The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

We often wait to get started on projects or activities until we are motivated. But the 'I'll start when I'm motivated' is leaving us stuck and stagnant. That's because it's momentum that builds motivation - not being still. Stillness stifles. Momentum motivates. Once you get going on your next project or new activity the motivation that you've been looking for will build as you grow the muscle of...

Aaron Hinde, Co-Founder & President of LIFEAID, tells us how he has used his Universal ATM: Alignment, Trajectory & Momentum to build a huge brand organically and in the process has gathered a super loyal and positive community. He put everything into the creation of a healthier alternative to sodas and energy drinks, living on a frugal diet of canned tuna until the ATM paid off. The advice this w...

Caffeine in one form or another is used by about 90% of Americans every single day. How much caffeine you consume can have a direct effect on your health. Know your limits and the signs and symptoms of too much caffeine.   WHAT WE COVER:   We've all been there…you're dragging and have a busy day ahead…you need a quick boost. Many of us turn to caffeine.  First of all, I've never known of anyone to...

We often hear others talking about focusing on one thing. In fact, you might be doing this yourself. You're focused on work? Focused on family? Instead of just focusing one area of your life, simply apply excellence to ALL areas of your life. A Spartan exercises discipline and excellence to ALL areas of life. LESSONS: It's easier to apply excellence to ALL your areas of your life. Change your mind...

We all have a set of coaches that reside in our head at any given time. Many of these are a compilation of past individuals who have influenced us and their past messages have now become our own internalized voice. Many of these are helpful but some of them may be harmful because their messages are negative in nature or bring us down rather than lift us up. Learning how to differentiate between th...

What does it take to become an Olympian and do those things carry over into success in other endeavors? If anyone knows it's Mike Miller. He's CEO of the World Olympian Association, which brings together the 120,000 living Olympic alumni. How do these athletes transition into the business world? Will Spartan become an Olympic sport? The Olympic spirit is strong in SPartan's international competiti...

Adaptogens are a special class of herbs that have been used around the globe for centuries by many different cultures. These herbs support your body's stress response, immune system, and can help pre- and post-workout for both endurance and exercise recovery. WHAT WE COVER: a. Simply put, adaptogens are great. They are a particular Class of Herbs that have been linked with helping the body adapt t...

Are you always thinking about HOW to achieve more, be it in fitness, health, life, business or any other area of interest? Instead of thinking about HOW, you really should be thinking about WHO. LESSONS:   Who do you already know that has achieved 1 of your goals? Instead of thinking about how you can achieve certain goals, learn to collaborate, work with and learn from others who have already lea...

Accepting responsibility and taking ownership of your mistakes is key for not only self-reflection but also behavior change and modification. Because owning our mistakes can be painful and uncomfortable, we tend to offload responsibility onto other things or other people. We can always find a reason for why something is not our fault but engaging in this behavior pattern restricts our capacity for...

Mind Pump host and fitness/wellness guru Sal Di Stefano sits down with Spartan Race founder Joe DeSena to talk about the state of the fitness industry and what you can do today to be stronger and healthier. You may be fast at something, but are you efficient? Repetitive frequency of proper skills builds effective health and wellness regiments - getting you to your maximum potential. This week we h...

NEW SERIES: Spartan HEALTH with Dr. Nada Milosavljevic every Sunday Your five senses are your body's most direct connection to the outside world. They take in information 24/7 whether you know it or not. Harnessing any one of your senses can be a powerful way to stimulate the brain to achieve optimal results. WHAT WE COVER: What are essential oils, often abbreviated as EO's? Essential oils come fr...

Are you always 1 step shy from finishing your "mission"? 1 step short of achieving your goals? Today Zach Even-Esh tells you how you can make it over the finish line.  Listen, then start taking pride in the challenges while turning your obstacles into opportunities.   LESSONS: View your obstacles as opportunities You don't have to like it, you just have to do it - Dick Marcinko, Creator of SEAL Te...

