning, ALL THE TIME, comes with a price. You must realize how
much you are willing to pay and invest in order to win and how much
you aren’t.

And you must ask yourself, if the risk is worth the reward.

These are just facts.

==============
The Bottom Line
==============

You all provided some great comments to yesterday’s email and post
and your thoughts were provoking and interesting.

Out of all the emails I received, I wanted to share this one with
you:

“Coach Ferguson, I think many people do understand that you can’t
ride 100 miles a day for a month without drugs. However, many of
these same people believe that they can achieve a muscle magazine
worthy physique by following the routine inside. I have two boys
who are extremely athletic and I hate the fact that they will be
faced with some of the performance enhancement “choices” that will
exist in the next decade.”

===============
The Key Here Is
Choice
===============

This reader understands that he has to prepare his sons to make a
QUALITY decision about their lives and about their possible
sporting careers.

Drugs aren’t good or bad.

If drugs are sitting on a table, they don’t have a voice, a
personality or an opinion.

What is bad is making a BAD DECISION about how you want to live
your life.

Understand what you stand for and what you believe in and stick to
that.

Don’t let circumstances and/or situations turn you into a CHUMP!!

http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

===========
Introduction
===========

I ran across a quote this week that I would like to share with you
that rings out true in many areas of life:

In relationships
In sports
In career choice
In financial decision

and many other areas.

The quote is the following:

“They average player would rather play than watch. Those who don’t
play can’t possibly appreciate the subleties of the game.”
- Bob Toski

This rings out so true because there are SOOOOOOO MANY
MotherChumpers in life who are “backseat drivers” and people who
are not “invested” in your life, nor do they understand the
subtleties of your situation, NOR have they ever played “the game”
which you in, BUT they are soooo quick to offer advice.

You know what we say to that?

“Chump ‘em”

“Chump ‘em all!!”

They are Chumps. Now that doesn’t mean that they don’t have good
things to offer or that they can’t give advice, but it does mean
that they can’t “appreciate the subtleties of the game” and they
need to understand that. But the problem is, or I should say, the
disconnect is this — those who don’t play the game DON’T
UNDERSTAND that their are subleties in the game that they cannot see.

For example if you are in a relationship, you REALLY don’t have any
business giving married people advice. I mean, yes, you do
understand relationships, but NO you don’t understand the subleties
of being married. So you can say some good stuff about sex,
romance, dating, etc.,. But DON’T offer advice about finances,
joint bank accounts, birth control options, etc.,. Because there
are some subleties that you don’t understand.

For example, you may be a GREAT High School Basketball coach, but
you don’t have any business coaching in the NBA. I mean, yes, you
do understand what a 3-2 defense is and you do understand man and
zone, and you even understand the game at the highest level of
“your” understanding, but their are some subtleties that you just
don’t understand.

You have to understand There are some SUBTLETIES to the game and
to the sport and to life that YOU have to admit that you just may
not know or be aware of and with that you need to temper your
advice with the wisdom of quietude and ask questions before
offering it.

==============
Now On To The Real
Deal
==============

In the upcoming weeks, the Olympic Games will be upon us once again
and we will don people as heroes, name some as cheat, make some
into champions and reduce some to a disgrace.

But whatever the case, we will do this based upon what we expect
from the competitors and from the Games.

I think that one of the biggest issues surrounding the Olympic
Games is the drug use.

And my question to you is – “Do you really care if people use drugs
to enhance their athletic ability?” And the reason that I ask is
because soooooo many people want to see extraordinary feats by
human beings and to be quite honest with you, the companies that
back, support and sponsor the Olympic Games only do so because
people watch the Games. And I really want to know if people would
watch the Olympics if the people on the television looked like and
had the athleticism of their next door neighbor?

I think people pay to see freaks and that’s what the world delivers
to them.

My conversation is not about fair. I KNOW THAT DRUG USE IS UNFAIR.
That’s not my argument nor the topic of discussion that I’m
proposing. My question is this “Do you really CARE if people use
drugs to enhance their athletic ability?”

I know many of you are smart people. And with that being said, I’m
sure you don’t REALLY believe that that many people can do the Tour
De France without a significant amount of drug use.

So please provide your input by replying to this email or replying
to the blog post at http://www.CoachFerguson.com

Thank you. And we will have a hearty discussion on the topic for
the next 3 to 5 days.

