Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Archive Article - Why I Love My Job (October 2009)

 
Most of you reading this have been to ASF. You are an athlete, a coach, a parent, a boot camp killer. For those of you who have not, this still applies.
"Love what you do and you will never work another day in your life"....I forgot who originally said that, but it certainly holds true for me. Stick with me for a couple of minutes as I go over my personal reasons for doing what I do....you may even agree with a couple that apply to your vocation.

1) I can't get it out of my system. The "it" I am referring to is athletics, sport, competition, physicality. I know the power of playing sports and the lessons that go along with it. Opening ASF allows me to give back to young athletes some of the same lessons that I learned growing up with sports as my platform.

2) I don't want to work for someone! Plain and simple. Call it any name: rebel, entrepreneur, leader, non-conformist. I want to do things the way I want to, when I want to and where I want to. It doesn't mean I will always do it right, but I am willing to learn from what I did wrong and correct it. I want to make mistakes because it empowers me to always do better. There is no worse way to go through life than to hate what you do and who you work for.

3) Kids make life interesting. Adults are pretty boring (sorry adults, but we are). Kids give me energy which I reciprocate. Kids make me think in new and creative ways.

4) I really, really want to make a difference in the lives of the people that I work with. It can be getting faster, stronger, quicker, but also more confident, more positive and mentally tough. I think that the initial reason that people come in isn't always the reason they continue.

5) When I wake up, I can't wait to get to work. When I am done, I don't want to leave. How many can say that?!
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6) ASF has definitely taken on the personality of its owner…I am a little out there, as most of you have figured out. In order to survive as an island in a sea of mediocrity, I want ASF to be different and better.    I am pretty sure we are unlike any place in Greater Cincinnati, so we are definitely different.  I am always working on establishing ourselves as the best….that process never ends!

7) Every class I teach, every athlete I train, every Boot Camper I tortureJ, I also help myself in the process.  There is a symbiotic relationship with the giver and the receiver.  The more people that I help; the more people help me in return.  Ralph Waldo Emerson believed that, “You cannot help someone without also helping yourself in the process.”

8) Operating ASF has helped to satisfy my unyielding need to learn.  Some people are addicted to drugs, food, alcohol, etc., but my addiction is the attainment of knowledge.  Every thing I read, watch and listen to is directly shared with the athletes and adults at ASF.