Setting goals is an important way to keep us accountable to the dreams and desires that we have for ourselves. Goals are an effective way to keep us on track and give our movement structure. Sometimes, however, we fall into the trap of setting insane goals - goals that are unreasonable for our current position and end up hurting us in the long run. Pushing yourself is important but you have to set...

Watch 2010 Drill Sergeant of the Year puts Joe DeSena in his place.   First Sergeant  Melissa Solomon has a deep understanding of what it takes to motivate.  She should, she's a top professional. She knows fitness too! 1SG Solomon leads trainings in the Army Master Fitness Course to "create personal trainers in each company of 150 soldiers, to have them perform in optimal health." Trained in how t...

Today Zach talks about the secret to pushing through when -willpower doesn't seem to be enough. - I came across a great book gifted to me by fellow Spartan Up Friend, Joe Polish of The Genius Network. This book is Willpower Doesn't Work. It made me rethink how self-discipline can be taken to the next level and beyond by changing your environment! LESSONS:   Change your environment to change your l...

Fear is one of those emotions that can significantly impact our choices, behaviors, and ways that we engage with the world. We all have our own set of fears and the intensity to which we feel fear about different things varies as well. One trap that we can all fall into though is the misbelief that the intensity of our fear is a measure of our capacity to handle the challenge that is ahead of us....

34% of his body was burned when the Humvee he was driving hit an antitank mine in Iraq. Do you define yourself by your scars or do you conquer all obstacles with mindset, tenacity and humor. This week we speak with Dancing with the Stars champion JR about the art of adversity and about Joe dancing to Donna Summer.   LESSONS   Do you follow? Do you to break off lead? Don't be a sheep. Obstacles in...

Ben Franklin has a famous quote that speaks volumes: Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. What does your day look like? Do you get to bed too late and in turn, your morning is a struggle? Lack of sleep will negatively affect your health, relationships, energy levels and career! Listen to this episode to hear what successful people do.   LESSONS: How working late to g...

Engaging in a mindful practice each day can help reduce stress and increase your performance on certain tasks. But nowadays, individuals are feeling pressured to start this practice without acquiring an understanding of what mindfulness is and how to engage in the process. Simply stated, mindfulness is really just paying attention. It is bringing the focus into the present and developing a sense o...

You want to shift your paradigm and find optimal health? Get ready to dig in for some hard work: break up with yourself, vision cast and sit down to do some writing. The new Director of Programming at Shrugged Collective and host of the Barbell Shrugged Podcast,  wants you to "live a pain free, empowered life through mindful movement," and take time to give attention to your intentions. Shrugged C...

Do you remember our earlier episode on how obstacles are opportunities? Well, if you're stressed out, you likely have an obstacle standing in your way which is simply an opportunity in hiding! Here's how to reduce stress and boost productivity by learning a simply system for organizing your day and week. LESSONS: How to multiply your success by being highly organized. How to structure your week ah...

Shame is a focus on self, whereas guilt is a focus on behavior. When we use language that is self-deprecating and shaming in nature our self-esteem struggles. Shaming language, such as "I'm a failure", "I'm an idiot", "I'm a loser", creates a belief system that our struggles are inherent to who we are and fixed rather than demonstrations of difficult moments in time. It's important to transition f...

The Managing Director at the helm of Craft Sportswear.  He tells Joe what motivated him to a position of success, hint: people told him he wasn't qualified.  This week we learn that when someone tells you you can't, that can be your fuel to show them just how well you CAN!   Lessons: Get past fear in life You don't need a degree to get to the top When someone says you can't, use that as fuel to sh...

Have you ever felt like you're in a slump? The less you do, the LESS you want to do! Take a noter from Tony Robbins; he always talks about "getting into state". Do 1 thing to move you towards your goal. Move forward, never stay stagnant. LESSONS: Action always beats inaction Think about something you want to get better. Do 1 Thing to move towards that goal. Action beats momentum. The more forward...

Internal emotional boundaries refer to the boundaries that are required for you to set in order to avoid absorbing and taking on the emotions of other individuals. It's important for us to set these boundaries so that we don't become overwhelmed by the other people's emotions and then become overregulated ourselves. We often need to become intentional with these boundaries and develop an internal...