Ole Coach is very interested in your position on the issue.

=============
Closing
=============

STOP CHUMPING AROUND — http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

And GET IT TODAY!!

D@mn! What are you waiting for? Get with the program. >:-|

Ole Coach.

http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

===========
Introduction
===========

Look, I’ve done it all.

I’ve walked up to women and asked, “So when are you due?” thinking that they were pregnant and damn near got beat to death.

The crazy think is that I was trying to be nice.

Who knew that they were carrying so much ‘extra’ that they looked like they were pregnant.

I’ve also been on the cell phone in the airport talking and said, “You know, I just believe that being over-weight is a sin.” This statement didn’t sit well with the people listening in to my conversation.

I’ve also been on several airplane flights where the person next to me had their whole body ‘overflowing’ into my seat and they were sweating profusely to the point where I was getting their ‘juices’ on me. NOT COOL!.

Now, I must admit. I’ve made some mistakes and been in some situations where my I couldv’e certainly been “smoother around the edges”. I’m not saying that I don’t make errors.

I certainly have.

I certainly do.

And I will probably again.

But I can tell you this.

What I KNOW THAT I HAVE IS PASSION!!

Many of you know of health concerns that the individuals in my extended and immediate family have suffered from and many of you are aware that their problems have been doggone near eliminated through the elimination of fat!

My father went from 265 pounds to a right and tight 224 pounds and he’s planning on finishing doing his 3rd half marathon this year.

My mother completed her 1st half marathon too (I’d like to tell you how much she lost but good ole mom won’t tell me how much she weighs)

Last year at this same time I weighed 241 pounds and now I’m chilling at a right and tight 220 pounds. (And I’m working at getting to 212. (when I get down there, I’ll be sure to send pictures).

What I’m saying is this……

==============
Do Yourself A Favor
==============

Many people are dying unnecessarily because they refuse to impose healthy eating habits.

We are ALL going to die. That part we can’t control, but we can control how we live.

Let’s not live life huffing and puffing to walk up a flight of stairs or live life breathing heavy before after and during sex and worse yet, not being able to perform with your mate at all.

Let’s not live life loathing the times when we have to bend over to tie our shoes.

Let’s not live life where we have to eat so much that its necessary for us to unbutton our pants so that we can BREATHE!

Let’s get it together good people.

Let’s stop walking around with these “kangaroo pouches” and start walking around with our six packs. we’ve got ‘em. All we have to do is show ‘em.

So whaddya say?

===============
But, Rhadi, it’s so
hard
===============

Yeah, I know its hard, but its harder making your loved ones watch you suffer from diabetes, heart disease, and ailments that are directly and indirectly related to your weight gain or lack of weight loss, healthy eating and exercise.

So PLEASE help me help you. I want you to get the help that you need. If you need someone to talk to, please give me a call or send me an email and set up a phone consultation.

If you are ready to go right now and start on the path of getting in shape today then let me tell you what to do:

=================
If you are a BEGINNER
=================

If you are a beginner, you NEED to start out with The BackYard Workout ( http://www.TheBackYardWorkout.net ). This product comes with a free 1/2 hour consultation and it comes with the world’s easiest d~iet. This is where you need to start and what you need to do to start getting of that Kangaroo Pouch and start working towards that six-pack

==================
If you have some workout
and resistance training
experience….
===================

If you have workout experience you really need to use my workout called “Working Out With Rhadi: The At-Home Workout”

This is the ULTIMATE No Space, No Money, No Time, No Equipment workout. It is f.r.e.e. and you only pay for shipping. You can get it here at http://www.TheBodyWeightWorkout.com

==================
For the Novice to the
Expert
==================

If you want a workout that you can do at home and you have some equipment at home or you enjoy working out at the gym then this is the workout for you. This is also the workout that you want to get if you are a personal trainer or coach. You can really have your team and/or your clients rockin’ and rollin’ with this one and its dynamite for personal use too. This is the TOTAL BODY WORKOUT! You can get it here at http://www.TheTotalBodyWorkout.com

=================
If you want more strength
and more flexibility then
this is the one you want…
==================

If you are looking for more functional strength and more active flexibility then Maximum Dumbell Training is what you are looking for. Also is you are a BIG FAN of Kettlebells, then this is the DVD for you. The same exercises that you use for the Dumbbell you can use for the Kettlebell. So if you are looking to spice up your Kettlebell workout and gain more flexibility then this is what you need –> http://www.MaximumDBTraining.com

=======
Closing
=======

So please, take a stand today and make a decision if you want a Kangaroo Pouch or a Six Pack?

