Change is good. Especially this kind.

I was going to post my next log in the Top 5 Accessory Exercise series this week, but the internet made me change my mind. Hhmm, that’s not realy what the title says, but bear with me. I’ll get there in my rambling Boston Irish way. I’ve got to begin with this:   I am pretty involved with RPR® (Reflexive Performance Reset), and I’ve been helping JL and Jeff out with a pretty big and really cool project they are working on the past few weeks. As I was doing this, it reminded me of a few things, one of which is that we need to be a force for good in the world. While that may seem obvious, do we all realize it? I know that I didn’t, fully, until recently. Sure, I’ve always tried my best to be a good man and not be a piece of shit. Sometimes I failed, sometimes I succeeded. But, lately, I’ve been far more concerned with being a true force for good, for being a positive influence, to have more positive attitude, you know, be part of the solution, not part of the problem. RPR will do that to you. Without getting all hippy and cuckoo, let's just say that since I’ve really dug deep into it, and embraced it even more than I did before, I have seen and so has everyone who knows me, an enormous change in my attitude. And my ability to interact with people. No more Murph blowing up and yelling at people, sure that may have been part of my charm (or not), I just don’t want to be that guy anymore. It’s exhausting. No more jumping out of the car to punch the fuck out of someone at at red light because they cut me off and gave me the finger, although you can’t do that anymore in 2019 because violence is frowned on. (Yes I see the conflict there in my statement.) No more my way or the highway.     RPR has made a huge and positive change in my ability to listen and relate to others, to my ability to control my anger, rage and my short temper. As a mater of fact, I’m just not angry and rage filled at all. It’s all gone. And when you think about it, what do I have to be angry about? Nothing. Yes, I know it sounds like I am trying to indoctrinate you into a cult, and maybe I am. The major difference between RPR and a cult is this. RPR isn’t a cult. They don’t want anything from you. They don’t want your money. So, if being involved with a system that wants nothing from you, nothing, other than to see you thrive, I am shaving my head, wearing an orange robe and selling flowers at the airport for them. Sign me up. OK, let’s get a little back on track. Working on this project for JL reminded me of the fact that one of the major focuses of RPR is to put good forward, and into the world. Shit, I want to be a part of that.

Change is good. Especially this kind.

So in the beginning I said the internet made me change my mind about the original post. Here’s why. I look at a lot of stuff on the Instagrams and I see so much nonsense that it used to make me angry. I think the internet has made it easy for people to prop themselves up as experts, especially Instagram.

It seems that our industry is the current equivalent of the old snake oil salesmen in the old West.

Charlatans are abundant in the Personal Training and Coaching world, particularity Powerlifting coaches. I think there are two types:

• The ones who are actual thieves and know they are stealing from people
• The ones who suffer from the Dunning Kruger effect.

The first ones are really pieces of shit and I used to get angry that so many people fell for their bullshit. Really, how can people fall for some of the nonsense that is put out? The second ones are far more dangerous than the first. Why? Because they are true believers. In themselves. While that may be a good thing, even great in some circumstances, in the case of those afflicted with Dunning Kruger, it is bad. Wait, you don’t know what Dunning Kruger is?   The Dunning Kruger Effect is a term from sociology/psychology that basically means that some people are too stupid to know they have no idea what they are talking about. This makes them dangerous. We have, in our industry right now, a massive amount of excellent, even brilliant coaches putting out some of the best information we have ever seen. We also have some of the worst coaches putting out wrong, bad, stupid and sometimes dangerous information all while saying that it is legit. And, many of them are like actual cult leaders. The do want something from you.

• Your money
• Your devotion
• Your attention
• Your unquestioned loyalty

That sounds like a cult to me. The Dunning Kruger people used to make me angry and enraged, until I made a change. A change that RPR allowed. You see, I was the real asshole for letting a segment of the population that was too stupid to realize that they were incompetent annoy me. Yup. It was my fault. How do you know if someone displays the Dunning Kruger effect? Well, if you are not familiar with the subject that they present themselves as experts on, you don’t. Most of the time. Sometimes you can just tell. But, if you are familiar or very familiar with the subject in question, it is easy to see. Mainly because 99% of what they say is just wrong. AND: Just because you don’t agree with someone’s approach doesn’t mean it is wrong. That may be an indicator that you are the one affected by the Dunning Kruger Effect. Let me see if I can wrap this up and tie it all together: I used to blow up all the time, be stressed out, and was not always a force for good, in so much at least for the people closest to me. Professionally, yes I did try to be a force for good. Now, I have seen a massive change. Thanks to RPR, and obviously getting older and wiser. A good change. I make it may mission of the day to spread good. I’ll fail. We all do. But I won’t stop trying. This was realized even more this week as I saw some things that would normally make my head explode and get me all jacked up. Yes, I saw the Dunning Kruger Effect on full display for all to see in full braggadocio mode on the interwebs. What happened when I saw it? I laughed. That is huge. Thanks JL. I also realized that I was the one who was the real idiot sometimes. I let those who are too incompetent to realize the actual level of their incompetence aggravate me. Now for some fun stuff.   I can’t wait for tomorrow! I am starting the St. Paddy’s Day prep at the House of Blues with a Flogging Molly show, and Team Elite FTS member, Nate “Mr. Conjugate” Harvey is joining me. He’s in town for a seminar. Let’s see if I can be a force for bad and get him so shitfaced that he drools all day with a hangover at the seminar. Nah. I won’t do that. Or will I? And now for the free stuff I mentioned. I created a ridiculous offer for Elitefts.com readers for my site TPSMethod.com. The site has everything you need to be a better lifter. Programs, coaching, video seminars and more. Elitefts.com readers are eligible for a massive discount on memberhip. You can save up to 50% off on membership right now. Go to https://tpsmethod.com/elitefts_join/ to take advantage. But if you are not ready to jump in, how about a week free? Easy. Go to tpsmethod.com and get a free week on me. If you decide to stay be sure to cancel at the end of the week and sign up on the link above to get the EliteFTS.com discount. The free trial link is at full price. You have nothing to lose! It’s free. Oh, and on March 16 we are hosting the TPS Method for Powerlifting Seminar. All the details are on my Instagram page, and Facebook. It’s gonna be awesome. We hope to see you there. Did you miss last week’s Log?  





Read it here. Find me on Google-search for Total Performance Sports Malden, Mass. The Best Gym in Boston, Facebook too. Oh, yeah, follow us on Instagram too. @TPSMalden DM ME QUESTIONS THERE TOO! You might be featured in a Coaching Log And @tpsmethod SHARE THIS! #bostonsstrongest Vincere vel mori

C.J. Murphy February 21, 2019