Do you want to go further, faster?

Do you want to leap frog the competition?

Do you want to trim down ramp up time?

Here’s a simple recipe I’ve learned over the years: Find the people who are the greatest at what you want to do, meet them, and study them.

Learn from the greats.

That’s exactly what me and my friends who took the Jiu Jitsu, BodyByVi 90-Day Challenge did. We went to the Gracie Academy and met with Ralek Gracie, the renowned practitioner of the art. We downloaded his knowledge of Jiu Jitsu, and in doing so, prepared to go further, faster.

With every discipline, there is a history. A legacy. A long line of greats who went before you. Study them. Learn from them.

Then, get better.

Rinse and repeat.

As you approach your goals, which “greats” can you meet with and lean from? Make it happen. See what we learned from our meeting with Gracie in the short video above.

Plus, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from many great people–the best in their space. Like me on Facebook to check out more!

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It’s Day One. I don’t know what Jiu Jitsu is, but I’m apparently going to do it tonight. And, I’ve gotta say, I’m just a little intimidated since the last time I met Jiu Jitsu it came in the form of girl beating me up. (I know the video is floating around out there somewhere, but I’m surely not going to share it

So, anyway, Rich, Jeremy, Loni and I are heading in to learn our fate. And, we don’t know what to expect.

Before we even open the door, a few more friends join us, Josh and Bryan.

We look into the studio and see guys flinging each-other around on mats. I think Josh summarized it best by his very eloquent word choices, “What am I even doing?”

Everyone Needs to Start Somewhere. Master the Fundamentals.

Our first session of Jiu Jitsu wasn’t sexy. We didn’t start out sparring. Instead, we focused on the basic movements and stretches of the art. There was awkwardness, discomfort, and sweat—lots of sweat. But that’s what it takes to get to started in any endeavor—discomfort, awkwardness and sweat. And, that’s a key thing to remember when you start anything new—until you go through that initial stage, you really haven’t begun something new.

Our first class was focused on learning the fundamentals. Seriously…I mean like putting on our GI pants and typing our belts. It’s pretty funny. Nevertheless, this is necessary in whatever you do—fitness, diet, business, and life. To succeed at anything, we must embrace the fundamentals.

Start somewhere. Usually that means start where you are today. And, check out the video above. The look on our faces are priceless.

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So, I got the chance to sit down and ask Hulk Hogan for his advice on how I could succeed in my Body by Vi Challenge: Gain 20 Pounds of Muscle in Just 90 Days.

Umm, I expected a deep, and motivating conversation. And, that’s exactly what I got…except it also was attached to something he called, “The Fear Factor.”

Where’s the uplifting message? Where’s the supportive and positive words? Isn’t this how we’re supposed to inspire one-another? Aren’t we supposed to be cheer-leaders?

Well, sometimes rewards aren’t enough. Sometimes a negative consequence is actually needed if you don’t reach your goal. And, as you’ll see by watching the video that I linked at the bottom of this blog, Negative Can Be Positive.

Sometimes, as Hulk Hogan tells me in the short video above, we need a different kind of  “incentive, a vision, a fear factor.” Yes, it may sound negative. But, it is in fact supportive in nature as well—because never once does Hulk imply that my goal is somehow unattainable. Instead, he makes gaining 20 pounds of muscle not only attainable, but expected.

An incentive.

A vision.

A fear factor.

Words of Wisdom from Hulk Hogan

Evaluate your own goals. What incentives are your working toward? What’s your vision? And what’s your fear factor? What’s that negative consequence that will happen if you don’t succeed?

This video is quite entertaining. Share it with your friends and maybe you all can hold each other accountable with a pair of clippers!

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Am I hesitant this morning? Yes. Am I bit nervous? Yes.

But give me a break. Blacking out during the very first workout of my Body by Vi Challenge: Gain 20 Pounds of Lean Muscle in 90 Days rattled me. And, I’ll be honest, I wasn’t nervous about this challenge at all before it began—simply because I had never imagined how hard it would be—both the lifting and the eating.