Make a Great Decision Today and Get A Better Looking (and more healthy) body tomorrow.

(if you don’t do it for me and if you don’t do it for yourself, please do it for your family. Please?)

Take care,

Rhadi Ferguson
2004 Olympian
4-Time National Judo Champion
World Class Strength Coach

P.S. I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to read my emails and provide me with some great feedback. I absolutely love helping you and serving you. If there is anything that I can do for you or if there are any questions that you have, please visit http://www.AskRhadi.com or please reply to this email and let me know your concerns. Thank you.

========
Introduction
========

For those of you who don’t know, I have a 2 year-old son and he goes to a pre-school slash daycare type facility and every once in a while I poke my head in there to see what’s going on.

I don’t call, I don’t say nothing. I just buss up in there and observe.

One day, the lady at the desk said, “Uh, Mr. Ferguson, we would appreciate it, if you would give us a heads up before you come, that way we can get prepared.”

I told her, “Ma’am, that’s precisely the point why I don’t call. I don’t want you to get prepared, I want you to BE PREPARED at all times.”

Y’all know that you gotta walk up in there sometimes to make sure they’re treating your kid alright.

And for those parents, who just don’t pop up at the school or the daycare center, please make that your BUSINESS to do so. A half-a-day off of work is worth you looking after your most important investment.

Can I get an Amen?

============
Now, Onto the
Matter at Hand
============

I am sick and muthachumpin’ tired of the the Itsy Bitsy Spider (also know in some circles as the “Eensy Weensy Spider”. At this particular point, I couldn’t give a sh—if that lil’ muthachumper went up the damn water spout or not.

I canNOT take another line of that song. Or I think that I can’t.

That is until my son hollers out, “Daddy!!!!” with is two thumbs and his forefingers together ready for me to begin the song – ALONG with the choreography.

And don’t act like you don’t know the choreography.

Without the choreography it’s only half-a-song!!

So, instead of fighting the “eensy weensies” I decided to take hold of the experience and since I’m writing my dissertation, I thought that I’d just go on ‘head and get Doctoral with it and break down this “eensy weensiness” as is needs to be.

So I imagined myself in front of a room full of people giving a speech and here’s what I said……..

=====================
The Eensy Weensy Spider:
An Examination In Readiness
=====================

Greetings Ladies and Gentlemen:

This evening I come to you not with pomp or circumstance, nor will arrogance or conceit.

I come to you not to tell you of the medals I’ve won, the accolades that I’ve acquired or the ribbons that have been pinned to my chest. I’m not here to tell you about the teachings of Aristotle, Pythagoras, Akhenaten, Dr. King, Ghandi or Buddha.

I’m here to tell you about something that you may, as I thought at one time was beneath me. Something so small that I missed it and now that I’m older I can see it.

I’m here to prove to you that the mountain to the climber is actually clearer from the plain and that after we step back and away from a thing, we can actually see what that thing has to offer.

I’m here to talk to you today about the message that I received from a Spider.

A spider with no-name, but whose name is known all over the world. I’m here to talk to you about……

(and I would sit here for a moment and pause parenthetically to have them on the edge of their seat as I provide them with a cognitive form of foreplay and then I’d say….)

I’m here to provide you with a lesson from a spider that you know very well, but its not Spiderman, it’s the EENSY WEENSY SPIDER.

You see, the “eensy weensy spider went up the water spout, and as he was traveling he encountered some rain in his life and it damn near wiped him out, and then the sunshine came out and it dried up all the rain and the eensy weensy spider, went up the spout again.”

Now when I sat back and I looked at this thing I thought to myself, “How many times have we tried to climb the ladder of success only to have a rain-type situation come and wipe damn near everything out?”

Many of us have. And we know plenty of people who have been washed out and subsequently washed away.

