Be a Mentor

[BigNate]

I’ll tell you what fellas… I’m re-motivated. To be totally honest I’ve lost a bit of intensity in my training for about a month before Christmas. I still was doing my thing and keeping my diet, but just not as focused as in the past. My training partner accepted a position in Florida and I have been training alone… no big deal, but nobody to push on those ‘off’ days.

About a week ago a friend of a friend bumped in to me at the gym. He’s a wet behind the ears 19 year old who has absolutely no direction in the gym, just kinda wanders around and hits the basics. He’s a good kid, but in need of some help. Well long story short he asks to train with me. I reluctantly told him he could as long as he trained hard and smart. So far it’s been one of my best decisions. He has me training balls out again, paying detailed attention to form and focus. I believe in leading by example and I want to make sure this guy has the best tools for the job.

So in closing, I would like to challenge everyone out there to give a little advice or even take someone new to the game under your wing. If you’re anything like me, you’ll push yourself harder and maybe find a deeper drive.

[Evaniel]

I’ll tell you what fellas… I’m re-motivated. To be totally honest I’ve lost a bit of intensity in my training for about a month before Christmas. I still was doing my thing and keeping my diet, but just not as focused as in the past. My training partner accepted a position in Florida and I have been training alone… no big deal, but nobody to push on those ‘off’ days.

About a week ago a friend of a friend bumped in to me at the gym. He’s a wet behind the ears 19 year old who has absolutely no direction in the gym, just kinda wanders around and hits the basics. He’s a good kid, but in need of some help. Well long story short he asks to train with me. I reluctantly told him he could as long as he trained hard and smart. So far it’s been one of my best decisions. He has me training balls out again, paying detailed attention to form and focus. I believe in leading by example and I want to make sure this guy has the best tools for the job.

So in closing, I would like to challenge everyone out there to give a little advice or even take someone new to the game under your wing. If you’re anything like me, you’ll push yourself harder and maybe find a deeper drive.

It's weird, but I've tried and for nothing. I got one guy to go with me, but without me there to hold his hand, he'd fall apart; when our schedules made it so we couldn't get to the gym at the same time, he stopped going.

I've given other people training programs and nutrition guides that I've written myself, but they just usually wind up collecting dust. When I ask them about it, they just say the usual: "I don't have time...it's hard to eat healthy with my kids in the house...blah blah blah..." It's a mindset that I find increasingly difficult to comprehend.

Where I've been more successful as a mentor has been as an English teacher. I tend to bring the same "balls to the wall" mentality that I have at the gym to the classroom, and I think I've been able to convey this attitude successfully to my students. I was pretty astonished to see that some of the students I didn't expect to do well at the beginning became some of my best students by the end. I think some people, regardless of natural ability, tend to respond to exemplary action better than others. They are the ones who will rule the world.

[Hercules]

Well said, Evaniel. I've done the same, but I still try to help where I can. I'm a science teacher, so I try to teach my students about the benefits of training hard and a good diet. I hit it from a scientific standpoint, though.

[Wasteland]

I’ll tell you what fellas… I’m re-motivated. To be totally honest I’ve lost a bit of intensity in my training for about a month before Christmas. I still was doing my thing and keeping my diet, but just not as focused as in the past. My training partner accepted a position in Florida and I have been training alone… no big deal, but nobody to push on those ‘off’ days.

About a week ago a friend of a friend bumped in to me at the gym. He’s a wet behind the ears 19 year old who has absolutely no direction in the gym, just kinda wanders around and hits the basics. He’s a good kid, but in need of some help. Well long story short he asks to train with me. I reluctantly told him he could as long as he trained hard and smart. So far it’s been one of my best decisions. He has me training balls out again, paying detailed attention to form and focus. I believe in leading by example and I want to make sure this guy has the best tools for the job.

So in closing, I would like to challenge everyone out there to give a little advice or even take someone new to the game under your wing. If you’re anything like me, you’ll push yourself harder and maybe find a deeper drive.

Mentoring--sharing knowledge and experience is what Animal is all about. When you give, you get... Glad to see you leading by example brother.

