Strength for Life

There's Strength in Seeking Support

My book is out... Wooo...

Now comes the harder part, getting people to pick it up. Oh yes, and open it.

At moments I think I'd rather be Houdini—less challenging. And as anyone who knows me, knows, it's not my strength to seek support. Hence the reason why it was an amazing feeling to find the following email my wife, Angie, had sent out to many, many friends.

It's not easy to ask for help but as part of my conditioning program, I'm asking you to help me, and help yourself: Buy a Copy of Strength for Life. I'd tell you why you must but once you open it, you'll know immediately why.

ANGIE'S EMAIL :

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Dear friends and family -

I need your help... more in a moment.

As most of you are well aware, the last year of our lives (besides
welcoming our new daughter, Lilly, and enjoying our son Nathaniel) has
been dedicated to Shawn's new book, "Strength For Life," which is to
be officially released from Random House's Ballantine Books next week.

This work of passion took Shawn nearly 2 years to write, beyond the
40 plus years that he needed to compile the wisdom. I believe this is
undoubtedly his magnum opus.

What’s Red, White and Green Allover?

"Sometimes I just think funny things."

That's one of my favorite lines from Arthur, starring the late Dudley Moore.

Seriously, this blog/joke just popped into my head this morning while I was in the midst of a nation wide radio tour.

The answer: my new book, Strength for Life.

It’s read (okay, "red" – is it any wonder this is a better joke when told?) from cover to cover by anyone who dares read page 1.

That much I’ve confirmed today. There were a couple hosts who just "mailed it in," assuming the book to be just "another fitness" book. Ahhhh... They had to do--and I think they got a different vibe when we spoke though. They may be reading it now.

But what I confirmed was that anyone who gave a chance—who even got into page 1 nearly devoured the book.

It’s white... that one’s easy. The paper, of course. But what about the Green?

What’s green about Strength for Life?

It’s green because it’s NOT a waste of precious paper. It’s not a bunch of filler and fluff produced simply to capitalize on a moment of fame or a TV show. It’s not the work of the “usual cast” of characters who ghost write most fitness books.

I admit to trying to use some “professional help” to write this... for a while. I can tell you know, that was a BIG mistake. With a "standard" fitness writer this book was headed towards the "usual results." The same paper thin message—with no heart and soul.

Instead, I opted for the real thing, painstakingly pouring my life and passion into Strength for Life—taking it one important line at a time, distilling the wisdom until it sparkled  with clarity and life.

I’m excited for you to experience it.

Passion Pay Off In Ways You Can Not Expect

For the last 40 years of my life I’ve been working on my Magnum opus—the book that would hold my entire body of fitness, nutrition and motivational wisdom. For the better part of the last 2 years it’s been the primary focus of my life—outside family.

In 7 brief days this work titled Strength for Life will land on the shelves of book stores across the nation. There’s most certainly satisfaction in this accomplishment. When you pour your heart and soul into a work as I have this book, you quietly hope for some level of reward. Of course, you always hope for a significant impact—that many people read it and act on it.

Yet it is ultimately about making a difference.

What has surprised me is that the most deeply satisfying moments of reward have been totally unexpected. For instance, just last evening I received an email from Nathaniel Branden in which he shared some wonderful praise for my book, Strength for Life.

Now, if you don’t know who Nathaniel Branden is, you might know Ayn Rand and from there you could uncover a part of his early life connection. But far beyond his relationship with the author of Atlas Shrugged, Nathaniel is a brilliant writer and psychologist. I’ve read a number of his books and they sit atop my list for brilliant, transformational text... among them The Six Pillars of Self Esteem.

Perhaps you know his work—perhaps you will now consider exploring his work. I do know his work and have known of the man for many, many years. And when I received this email—a PhD sharing thoughts on a book with reference to a bench press, mind you—I was unexpectedly thrilled.

Honestly, I was happy to contact Nathaniel and very pleased when he agreed to take a look at my new book. But I never considered how it would impact me to receive an email like this:

Dear Shawn,

"This exciting and inspiring book is a brilliant integration of body, mind, and spirit—and of strength and psychological well-being. I personally found it instantly energizing. It deserves all the praise it will doubtless get."

--Nathaniel Branden, Ph.D, author of "The Six Pillars of Self-esteem" & "The Art of Living Consciously."