You can check out my embarrassing moment on the gym floor here.

Of course, we all want to see instant wins in life. I wanted to see instant muscle. Any overnight success sounds tempting. But, physiology doesn’t work that way. And, neither does life. There’s always another trip to the gym. And, there’s always more chicken that needs to be eaten. And, each step along the path to goal must be considered a victory.

Look back at anything you’ve accomplished in life and you’ll quickly assess that it was the daily grind that got you to your goal. It was you showing up again at the gym. It was you showing up every day for the past four years at your job. It was spending an our everyday practicing the guitar. Or, if you’re trying to pack on the muscle, it’s sitting down to yet another meal of grilled chicken—even though you’re sick of it.

Just Being Present is a Victory

Sometimes, when you have your sights set on a goal, your job just to show up. Go through the motions. And, whether it feels like, smells like, sounds like it, or tastes like it, your job is to realize that you are winning.

Just showing up can make the next 5 minutes, hour, or day a victory. And, with each small victory, you’re that much closer to the big win.

I blacked out. I went back to the gym. I’m sick of chicken, but guess what I’ll be having for dinner tonight. And, after just a week, I’m five pounds up…so, showing up has in fact paid off.

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It’s embarrassing to say the least. There I was pushing out another heavy set of reps when I realized I’m dizzy. My head doesn’t feel right. It’s fuzzy. My body doesn’t feel right. I feel like I’m going to puke. And, the next thing I know is that I’m passed out on the floor of the gym with some lady is offering me orange juice.

They say the road to success is paved with failure. Well, I paved that road. I reached failure. And, ironically, it’s a good thing.

Failures typically leave you wondering if you’ll ever arrive at your desired goal. They’re typically the reasons many of us don’t follow through with our goals. But, here’s a little secret. Without failure, we’ll not only never truly realize our limitations, but we’ll also never learn to go beyond our limitations.

It’s a bit crazy—embarking on a 90-day, Body by Vi Challenge, in which I was attempting to gain 20 pounds of lean muscle. In the Challenge, I decided to follow a philosophy called Occam’s Protocol. Basically, it requires 45 minutes in the gym, twice a week, lifting heavy weights, at a slower pace (each repletion was performed with a 5-second count up and a 5-second count down). It sounds easy. But, here I am on day one, I blacking out.

Why did I black out? Well, there are some physiological reasons that are far too complicated for this post, but there’s also a little portion of the Occam’s Protocol that I have not yet mentioned—the goal is to reach failure.

No, 45-minutes in the gym, twice a week, doesn’t sound like much. But, when the goal is to reach failure, it’s a heavy challenge—pushy yourself until you absolutely can’t push any more.

Just before I passed out, my trainer actually said something that has stuck with me: “Blake, it’s important to not get discouraged,” he said. “This is where growth happens—in failure.”

Of course, at the time, a statement like that made sense. But, it didn’t only apply to that moment. It doesn’t only apply to muscle growth either. And, it also didn’t just apply to my to my Body by Vi 90-Day Challenge.  It does however apply to all of the above and every other journey we undertake in life. Think about it. Growth happens during failure.

The Magic Power of Failing

Failure teaches us which paths not to take. It teaches us boundaries. It makes us search for ways to overcome boundaries. And, it ultimately is the only thing that allows us to know when we’re truly succeeding.

Want to succeed?

Fail often.

Fail fast.

And, consistently push yourself in every endeavor to the point of failure so you understand exactly what and where you need to focus your attention. Push until you can’t push any more.

Blacking out at the gym was super embarrassing. But, it showed me how much effort I could give to reach my goal. And, it showed me the path to overcome all the obstacles I was about to face.

I don’t if I like the idea of video cameras always chasing me through life. However, if you want some good-hearted entertainment, you can pretty much catch my entire day-to-day activities on Facebook.