Every four years at the Olympic Trials, I see people who think that their dreams are going to be realized on that day of the Olympic Trials and their hopes are dashed out and washed away. And they don’t understand that their sun, isn’t going to come out “tomorrow” as Annie said in the great musical.

You see, that is a farce. Sometimes, you gotta hang in the cut, and wait for the sun to come out when it gets ready and then you have to wait for the terrain of life to ‘dry up’ so that you can get your footing and then you have to proceed with – with your climb. A lot of us think that the “sun with come out tomorrow.” But that’s not the key ladies and gentlemen.

The lesson from the eensy weensy spider is that the sun will come out, but you got to wait on it and your job is not to try to rush the sun (oh, I know my church folks are with me) – your job is to be ready when the sun “dries up all the rain.”

You can’t be hanging around the corner with your lips locked onto a bottle of Maddog 20/20 or cupped around some weed, because you are going to miss your opportunity to be ready when the “sun dries up all the rain.”

And you can’t be around talking and bullsmithing, because you will miss your window of opporunity when, “the sun dries up all the rain.”

You can’t be half-stepping, shuckin’ and jivin’ and playin’ attention, instead of paying attention, because you won’t be ready when, “the sun dries up all the rain.”

And you can’t be focusing on your rained out experience and because you’ll miss the sun when it comes out and you won’t be ready when, “the sun dries up all the rain.”

Because I KNOW YOU’VE GOT SENSE ENOUGH TO UNDERSTAND THAT IT WILL RAIN AGAIN!!!

The issue is to make sure you can get to the top and beat the rain, and to understand that if you don’t’ beat the rain, it’s okay because you now have another opportunity to work on your climbing ability.

Okay, now, “Out came the sun and dried up all the rain and the eensy weensy spider went up the spout again.”

Bad things happen.

It rains.

It doesn’t rain forever – (and from what I understand, never in Southern California so….)

Stay in the “climbing mindset” and as the good book says, “Be ye also ready” because you just don’t know when the son is coming out (for my church folks Matthew 24:44).

And that my dear friends is the lesson that we completely ran past from the “Eensy Weensy Spider”.

==========
Closing
==========

I guess that’s what I’d I’ve learned about the “Eensy Weensy Spider”. And I think I had to get into it on that level to know that I wasn’t just nor am I just singing a nursery rhyme to my son. But what I’m doing is hammering home a life lesson to him that will lie dormant in his mind as the lesson of the “eensy weensy” spider laid dormant in mind until I had my personal awakening experience.

So now, I am no longer tired of the “eensy weensy” spider, because I am not tired of learning and I understand that one of the keys to success is REPETITION.

Now, just like you ran past that lesson, I guarantee you that you ran past many lessons by not picking up Chump Repellent. If you know that there is power in having an “eensy weensy” experience and you need to make sure that you are “also” ready.

Because you do understand that the use of the word “also” implies that somebody else is already ready!! So don’t’ let that person get the edge on you. Get Chump Repellent right now. It’s a very inexpensive way to learn some expensive “eensy weensy” life lessons.
–> http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

Take care,

Rhadi Ferguson (a.k.a. “Coach Ferguson)

P.S. Please don’t hurt yourself, help yourself and get Chump Repellent today — http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

Today is one of my favorite dates.

I also really dig when my digital clock reads 12:34

I’m not sure why, but I am sure why I like 7/11

I reminds me of the craps table in Las Vegas!!

Have you ever just stood around the craps table at a casino?

If you never have, I’d encourage you to do it.

It has to be one of the funniest things ever.

Why?

Well let me tell you.

==============
Don’t Pass Off Luck
As Skill And Vice Versa
==============

If you’ve ever been on at the craps table, the funniest thing that you will see is people setting up the dice before they roll them.

Why is this silly?
Well, they actually believe that this is going to some how affect the parametrics of the probability tree of the dice. There is no “luck” at the craps table, only people who understand probability and respect possibility.

But you will see people there who actually think that they can ‘beat’ the game.

The only person who wins in Craps is the house (meaning the hotel).

You can get “lucky” but there is no skill in craps. There’s only skill in understanding probability.

And the probability that you are going to win each and every time that you play is VERY low and the possibility is very unlikely. But the HOUSE wins each and every night.

So what in the hell does this mean?

This means – STOP GAMBLING!!!!

Many of you are gambling with your lives, with you careers, with your families and with your sport.

