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Stop Being A Victim

Stop Being A Victim

by: Brandon Richey–Get Free Updates And Training Guides Here

Stop Being A Victim

Arnold

Growing up I always worked. I worked in my dad’s automotive shop through high school and college and it was a grind. Living in Georgia the summer’s get hot and we would work from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday-Saturday in the heat changing tires, doing oil changes, pushing cars, washing trucks, and anything else that required attention to detail and a lot of sweat and effort! 

Stop Whining And Don’t Be A Victim!

After my athletic career was over me and my brother would hit the gym after these long workdays 5 to 6 days a week. It was test of mental toughness and it was something that I wanted to prove to myself, plus it gave me and my brother a chance to push one another.

I wanted to prove that I could continue a journey of strength regardless of how tired I might have felt or what all I had going on at the time. 

Moving on from there starting my training business was difficult. Before that happened I had jumped from job to job in the fitness industry trying to find something that would offer at least a little bit of financial relief and there was just nothing around. This was really discouraging and despite how good of a job I would do working from one job to the next it just wasn’t rewarding enough. I felt that all my efforts were going towards lining someone else’s pockets with fat stacks of cash. 

Whenever I think back on the times I struggled I realize more and more just how important those challenging times were. Starting out was tough and so was the process of growing my business and reputation. There is no question that there was one disappointment after the next. 

I had to deal with crooked businessmen, a flaky clientele, bills, and I often struggled to make it and many times wondered if I was even going to be able to pay my rent, my car payment, insurance, or anything else that was coming down the pipeline. And boy that pipeline never stops flowing either. 

I remember being angry and feeling a bunch of doubt, but I had great support and leadership under my parents. I also looked at this whole thing differently. All I would hear from everyone (except my family) is how I couldn’t do what I was trying to do. Why don’t you get a job with a stable salary Brandon? Why don’t you just go and do something else? Do you know how many businesses fail? You can’t do this!!! 

It was strange because my mind has always worked a bit differently. Don’t get me wrong, whenever I would hear all this negativity it was discouraging, but it was almost like people were throwing fuel on a fire. It would motivate me more to think and fight my way through to a solution. It was an inner drive that made me want to learn all that I could so that I could apply and sell my knowledge and skills to others that would be more than willing to seek me out. 

The way I saw it was that there were other people in the industry that made it so why not me? I noticed that the biggest names in fitness were preaching a different message than those people that were around me. While people in and around my circles were doubting me and telling me to hang it up I noticed guys like Bruce Lee were spitting quotes like this…

This was a very different message and so this is what I would choose to listen to instead of the alternative. The point is that I could have given up. I could’ve complained about how life was unfair and that society “owed me” something based on the simple fact that I had sacrificed so much. I could have taken on the role of the victim and made excuses and walked around with a bitter personality. 

I could’ve taken this bitterness a step further by preaching to others about how life was unfair to me and in turn how it was going to be unfair for them. You see the way I see it is that there are 2 types of people in this world. There are those that will give in to the negativity and will even work hard to create an elaborate argument over why it’s ok for them to be the “victim.”  The other type of individual will fight and understands that winning is NOT about making excuses…but rather about coming up with solutions!

I mean after all this is done in politics all the time. Politicians will preach and preach about victimization and spread negativity to a group of people who probably have struggled, and because their message is so pervasive it usually ends up being the tipping point for several of those people that just happen to be listening at the point that the message is delivered. Oh and it also results in votes for the politician and they are fully aware of this. 

I mean after all I was almost at a breaking point, but I didn’t give in to the victim mindset. I didn’t, but several people have. I mean hell I have family members that have. 

Now that’s not to say that I don’t get angry, discouraged, disappointed, and even scared. I go through all of these emotions as well, but I don’t allow them to control me. Remember that’s the dark side of the force my friend.  

Now you may have gotten a chuckle out of Master Yoda laying it all out, but it’s true!!! I hope you enjoyed today’s post my friend and if you have an experience of your own you’d like to share post up in the comments below. Don’t be shy. Keep training smart. 

Related Articles: 

Motivation…

What Is Driving You? 

My Interview With Underground Strength Coach Zach Even-Esh

50 Things Strength Can Repair…

Strength Tip Of The Day…Miss That Attempt!

Stop Being A Victim

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Brandon

I'm a Certified Strength And Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and author. I have had over 17 years experience in MMA fitness, strength and conditoning, and athletic performance for most every sport. As an author and specialist I've written close to a million words on fitness and strength. I'm also a Muay Thai practictioner and enjoy helping others to reach their peak potential through fitness and performance.

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