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Thinking for Muscle-Building Success Part 2

George Georgantas from Greece became the “Throwing of the Stone” Champion on April 27, 1906 at the Olympic Games in Athens. He threw the stone a whopping 19.94 meters (65 ft, 4.2 inches) with his enormous strength. The key to Georgantas’ success was an unyielding inner force which drove him to train relentlessly, with full intensity, and with total passion. The Greek strongman loved what he did, and he never swayed on his commitment to become a master thrower. Public domain photograph.

In my recent post, The Greatest Force of Success, we saw that possessing a burning drive is critical for attaining any worthwhile goal. Simply put, success rarely comes to anybody without relentless passion, a definiteness of purpose, and an unyielding obsession to attain what is desired.

In the context that I use the word, success is defined as “the progressive realization of a goal that brings forth personal satisfaction.” I like this definition, for it reveals that success is attained through a progressive process, not merely by a final outcome. And, this definition also underscores that success can only be measured relative to how a person feels inside, not by external means. Thus, the acquisition of wealth, a big house, or a high position in society does not necessarily indicate success. What matters is that you progressively achieve that which you seek and that which brings you happiness. Thus, if you aim to become a first-rate school teacher and you do so, you are successful. Likewise, if you aim to become a terrific parent and you do so, you are a success. But if you become a doctor for the wrong reasons, you will not achieve success no matter how much money you may earn.

A muscle-building ambition is not exempt from my definition of success. If you build your muscles for the wrong reasons, you will inevitably find nothing but failure in your quest, even if you become the greatest bodybuilder of all time. But, if physical training boosts your inner self, gives you more spark, and gives you greater happiness and peace of mind, regular visits to the gym will bring you continued success.

Drive and success go hand in hand; it is virtually impossible to have one without the other. And, to succeed in the gym, you must really want with all your heart to acquire bigger and stronger muscles. If you have any doubt about the worthiness of such an ambition you will fail. So strong must be your drive to build a stronger physique, there can be no question about the criticalness of achieving your goal. And armed with an unwavering commitment to train with full intensity and to indulge in a lifestyle conducive to building a more powerful body, you will inevitably find success as a strength athlete.

Rob Drucker