Like so many things in life, the greatest pleasures come to you, without expectations, as a result of that which you do to express your passion and unique ability—not exclusively for self reward.

How Blogging is Like Training

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “How do I get maximum results from my workouts in the least amount of time?”

If the over-the-top promises that grace nearly every page and cover of health and fitness magazines are any indicator (and you know they are), this is THE driving obsession in fitness and beyond.

“How to get the most for the least investment,” is clearly thinking in no way exclusive to fitness.

I found myself (once again) inspired by a brilliant response on a parallel topic on Seth Godin’s blog. In response to a question about how to turn a blog into a profit center, Seth explained the most likely and most deserving of profit are not those seeking to blog for profit but those who are truly expressing their passion and sharing well-earned wisdom. I

It’s the blogging not for profit or personal gain but because they want to—they enjoy it. Of many brilliant lines, this one stood out for me: Seth says, “The results kick in when you least care about them.”

Right on!

And guess what... same thing goes for training—for fitness. Seth's thoughts on the subject are in perfect alignment with what I write about the subject of motivation and sticking with fitness in my new book, Strength for Life.  

 

The Man In Grey Loses A Few…

Enjoying some much needed downtime in a busy day the man in grey pinstripes picks up the phone to reconnect with an old and dear friend. On the third ring his friend answers, “Hello.”

“Alex. It’s Jim. How’s things with you?,” the man in grey says.

After a few minutes of small talk, Alex says, “I’m really going great. Thanks… and how about you? Things good for you?”

The man in grey answers, “You know, doing alright. Best thing is I’ve lost about 30 pounds in the last year and I’m really feeling great, physically.”

“Wow! Good for you… been dieting?,” asks Alex. 

“No diet—it’s actually been really easy. I’ve just been eating three very portion controlled meals every day, basically box-meals that I have same times every day. It’s no smorgasbord but I’ve learned to make the best of it all and the weight loss is a big upside.”

“Oh! You’re doing that meal ‘System’ thing?,” asks Alex.

“Oh no. Actually, I’m in federal prison,” replies the man in grey pinstripes just as a distant third voice comes over the phone saying, “This call is being made from a federal correctional institute…”

Moral is there are benefits to not being in control. Fact is some people need to hand over the power and control to another. For some it’s every aspect of their lives, for others it’s their nutrition.

As hard as it may be to believe, some people can’t handle freedom!

For those who can, there’s Full Strength.

Knowledge Informs; Wisdom Transforms

In 1597 Sir Francis Bacon gave words to the belief that “knowledge is power” and for the last four decades man has sought knowledge, often in the service of power.

Can knowledge deliver? Few have thought to question these words.

I contend that today knowledge is both overvalued and overserved—and that it’s not actually knowledge we are after but something much more…something richer and more transformative.

In this information age, knowledge is as plentiful as fast food, wisdom as precious as a home cooked meal. Knowledge is mindlessly poured into troughs; wisdom preciously served one ladle at a time with delight. Knowledge is like grape juice, wisdom a fine wine. They share common roots but one is squeezed and frozen the other fermented in the finest oak.

Knowledge, after all, is quite literally “information” where wisdom is knowledge through the lens of real-life experience, concentrated to what matters—it has meaning and calls to action.

Recently, when asked what inspired my new book, Strength for Life, about why I was compelled to write this body of work, wisdom is at the heart of my answer. For certainly there is a considerable abundance of knowledge fitness, nutrition and transformation but a disturbing shortage of wisdom on the subjects.

You see, it’s knowledge we have, but wisdom we seek. Knowledge informs; wisdom transforms. Knowledge gives you the rules of the game—only wisdom empowers you to change it.

This sort of game changing impact—the difference wisdom makes—can be witnessed in a new service my friend Brian Johnson has just launched call, PhilosophersNotes.com.

Brian is a man on a personal mission of discovery which is shares by skillfully distilling wisdom from the leading leadership and personal development books of today and of any day. Rest assured it’s wisdom that you will find generously served here.

The sort of wisdom that could only be revealed by a true modern day Philosopher passionately pursuing greatness in service to the world. If you’ve ever wished you could read more, ever wondered how to keep up with the latest business and development books, PhilosophersNotes can change your life.

My advice? Step on! Take this ride of a lifetime with Brian and invigorate your own passionate search for truth and wisdom.