The Smart Zone Step 6: Make it Your Own

By now, you’ve probably guessed that Coach Dave is a big fan of cinema. (Yes, I just referred to myself in the third person….and it felt great!!)  I am especially a fan of independent (“indie”) films. Why? The endings in independent films are so random. The allure of indie film lies in the freedom characters have to respond to challenges.  These are not cookbook characters, confined to traditional Hollywood scripts. Independent films resemble real life.  Some have happy, somewhat predictable endings. Some indie flicks have very depressing endings, where the hero does very little to resolve conflict.  The very best indie films have unexpected endings, in which the characters evolve. They overcome adversity by transforming their very nature.

I'm a huge Wes Anderson fan

Why do we love it so much when a  character in a film transforms? Why are we so deeply moved?  After all, a movie is  just a two-dimensional image on a screen. Why do our eyes well up with tears (just admit it) when our hero finally figures things out?  We experience these emotions because we know we have the same potential within us.  We want to change for the better too.

I the last segment of the Tough-Smart Blog, we talked about The Wall. It’s a harrowing, frustrating, challenging time when our Call to Action may seem  in jeopardy. What to do when: despite your inspiration, despite your knowledge, despite the solid advice of your mentor, despite your incredible hustle, you fall flat on your face? Most people choose to quit. They become victims. The blame bad luck or unfair circumstances. They run out of gas. You, however, are not most people. You are Tough-Smart. When faced with the difficulty, fear and uncertainty The Wall presents, you will Make it Your Own.

The Make it Your Own Phase is the difference between having “But Then” or “And Then” as the ending to your story:

I answered my call to Action. I studied. I prepared. I listened to my mentor.  I really hustled…

“but then, I had some bad luck.”

“but then, no one would give me a chance”

“but then, I ran out of money“

“but then, I got hurt”

“but then, I got burned out. It just wasn’t fun anymore.”

I answered my Call to Action. I studied. I prepared.  I listened to my mentor. I really hustled. For a while I hit The Wall…

“and then, I came up with the most amazing idea.”

“and then, I met someone who made the difference.”

“and then, my journey turned into something completely different, even better than my original Call to Action.”

“and then, most random thing happened that changed everything.”

“and then,  I took 100% responsibility for my journey. I knew the time had come for me to make some changes.”

The Wall is the central conflict in the movie you call your life. You can produce any kind of movie you want. If you desire a mundane, depressing ending to your Call to Action, so be it. There is no law against it. Personally, I feel like I wasted my $7.50 when a film ends like that. For my journey, I prefer a quirky, unexpected, even bizarre ending that is far better than the ending I envisioned at the start.

Throughout  the Smart Zone I emphasized learning a world-class system and following the advice of your coach. During the Hustle Phase, I suggested to stick to this system, even when you had doubts. I told you the time for innovation would come. When you hit The Wall, the time for creativity is NOW!  The advice of an expert, world-class as it is, can only deliver you to the threshold of success. You are not a carbon copy of your mentor nor is your Call to Action. Putting your personal stamp on your journey is exactly what will get you past The Wall.

During the course of  your journey you will probably think, “If I was doing things my way I’d do this.”  In fact, you’ll probably think it a thousand times. The key to success with Tough-Smart is to take note of these little epiphanies. However, wait until the proper time to apply them. Ride the advice of your mentor until the last possible minute. Anticipate hitting The Wall. Then, when The Wall comes, go for it! Evolve. Improvise. Make it Your Own.

My favorite Make it Your Own story is that of John Smith. This legendary Oklahoma State wrestler lost a heartbreaking match in the 1985 NCAA finals. After this loss, Smith took a “red shirt” year away from college competition. He trained harder than ever before. He reexamined his wrestling style. He innovated.  Finally, Smith invented the Low Single Leg Takedown or “Low Single.”  This technique, a unique and new approach to attacking an opponent’s legs, became Smith’ s signature move.  Smith became unstoppable.  The low single revolutionized wrestling and led John Smith to two NCAA championships, four world titles and two Olympic Championships.

John Smith winning an Olympic Gold Medal

The Make it Your Own phase is when you take 100% responsibility for everything in your movie. During this phase your approach may have to change, the nature of your journey may have to change, YOU MAY HAVE TO CHANGE!! This does not imply failure: not doing exactly what you set out to do. It implies tremendous success. When you Make it Your Own, you re-invent yourself and redefine success.