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I’ve completed some pretty crazy challenges—from competing in my first Olympic Triathlon to climbing Mt. Whitney, to doing a Tough Mudder in Beaver Creek, Colorado.

Each one of these challenges was a bit of mystery when I first had the idea. We never truly know what’s possible before engage in anything. Yet, looking back, with each one these challenges it’s important to realize that they all share one thing in common—they all start on Day One.

A lot of people ask me about my secret to personal transformation. And, if you want to know what my secret, it’s simple. It’s learning to leverage the power of Day One. It’s the art of the start. It’s the ability to create something out of nothing. Face your fears. And overcome them by doing one of the most terrifying tasks ever: Beginning.

Why would gaining 20 pounds of muscle be any different? Just gotta start. See what happens.

The Day One Secret: It Works in Every Aspect of Life

If you want to transform yourself. If you truly want to find success in your life, in whatever you do, then you have to learn to leverage your own Day One moments. You have to step out, leap out, and start out—especially when you’re uncomfortable.

Gaining 20 pounds of muscle mass isn’t easy. It was going to take work. And, it wasn’t going to be comfortable. But, that’s when you know growth is just ahead—because anything you do that makes you uncomfortable means there is change.

And, if I’ve learned anything from my past Body by Vi 90-Day Challenges, fear recedes. It diminishes. It actually turns into a source of power. But, not before you start.

Leverage the power of “Day One” every day of your life. Embrace discomfort. Make it happen. Begin something new. Start.

If you want to see the other 89 days, and my results, click here.

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“Our fight to end obesity worldwide is just beginning,” said Ryan Blair, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ViSalus. “Obesity is a global epidemic that we will fight one person at a time, one nation at a time. In the UK alone, one in four adults is obese and almost 60% of the population is battling weight and fitness issues. We’re honored to bring the Body by Vi 90-Day Challenge to the UK to help fight and impact the obesity epidemic.”

ViSalus Co-Founder and Global Ambassador, Nick Sarnicola , added, “We’ve experienced excellent momentum across the UK during pre-enrollment. The Challenge is proving to be as exciting and compelling of a personal health platform in the UK as it is in North America.”

“The April 15th celebration was led by the more than 3,000 founding Promoters and customers of Vi UK who joined The Challenge during this time frame,” noted Blake Mallen , Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer. The pre-launch phase began March 23rd.

To read the remaining phases of the Vi UK pre-launch, and view the entire article, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases-test/visalus-celebrates-vi-uk-pre-launch-into-first-european-market-204471261.html

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LOS ANGELES, April 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — ViSalus, known for its mission of helping people transform their health and fitness through the Body By Vi™ 90-Day Challenge, announced today that the Company was recognized last night for its accomplishment of having the top percentage sales increase in 2012 among a group of 100 distinguished global competitors at the Direct Selling News annual industry event. ViSalus’s sales increased $393.0 million to $623.5 million in 2012 versus $230.5 million in 2011, making it the Top 21 largest reported direct selling company globally.

Ryan Blair , ViSalus’s Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are honored to lead the industry in 2012 sales growth percentage and appreciate the recognition we received from direct selling leaders worldwide.” Mr. Blair and fellow ViSalus Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, Blake Mallen , addressed the audience during the event, speaking to the importance of ViSalus’s culture and the impact of its customer-focused, social selling message, respectively.

Mr. Mallen added, “It is exciting and humbling to be the youngest company in the Top 50, especially since we were only in 2 markets. As a relative newcomer in a group of established and highly successful global competitors, having the forum to share some of the strategies behind the success of our direct-to-consumer selling model was a unique opportunity.”

ViSalus attributes these acknowledgments to all of the passionate Independent Promoters and Customers of the Body by Vi™ 90-Day Challenge and remains focused on doing its part to help take weight off the world.