Stop gambling.

If you NEED to eat 5-7 small meals a day to keep your diet on point, the damnit – do that. Don’t try, do it! Otherwise you are gambling with your career.

If you NEED to be at work at 7:15am then leave your house early, and act as if you know there will be a traffic jam, that way you can greatly reduce the probability of showing up late.

If you NEED to spend more time with your significant other then do that, because if you don’t – BELIEVE ME WHEN I TELL YOU THAT YOU ARE GAMBLING!! (please take that piece of advice as being soooo serious)

If you NEED to drop a few pounds so that you can get back in those skinny jeans, then please do that. Because risking your life on a Donut, a Hot Pocket and a piece of pizza just ain’t worth it.

Stop Gambling!

The probability of you being a champion in every area of your life is high if you can invoke disicipline in your life. If you can’t invoke discipline, then you with be forever relegated to the realm of CHUMPITUDE!!

Don’t be a Chump.

Champions do what needs to be done when it needs to be done.

If you have something that you REALLY need to do, do me a favor…….JUST DO IT!!!!

Take care Chumps and Champs (you know who you are),

Rhadi Ferguson (a.k.a. “Coach Ferguson”)

P.S. Remember what I said, “Being ignorant is really not a luxury at all. There is nothing better than knowing more so that you can apply more to your life. Learn more about yourself, your life and how you can do better, be better, and get better today by eliminating the Chump Moments out of your life”

–> http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

==============
Introduction
==============

YOU ARE DUMB!!!!

Get that through your skull you numb nut!

And the sooner you recognize this- the better off you will be.

As I get older I have to admit that my parents seem to get ‘smarter’. And it’s only because now I see how much I really didn’t and still don’t know.

One of the keys to becoming more learned and more intelligent is accepting the fact that there are some things that YOU JUST DO NOT KNOW!

And in accepting that fact, you understand the importance and infusing some diversity in terms of thought to your behavior processes. I spoke about this on the blog post 2 days ago in my post “Diversity Is Not A Choice”.

It seems that many of us want to continue to walk around with this homogenous thought process by sitting down, around and amongst people who are think like we do and are really just as *DUMB* as we are.

==============
Get Some Perspective
==============

The next time someone has a disagreement with you or the next time you run into someone who really doesn’t like you. Ask them two simple questions:

(1) Why don’t you like me?

And (2) Do you REALLY know me?

And if the answer to question number 2 is no (and most often it is), then tell the person, “How can you say you don’t like me and you don’t really KNOW ME!?!?”

What they probably mean is that they don’t like some of the stuff that you do because IT’S NOT WHAT THEY WOULD DO, but that is because in their mind they have assumed and taken a cognitive supremacist posture of RIGHTNESS and have likened their thought processes to the “TRUTH” and have relegated how you think to being “incorrect”. And *they* can do this when they are in the majority and you are in the minority.

This is why I spoke to you in the blog post titled “The Luxury Of Ignorance” about surrounding yourself with good quality people. So not only do you have to surround yourself with GOOD quality people, these people need to also have some diversity in their thinking so that you can be clear in your actions, exemplary in your behavior and outstanding in your deportment.

You see good people… Ole Coach wants you to be better today than you were yesterday and better tomorrow than you are today.

That’s only possible if your accept change as a possibility and become a change agent as well.

So there is no Luxury in Being Ignorant and Diversity Is Not An Option, if you want to be successful.

Only the CHUMPS hang around the same people, who think the same way, and believe the same thing they do and think that it’s okay.

=============
Obama And McCain
=============

Only the idiots watch one candidate and just catch snippets of another one on CNN and Headline News.

Look you MUST watch Obama just like you watch McCain.

You MUST read Ann Coulter and Michael Moore

You have to listen to Farrakhan and O’Reilly

You DON’T HAVE TO agree with everyone, but if you do DISAGREE (and I’m begging you) PLEASE AT LEAST KNOW WHAT IN THE HELL YOU ARE DISAGREEING WITH!!!

Do Not Assume a position of rightness without the right information.

You Do Not Have The Luxury Of Being Ignorant.

That, is a luxury neither you nor I can afford.

It is a LUXURY for CHUMPS!

Ole Coach wants you to be around for a long time and the only way to do that is for you to get on the right track and off the wrong one today.