As always, I welcome your Tough-Smart stories in the comments section.

Peace begins with me,

Coach Dave

The Smart Zone: Step 5: The Wall

In cinema, sequel movies are typically a disappointment. Granted, Rocky II was awesome (especially when Rocky finally caught that chicken). Come to think of it, Rocky III was amazing too (Clubber Lang invented trash talking ). However, these films are exceptions to the rule. Rocky IV, Rocky V and Rocky VI all stunk in typical sequel fashion. In general, we must agree, sequels almost never reach the creative peak of the original movies that spawned them.

Yo Adrian! How does this apply to Tough-Smart? More specifically, How does this apply to your Call to Action?
Let me walk you right through the subtleties of my Stallone reference:

You decided Life as Usual was not for you. You answered your Call to Action. You enjoyed the N.E.R.D. Phase enough to Find a Coach/Mentor. You Hustled your *ss off. Then, the funniest thing happened.  After some initial success, your Call to Action halted in its tracks.

Your journey has taken an unexpected turn.  Perhaps it has even taken a few steps backward. You have encountered adversity that no one could have predicted. You have endured criticism (sometimes constructive, sometimes not) from places you never would have expected.You’ve been frustrated at times. You have doubted yourself and questioned the very system that  got you to where you are. You now realize that your Call to Action will definitely not proceed the way you planned.

Great job!! You’ve hit The Wall. Consider yourself in élite company. John Elway lost three Superbowls in humiliating fashion before becoming a two-time World Champion. Dana White and the Ultimate Fighting Championships (U.F.C.) almost closed shop before becoming one of the premier entertainment companies in the world. Albert Einstein languished in obscurity before his theory of relativity revolutionized modern physics.

Hitting the wall is a natural part of any great endeavor. That’s the anatomy of success. Now that you have hit The Wall, you must ask yourself the pivotal question of your journey: “What would the hero in MY movie do.” Would Neo pack it in when the Oracle told him he wasn’t “The One.” Would Superman become a victim when Lex Lugar chained him to kryptonite.  What would Rocky do? (WWRD?)

Remember, YOU are the hero in your movie. (You are also the producer, director and projector. We will get to that later). What’s more, your movie is not a cheap sequel. It’s a blockbuster original.  You are not a carbon copy of your mentor. You are unique. You talents are unique. Your journey is unique.  The Wall is the phase where most people’s Call to Action ends.  They become frustrated, disillusioned, burned out. They quit. You, however, are Tough-Smart. This offers tremendous advantages: 1. You knew The Wall was coming. 2. You know The Wall is a sign of impending success. Anticipating and even welcoming The Wall  allows  you to respond proactively, with a sense of creativity.

There’s no telling how long The Wall phase will last. Evolution can be a slow process. Here are some tips to help you stay on track:

1. Stay Cool Like Fonzi – Hitting The Wall is natural.  Your movie would be totally boring without it.

2. Stay hungry – Every day, remind yourself why you love what you are doing

3. Inject certainty – The Wall is an illusion. You will succeed. It’s simply a matter of when.

4. Stay tough – We will talk at length about the Tough-Zone.

5. Show gratitude – Constantly be thankful for what you do have. Constantly be proud of how far you have come.

6. Keep hustling – Anyone can hustle when things are going great. Tough-Smart people hustle no matter what the conditions.

I know many of you are hitting The Wall as you read this. In the next edition of Tough-Smart we will talk about how to get past this scary and strenuous phase. In the meantime, stay Tough-Smart.

Peace begins with me,

Coach Dave

The Smart Zone – Step 4: The Hustle Phase

Happy holidays and God bless, Tough-Smart Nation. Let’s continue our tour through the Tough-Smart System by expanding on the Smart Zone. In Step 3 of The Smart Zone, we moved out of the N.E.R.D. Phase and found a world-class mentor/coach. As I mentioned, your mentor will compel you to work harder than you ever thought possible. He/she will also introduce you to a world-class system, which will allow you to work efficiently.

Step 4 in the Smart Zone is to Hustle; to make hay while the sun shines; to push yourself; to bust your butt. Whatever you choose to call it, Step 4 in the Smart Zone is about maximum effort. Executed correctly, The Hustle phase should not differ vastly from the N.E.R.D. Phase. It should still be fun.  After all, your are directing your hard work toward your personal Call to Action, your passion.