To read the full article, go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/visalus-recognized-for-highest-2012-percent-sales-increase-in-direct-selling-news-global-top-100-companies-201545901.html

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“Americans love new cars. We bought more than a million of them every month in 2012—the highest number in four years—and that number is growing this year. For many direct sellers, that’s just more proof that having a car program is a great investment in their business,” writes Barbara Seale of Direct Selling News

“ViSalus had been in business for two years when it launched its Bimmer Club, which provides a car bonus to distributors who achieve the rank of regional director, their second promotion level, and then help six team members achieve director status. Driving their ViSalus-provided BMW demonstrates that the regional directors are doing more than finding people to join the Body by Vi™ Challenge. They’re also developing the necessary recruiting and mentoring skills to help others build a business.

‘Earning a BMW is a giant belief builder in themselves and their ability to have success in ViSalus,’ says Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer Blake Mallen. ‘It redefines their paradigm. Our goal is to let them do that at a relatively fast pace. We want to give cars to our part-time loyalists who want to use the car to make more money and eventually go full time.’

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“Earning a BMW is a giant belief builder [for promoters] and their ability to have success in ViSalus. It redefines their paradigm.”
—Blake Mallen, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer, ViSalus

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Lots of ViSalus directors, which the company refers to as promoters, receive the car bonus. More than 15,000 people have qualified since the program’s inception, putting thousands of rolling billboards on the road, all driven by brand enthusiasts.”

To read the entire article go to: www.directsellingnews.com

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WASHINGTON, January 31, 2013 – Numbers never lie: ViSalus’ new Body by Vi Challenge is one of the fastest growing social movements in North America. Individual marketing opportunities will always have their skeptics, and they are not for everyone. Yet, people are always looking to lose wight and more importantly have a support system.

Jimmy Le, a very successful social marketer, quit his business two years ago to become a Challenge Ambassador. Le said, “The Challenge has been effective for me because it saves me money and I get more nutrition in one shake than most people get in a week and it tastes like cake!! The freedom of being an entrepreneur and having a solution for the obesity epidemic is why I love promoting The Challenge.”

Blake Mallen, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing Officer of ViSalus, has been intelligent enough to make the approach more about personal transformation rather than just the transformation of a wallet. Social media is then leveraged by people to share their stories, their progress, their transformation. It has been key to the widespread distribution of the The Challenge.

Mallen answers questions below about ViSalus’ new challenge and plans for the future.

Jeff Barrett: Explain the new Body by Vi Challenge.

Blake Mallen: In the last couple of years, ViSalus Body by Vi Challenge has become the fastest growing weight-loss and fitness Challenge platform in North America. What we decided to do is take something that is already good and make it better. Our goal will always be to support people on their weight-loss and fitness journeys, so we’ve put the Body by Vi Challenge under a pretty significant transformation and made it better and bolder than ever. Now there are more winners, more prizes and more support – and we’re guaranteeing all of it.

The Body by Vi Challenge has helped millions of people transform their lives and lose millions of pounds, so we’re confident that if people join the Challenge, they will be happy with the results. In fact, the New Body by Vi Challenge now has a 90-day Money-Back Results Guarantee so you’ve got absolutely nothing to lose but weight. We introduced the New Challenge on January 5 of this year, at over 400 Resolution Rally events all across North America. At these events, we launched the New Body by Vi Challenge to all our Promoters and customers, and celebrated more than 43,000 people who sent us their New Year’s health resolutions for 2013.

We also introduced a new program called PROJECT 10

that motivates and rewards anyone who loses their first ten pounds. The first ten pounds are so important to boosting a person’s confidence and belief system, so we’re awarding a total of $10,000 to ten people who lose ten pounds every week starting Feb 4, 2013. We’ll still have our awesome Challenge Champions but now we are recognizing monthly Finalists as well, plus offering even more online support and better prize packages. For more information, please visit Vi.com.

Read the full article and interview, click here: 

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/status-update/2013/jan/31/body-vi-challenge-transforming-social-selling/#ixzz2JbWFNHBY

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