Living In The Lap Of Luxury,

Rhadi Ferguson (a.k.a. “Coach Ferguson”)

P.S. Remember what I said yesterday, “Being ignorant is really not a luxury at all. There is nothing better than knowing more so that you can apply more to your life. Learn more about yourself, your life and how you can do better, be better, and get better today by eliminating the Chump Moments out of your life”

–> http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

===========
Introduction
===========

People who have read my blog for months on in say that I too obsessed with obesity and weight gain, but to be honest with you, I’m really not.

However, I do find it socially irresponsible (in many instances) to be overweight.

How and Why?

Well I’m glad you asked.

============
First, It’s Selfish
============

Look, when I’m on the airplane and your @$$ takes up all of your seat and half of mine, that is just irresponsible and barring a serious medical issue – you can fix that.

And…… .you, most likely have loved ones who are going to miss you being around because you are unnecessarily taking years off of your life because you are STILL stopping at Taco Bell, McDonalds, Burger King, Wendy’s and In-and-Out Burger.

Stop thinking about yourself and think about others. We want to help you. The question is – “DO YOU WANT HELP?”

============
Second, It Just Isn’t Healthy
============

You can listen to all the PLUS SIZE models you want baby.

You can go to Monique’s website and listen to her talk about being pleasantly plump.

You can go wherever you want and read whatever you want to read that will make you feel good, but HERE’S THE TRUTH –

THE NUMBER ONE PREDICTOR FOR LIVING LONG IS BEING LEAN!!

Period.

Write it down. Take a picture. Do whatever you want to do.

The bottom line is being overweight is not healthy.

I want to help you, but that is only if you want help. If you want help, the first you need is NOT a diet, or a workout plan. You need some resolve to stop being a motherchumpin’ CHUMP!! You gotta get real and understand that you need to make two changes from the neck up.

One is in your thinking and the other is in your eating. Period.

============
Third, It Is Not
Sexy!!
============

Believe me when I tell you that a human body drippin’ with Crisco is not sexy. At all!!!

Yeah, I know some people like ‘em thick. But if I there’s a difference between Prime Rib and a plate full of Fat.

The Prime Rib has a little bit of fat next to the meat to make it tasty and it has some good nutritional content.

Not even a dog will eat a plate of fat.

I don’t want you to be skinny or get skinny. I’m not saying that. What I’m saying is that I want you to get healthy and to be socially responsible.

=============
Fourth, But Not Least
=============

Although you don’t recognize it. It is a hindrance in your relationship.

Believe me.

Lose a couple of pounds and watch your sex life skyrocket and your appreciation for your partner increase.

============
Want Some Help?
============

The Total Body Workout – http://www.TheTotalBodyWorkout.com

The BackYard Workout – http://www.TheBackYardWorkout.net

The BodyWeight Workout – http://www.TheBodyWeightWorkout.com

Get it and go for it!!!

============
Closing
============

Ole Coach wants you to be around for a long time and the only way to do that is for you to get on the right track and off the wrong one today.

Sincerely,

Rhadi Ferguson (a.k.a. “Coach Ferguson”)

P.S. Remember what I said yesterday, “Being ignorant is really not a luxury at all. There is nothing better than knowing more so that you can apply more to your life. Learn more about yourself, your life and how you can do better, be better, and get better today by eliminating the Chump Moments out of your life”

–> http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

============
Introduction
============

The word DIVERSITY ushers in many thoughts in the minds of readers.

Some immediately think about quotas, affirmative action, white and black, race, prejudice, reverse racism, justice, reparations and a host of other thoughts.

I’m here to *talk* to you about diversity as a coach.

When I talk about diversity, I’m not talking about any of the above or aforementioned things because quite frankly, discussion about such things do promote great dialogue but they also promote a whole heluva lot of divisiveness and that is not what I’m here to do.

When I speak about diversity what I’m really talking about is tolerance and being DIVERSE in your thinking and with your thought processes.

So let’s begin.

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How To Become
The Best: The Diverse
Approach
=============

What made Bruce Lee such a phenomenal martial artist is that he accepted all the martial arts and their short comings. He accepted all the philosophical approaches and injected them into his system and compartmentalized them in such a fashion that even in their weaknesses, they had some strength if utilized at the right time AND IF recognized and accepted as strengths.