Unlike the N.E.R.D. Phase, the Hustle Phase is about producing results. If your Call to Action is to open a business, the Hustle phase is when you open up your doors and start producing revenue. If you are an athlete, the Hustle phase is when you start  having an impact in competition. It’s time to take the training wheels off. It’s time to keep score.  Your efforts now count.

During the Hustle Phase, it is vitally important to do things exactly the way your mentor taught you. Trust the system you’ve learned. The time for innovation will come later. In The Hustle Phase, focus on doing everything possible to enhance your chances of success. If your world-class system calls for you to practice something 100 times, then practice it 1000 times. If your mentor asks you to learn a new skill, then learn it so well that you could teach it to a 4-year-old. During the Hustle Phase, be obsessive/compulsive. Pay attention to detail. Go overboard.  By the way, questions are the bane of the Hustle phase.  Save them for later. The mantra of the Hustle phase is “over-prepare and under-think.”

In the N.E.R.D. Phase, living in the Smart Zone was sufficient. Your focus was solely on enjoyment. Starting with the Hustle Phase, living in the Tough Zone pays large premiums. In future chapters we will talk in-depth about Defining Success, Overcoming Ego, Overcoming the Victim Mentality and other “Transforming to Tough” principles. Suffice it to say for now that the Hustle Phase is NOT the time to: 1. Feel sorry for yourself. 2. Worry about what you are getting out of the process. 3. Take a vacation 4.Come up with your own grand plan.

There is no greater example of Hustle than Charlie Lewis Jr.(aka “Mask”). In 1997 Mask and his associate Dan Caldwell founded Tapout, a clothing line targeted at the mixed martial arts community. The Tapout crew hustled in legendary fashion, initially selling their gear out of the back of their car. Wherever and whenever there was an MMA competition, Tapout was there. They relentlessly pedaled their clothes, their brand and their image. From a gross of $30,000 in 1999, Tapout’s earnings rose to $100 million in 2008. Tapout also has a reality show, a video game and a popular magazine bearing its name. Tragically, after inspiring so many, Charlie “Mask” Lewis died in the Spring of 2oo9.

Just Hustle. Pursue your Call to Action with tenacity. Surprisingly, not many people know how to truly push themselves. In the Hustle phase, rise above your natural inclination to take it easy. See how good you can really be. Remember your Call to Action isn’t just about you. You are sharing it with the World… and the World deserves your best.

R.I.P. Mask.  You inspired and energized me

Peace begins with me,

Coach Dave

The Smart Zone: Step 3 – Find a Coach/ Find a System

So, you’ve accepted your Call to Action. You have a passion that moves you and, most likely, a little bit of talent in that area.  Congratulations. You are better off than 99% of humanity.  The transition to The Nerd Phase came quite naturally. The energy your Call to Action brings made it easy to immerse yourself. At this moment, you need to know one thing: It’s O.K. to stay right where you are for as long as you want! There is inherent joy in The Nerd Phase. It is the honeymoon phase of any endeavor.  All things are possible and exist as potential. There is no need to measure your results when you are having that much fun.

Most of us, however, have a need for something more when it comes to our Call to Action. Somewhere within us shouts the desire for beauty and excellence. When we answer this voice, it is time to leave the comfortable nest of The Nerd Phase. It’s time to see how good we can really be. It’s time to ROCK AND ROLL. Before you rock and/or roll, read carefully. The next six words of this blog will shape your entire experience:  Find – a – Coach/Find – a – System.

The Legendary Coach K

In any field, from bodybuilding to sales to cupstacking, there are coaches. These instructors delight in teaching their field of interest. In the Tough-Smart system, we always find an élite level coach to bring out the best in us.  The secret lies in finding the right coach. Never settle for anything less than world-class. Does this mean that, if my Call to Action is completing a triathlon, I should seek out the world’s fastest triathlete? Not necessarily. It means I should seek out the coach who trains the world’s fastest triathletes. Here exists an important distinction.  Often, people who are very talented have trouble explaining how they perform at such a high level. The right coach will be able to paint in very clear, concise terms, what your road to victory will look like. In other words, world-class coaches develop world-class systems.