[BigNate]

Ya, I hear you guys about feeling like you're wasting your time because I've done that too. But, if you see someone who is in the gym consistently and is trying, just lacks refinement.

We were all once apon a time a rookie, ya know?!?

[Wasteland]

Ya, I hear you guys about feeling like you're wasting your time because I've done that too. But, if you see someone who is in the gym consistently and is trying, just lacks refinement.

We were all once apon a time a rookie, ya know?!?

Exactly, brother, exactly.

[Pokoritel]

Month after month my cousins see me and wonder how is it that i got so big, in shape, and healthy as well. They wanted to go to the gym, but dont know what to do. So i took both of them under my wing and since then its been great. One of my cousins is 14 and looks up to me and motivates me to train harder then ever before. Best desicion i ever made. We are all in this together and we have to help each other as much as we can.

[Scans]

I’ll tell you what fellas… I’m re-motivated. To be totally honest I’ve lost a bit of intensity in my training for about a month before Christmas. I still was doing my thing and keeping my diet, but just not as focused as in the past. My training partner accepted a position in Florida and I have been training alone… no big deal, but nobody to push on those ‘off’ days.

About a week ago a friend of a friend bumped in to me at the gym. He’s a wet behind the ears 19 year old who has absolutely no direction in the gym, just kinda wanders around and hits the basics. He’s a good kid, but in need of some help. Well long story short he asks to train with me. I reluctantly told him he could as long as he trained hard and smart. So far it’s been one of my best decisions. He has me training balls out again, paying detailed attention to form and focus. I believe in leading by example and I want to make sure this guy has the best tools for the job.

So in closing, I would like to challenge everyone out there to give a little advice or even take someone new to the game under your wing. If you’re anything like me, you’ll push yourself harder and maybe find a deeper drive.

I'm 19 and think I have a decent idea of what im doing in the gym. The problem is i have nobody pushing me. I play baseball and spend most of time training for that, but I love to lift and get bigger and learn more and overall i just respect bodybuilding to the fullest and wish I could be like some of these monsters. What I'm getting at is that I wish there were guys like you at my gym. Most of the guys see 19 year old guys and think we are just punk kids. I have a group of buddies that go to the gym together, most of them just goof off and check out girls, i try to stay clear of them. I could totally see why you were skeptical to take this 19 year old guy under your wing. I just really respect what your doing and hopefully your post influences some people.

[Evaniel]

One of my cousins is 14 and looks up to me and motivates me to train harder then ever before. Best desicion i ever made. We are all in this together and we have to help each other as much as we can.

I hear ya here. I'm gonna be a dad soon, and I want to be the best role model possible. Boy or Girl, when they get old enough I can't wait to bring my kid to the gym and pass it on: the noble status of exemplary action.

[Arbalest]

I'm already looking for someone new. Last year i trained a couple HighSchoolers who were busting there asses but just had no clue about proper training or diet.

I took them as far as they could go with me, and they're continuing on without me. Pretty awesome feeling. Everytime i see them out at the store they look bigger and badder.

I was training one of my little brothers, but he just moved out of my house and back home w/ the fam for school reasons. Sucks too. At least i got him out of the *emo* phase and into putting on some muscle and looking like a man should.

I'm not the best or most knowledgeable, but i'm always learning; which is something we should all continue to do. Passing on my knowledge is just something that should be done without hesitation.

[Flash419]

Always great to be able to help someone along. As always in this time of the year, you get alot of new people, most of whom don't have a clue.

Most wont be there a couple of months from now, but you can usually spot a few who have that glimmer in their eyes, and put forth that extra effort, that are worth the effort to give some guidance. Its always a good feeling to help a newbie along the right path. We all started somewhere, and can all remember someone who helped us along all those years ago.

In any case, I always take the time to answer any and all questions. The only dumb question is the one never asked. You never know, the person you help today might be that diamond in the rough that you overlooked.

[Big Wides]

bump

[Cellerator65]

i'd love to mentor and help out someone in my gym... but there isnt anyone i see there with the intensity i have. maybe i'll keep my eyes open.