Today as coaches, one of the biggest errors that I see being made in sport is that people are not diverse in their coaching. They believe in “their way” and assess other coaching models, not on their own merit, but in comparison to their model. Which creates and internal bias and thus doesn’t allow for one to experience everything that others have to offer.

In life, the best thing that we can do as coaches, trainers and athletes is to assume a mental and cognitive posture of diversity and diversify our MENTAL PORTFOLIO by making some investments in different coaching styles and different approaches.

===========
The Beauty of
Mixed Martial Arts
===========

For those of you who don’t know what Mixed Martial Arts is, it is the fastest growing sport right now globally and it is a sport where practitioners utilize a myriad of techniques, styles and martial arts to compete in a sporting context.

This is such a great sport because right off the bat is encourages DIVERSITY. If you ever have a chance to watch such an event, please do so. You will notice that there are all types of people fighting, all types of people in the stands and all types of people watching, because the sport itself breeds a diverse way of thinking and a diverse approach.

=============
Closing
=============

So today, as you go about your day, understand that there is a huge benefit in bouncing ideas off of others, hearing other people’s perspective, being tolerant and accepting so that you can make sound decisions which are based upon a diverse way of thinking.

Remember yesterday’s blog post where I wrote about the Luxury of Ignorance? Well, accepting a diverse way of thinking is great because it makes you understand that being ignorant really isn’t a luxury that neither you nor I can afford you to have.

Take care,

Rhadi Ferguson (a.k.a. “Coach Ferguson”)

P.S. Being ignorant is really not a luxury at all. There is nothing better than knowing more so that you can apply more to your life. Learn more about yourself, your life and how you can do better, be better, and get better today by eliminating the Chump Moments out of your life  http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

==========
Introduction
==========

Sometimes don’t you just wish you could be a kid again?

I know that I do.

My son has the greatest life ever.

He eats, he pisses and he shits ANNNNNNNDDDD he gets to do it whenever he wants.

He doesn’t even have to be removed from what he’s doing in order to piss.

You know, like when we’re doing something or mid-conversation, we have to excuse ourselves to go piss. This little fella can play-n-piss at the same time. I mean his life is great!!

And believe me, when you don’t have to wipe your own @$$, that is a great life. Just imagine if you could walk around with a butt-wiper all day at your side. You’d be the envy of all of your friends, or at least me.

But that really isn’t the best part of being young. What’s cool is that you can get away with stuff that people just can’t get away with because you operate under the “Luxury of Ignorance”.

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The Luxury Of
Ignorance
===========

The luxury of ignorance is when you have the luxury or the ability to get away with things or do things because you just “don’t know any better.” While this is a reasonable and superficially plausible for children is it undeniably irresponsible and unacceptable for adults, but WE STILL TRY TO GET AWAY WITH IT!! 

Here’s how I know.

The police officer pulls you over and you say, “Oh, Mr. Officer, I didn’t see that stop sign there.”

Well, just because you didn’t see it, doesn’t mean that you didn’t run it.

Or how about this one, “Well, I didn’t know I wasn’t supposed to drink that?” (Well, MOFO did you ask!?!?!?)

Or how about, “Well, the reason why I didn’t talk to you about it is because I didn’t want you to influence my thinking.” (Noooo, you didn’t want me to tell you why this is possibly not a good idea).

Whatever the situation, you can see that the phrase, “We all have a little kid inside of us that is just dying to get out” is kinda true. The bad part is this, that kid doesn’t need to be here. All the kids that need to be here are here and they grow up because that’s what little kids are supposed to do.

They are supposed to grow up and be responsible adults.

It is so sad, when adults try to operate under the luxury of ignorance. But it happens and it happens a lot, especially when people try to abdicate themselves of responsibility or if they just don’t want to know or be told about what it is that they know.

===============
Here’s What Happened
To Me
===============

I got a call past weekend from a coaching colleague who told me about this client that he was having problems with. He didn’t tell me the name because he wanted to keep everything confidential, but he came to me because he was really trying to find a solution for his client. He told me that the client deliberately held some information from him and only divulged the information after the client did what the client should have had a conversation about doing. My colleague was upset.

He said, “Rhadi, what do I do?”