What if I cannot afford a personal coach?  No problem. Lucky for us, world-class coaches also delight in writing books, producing DVD’s and hosting seminars to teach their methods. These media are usually very affordable. Many times, these experts post their advice on the Internet for free! Here’s the catch. In order to live Tough-Smart, you must be willing to learn from  any and all  sources available. You say you don’t have time to watch an instructional DVD? You don’t have the discipline to read a book? The Internet doesn’t grab you? That’s not Tough-Smart.  That’s Wimpy-Stupid.

Coaches exist not only to help us work harder, but to help us work smarter. It is true that a good coach will push you harder than you would ever push yourself. World class coaches also make sure our efforts are not wasted. They make sure we do things the right way: with proper technique and with emphasis in the correct areas. In Tough-Smart, we not only find a world class coach, we find a world class coach that is right for us. You don’t necessarily have to choose the coach or system that everyone else prefers.  Choose the coach that infuses a sense of positive energy, direction, confidence and ease into your Call to Action.

Coach Troy Jacobsen has led me through hundreds of workouts....and we still haven't met!!

One final word: Once you’ve found the right coach for you, LISTEN !! Do exactly what your coach says to do, the way he/she says to do it.  If you have your own ideas, there will be plenty of time to infuse them later in your journey (See Smart Zone Step 6: Make it Your Own). For now, hone your skills the way the experts suggest.

Finding a great coach and a great system injects power into your journey. Coaches help us succeed, make it fun and make it worthwhile.

Best of luck with you Call to Action

Peace Begins with me

Coach Dave

My Call to Action, Health: The Tough-Smart Way

O.K. Tough-smart nation, it’s show and tell time. Coach Dave is ready to live Tough-Smart right in front of your eyes! If you read my introductory post, you know I grew up as an élite level wrestler. Fitness is so important to me. Yet, in the past few years, I haven’t been clear at all about nutrition (in particular), stress management, hydration or sleep hygiene. My workouts, while fairly consistent, have been aimless. My Call to Action has come and I’m going to answer it. What better way to do it than using the Tough-Smart system IN FRONT OF THE WORLD? I realize we haven’t   talked about the entire Tough-Smart system yet. Don’t worry. I will be posting a chapter each week addressing a specific aspect of Tough-Smart. All the while, I plan to  show you how to live Tough-Smart.

So let’s plan my journey by entering the Smart Zone. Let’s break it down step by step. We will talk about the Tough Zone as we go:

Smart Zone Step 1: The Call to Action – My call to Action is  a very specific endpoint called: Health.  I’m talking about much more than  avoiding disease or “getting in shape. ” Put mindful nutrition, proper rest, stress management, recreation, strength training, cardiovascular training and flexibility into one bowl and you create a wonderful ambrosia called “Health.”  That is my destination. Believe me, (a picture is worth a thousand words) I have a long way to go on all those axes.

In the past five years, I have trained for wrestling competitions and  running races. I typically did well, and got fit along the way.  However,  when the event was over, my fitness gradually slid downhill. I have never specifically trained for myself: to look good, to feel well, to prolong my life and to enhance my existence.  I think Health is a more valuable endpoint than, say,  finishing a half marathon.

Smart Zone Step 2: The Nerd Phase. Admittedly, I cheated on this step.  I have actually  been nerding out about health for some time. I have accessed many resources, from books on nutrition and sleep to DVD’s on running form (actually I have three separate DVD’s on running form…NERD!).  I have a head start from a knowledge standpoint. Like most physicians, however, I haven’t  consistently put that knowledge into practice. (Don’t you always scratch your head when you see a fat doctor?)

Smart Zone Step 3: Find a Coach/Find a system. Easy money. I have the best in the world at my disposal. In Tough-Smart we settle for nothing less than world-class when choosing a coach. Note that I will rarely be receiving personal instruction from these experts. One of my strengths is that I am willing to learn from a variety of media, including books,  DVD’s, and the Internet.  If you are proactive, the best advice in the world is right at your fingertips, free or very cheap.

Nutrition Coach: Body for Life – Quite simply the most sensible, practical, proven nutrition program in the world.(www.bodyforlife.com)

Cardiovascular Training: Coach Troy Jacobsen. Troy produces an array of spinning and running DVD’s (Spinnervals/Runnervals) that are not only world-class but inexpensive. (www.coachtroy.com). Spinnervals and Runnervals can be done at home, which is important to me now.