I told him, “In the beginning of our coaching relationship with our client, we are like first responders or paramedics that show up to a car accident. We get to the scene, we assess the scene, and then we try to figure out if this is a case that we can take or if this situation is a ‘dead one’ that we can’t fix. (Sometimes saying that a situation is ‘dead’ is based upon whether you want to save the client or not or if you want to let someone else do it. Every client ain’t for you, but that’s another story) And we try to do everything to stabilize the situation so that we can make it to the emergency room and fix the MAJOR problems first.”

I continued, “Then after that, we become seatbelts, where our clients understand that they must keep us ‘buckled in’ for safety so that we can PREVENT accidents from happening. In strength and conditioning it’s the same thing when we have a client who is recovering from an injury. They have rehab, strength development and then prehab training modalities. Now please understand that the seatbelt CANNOT stop your client from getting in an accident (thus the definition of accident), BUT it can increase the likelihood of the least amount of damage occurring.”

He said, “Wow, Rhadi, I never heard it put that way.”

I then continued and said, “What you seem to have here is a client who wants to joyride, speed, and not wear their seatbelt. To be honest with you, YOU don’t need any clients like that. Because WHEN they crash, not if, but when because every one of us who DRIVES has been or will be in an accident – the public will look at you as having failed. Because from a distance, no one knows if they have on their seatbelt or not, all they know is that they are taking driving lessons from YOU! You have to let them go.”

He replied, “Let them go? Ferg, how am I going to replace them? I mean sometimes clients want to feel a sense of autonomy. They want to feel like they’ve got it and they want to operate without outside influence or restraint. I want my clients, as you do, to be able to operate without me sooner or later.”

===============
Click It Or Ticket
===============

I replied, “That part, my friend, I understand. What you and I understand is that ALL OF US have seatbelts in our lives and you will act as your clients until they decide that they want to drive another car. But as long as they are in THIS CAR they must use the seatbelt which is in it. Once they no longer want to do that, then they need to hand over the keys and drive elsewhere. That’s the bottom line. SAFETY FIRST! And with that safety, I mean your career safety and their safety in terms of what’s in their best interest. Hey, people trade-in cars, return them and wreck them all the time. Don’t take it personal when they give you the keys back or you have to take them. Remember, they are paying to drive, but it’s still YOUR CAR. I think that your client wants to operate with the luxury of ignorance. They want to have comfort in not knowing. And while that is good from a religious standpoint, it is certainly not something to be ‘exercised’ as an option for self-governance.”

We ended the talk with him saying, “Ferg, you are the coaches’ coach brother. Thanks for the insight, well both I and my family thank you because this doesn’t just impact me it impact my family, my time and my business. I guess, I’m going to have to take my keys back.”

To which I replied, “I didn’t TELL you to do that. But I think it’s definitely a conversation that you need to have. If you find out that your client is looking at taking the seatbelt off more often then you need to let them go, if not, then just give ‘em a ‘ticket’”

============
Closing
============

There are so many aspects to being successful that you just can put your finger on one, but if I had to put my finger on one and was asked which thing has been and which thing that I believe is the most important thing for success, it would have to be ‘hands-down’ making sure that you are surrounded by the right kind of people. If you are riding in the back of a car one day and you find yourself surrounded by a bunch of dummies, you have problem. If you find yourself surrounded by a couple of people who you look up to and want to mirror, then you’ve done a good job by placing yourself in good company. Good company is hard to find and sometimes expensive, but the investment in people pays itself back in a major way.
Take care,

Coach Ferguson

P.S. I know that I’ve been gone for a while, but OLE COACH is back baby!!! Ole Coach has been coaching his ass off and now he’s back in business.

P.P.S. The year is coming to a close and you still have time to accomplish all of your New Year’s Resolutions that you made in January, but only if you go back over your list and start doing what needs to be done now. To get yourself back on track, what you need is a little dose of Chump Repellent. I’m telling you right now that it will inspire you and get you on track to end the year with a BANG!!!  http://www.ChumpRepellent.com

P.P.P.S. If you are a chump, that’s even more of a reason to get Chump Repellent and if you ain’t no chump, get it anyway. You may be operating under the luxury of ignorance. You may be a chump and not know it and this can possibly be stopping you from achieving all that you want in life. So get Chump Repellent today  http://www.ChumpRepellent.com