Strength Training: Anthony Dilugio. Anthony produces the Art of Strength (AOS) Dvd’s. These elegant Kettlebell and Core workouts are well designed and time efficient. The AOS series is also very reasonably priced. Yes, coach Dave is finally going to face his fitness demons and train his core like it counts! (www.artofstrength.com)

Flexibility Coach: Pavel Tsatsouline. This former Russian commando is the creator of “Loaded Stretching.” I think flexibility is too often ignored in fitness programs. God bless Yoga enthusiasts but Pavel’s  “It going to hurt. Deal with it!” approach is what I need.

Stress Management Coach: Yehuda Berg. His proactive and vibrant “Daily Tune-up” brightens my every morning by e-mail. Yehuda is the creator of the Living Kabbalah Series, author of many wonderful books and a big inspiration in my life.  I also plan to lean on Mr. Fire, Joe Vitale.  Joe is a brilliant motivational speaker and the author of many wonderful books such as “The Attractor Factor” and “Zero Limits.”  He has taught me that every stressor in my life is an opportunity to heal myself and to make the world a little better.  Joe and Yehuda have been instrumental in helping me stay in the Tough Zone.

Sleep Coach/Recreation coach: My wife, Gina. I love her so much. She takes care of our family and keeps it fun. Sleep will be a particular challenge because we have a one year old son and ANOTHER ONE THE WAY!! Sometimes acceptance is instrumental. I will do the best I can.

The Smart Zone Steps 4-7 (Hustle,  The wall,  Make it Your Own and Introspection) are aspects of my journey I can’t address until I’m in the middle of this donnybrook.  I will keep you updated along the way.

Of course, to succeed in a way that also brings personal fulfillment I will have to stay the Tough Zone. We’ll talk about the Tough Zone on the fly as well.

I will keep you updated on my journey. I’m excited. At the end of my journey I won’t just be fit, I will be the fittest.  And I’ll do it the Tough-Smart way.

I’d love to share your Call to Action. Drop me a line and we’ll talk about it.

Peace begins with me
Coach Dave

What is tough-smart?

First, I’d like to introduce myself and then I would like to talk a little bit about where we are headed with the Tough-Smart blog. My name is David Nowick M.D. I am a 39 year old anesthesiologist from Denver, Colorado. I spend my days putting people to sleep. What I would really like to do, however,  is to help people to WAKE UP!!  I am a graduate of Stanford University and spent the first 27 years of my life training as an elite level wrestler. My passion in life is coaching kids wrestling.  I prefer the moniker  “Coach Dave” to any of the others I’ve acquired in this life. Many of the elements of Tough-Smart have been drawn from my experiences in sports and my journey toward becoming a physician.

Now that the introductions are over, what in the heck is Tough-Smart and why would I go to the trouble of sending this blog into the Nethersphere? Tough-Smart is my personal brand of living.  More than anything, I would like to share it with you.   I’ll start by writing the Tough-Smart blog. Soon I hope to connect with you  through public speaking, through the vast array of social networks available on the internet and through talking to you  1 on 1.

The are two zones in the Tough-Smart world: 1. The Smart Zone 2. The Tough Zone.    The Smart Zone is simply a step by step plan to becoming successful. It my proven roadmap  for “getting really good” at something. It is a method to identify your passion and then to become elite in that area. The Smart Zone will make a lot of sense. It will appeal to your intellect. It is practical, everyday advice with a bit of my personal brand of inspiration mixed in. When you are in the Smart Zone you will be on your way to success in any field you choose.

The Tough Zone is harder to grasp. It is about achieving personal fulfillment rather than success. The Tough Zone is about personal transformation. It is where we really wake up. It’s not what you think.  It’s not about winning fist fights or gritting your teeth or sucking it up.  When you are truly “tough,” you won’t need to do any of those things. In the Tough Zone you will become the hero in the movie called “Your Life” (I always like to picture Neo in  the movie “The Matrix” ). When you are in the Tough Zone you will be able to perform, to be the person you want to be NO MATTER WHAT THE CONDITIONS OR CIRCUMSTANCES.

Sound exciting? It is . After all, this is your life! With Tough-Smart I hope to inspire you, to challenge you, to drive you crazy, to wake you up and most of all to communicate with you.

All my best

Peace begins with me

Coach Dave