Turning PRO

One day, a trusted friend of mine clicked on the, “What’s happening, Shelby?” Facebook feature and updated his status with a hot tip. He was compelled to share that he earned his IFBB Pro card after successfully reading Turning PRO by Steven Pressfield. Humorous and witty as Shelby is, and fully aware of his play upon words, he clicked "post” and instantly grabbed the attention of his many friends, clients, and fans while promoting a quality book he felt was worth reading. Little did they know—little did I know (all jokes pushed aside), that it was through the months of prep leading up to his show that Shelby thumbed the pages of Turning PRO while completing his daily cardio, further conditioning his mind and body.

Without any further explanation or information regarding the contents of the book, I became intrigued. I assumed the book he was referring to was a collection of bodybuilding absolutes—information regarding proper training, sound nutrition, water manipulation, muscle growth, fat loss, posing techniques, presentation guidelines, and supplement use. Needless to say, I quickly ordered the book.

Book One: The Amateur Life

You see, shortly before reading Shelby’s post, I had quit on the one thing dearest to my heart: I dropped out of contest prep for a figure show I had planned on doing in July of 2012 in Michigan. I debated about the decision for weeks before finally pulling the pin, and I had no understanding as to why I was so indecisive. I had never felt such brute resistance in all my life. I woke up with it weighing down on my shoulders, and I could see it staring back at me through reflection. I heard it as I spoke. Night after night I found it challenging to fall asleep due to its deliberate inability to slow down. It disgusted me. It was painful. It set out to torture me.

 “So what if you don’t compete now? There will be other shows.”

 “It’s not like it’s the end of the world.”

 As much as I knew this was the case, my self began to die as I, without censorship, inspected the thoughts of stopping. If there was one thing that I felt worth doing, it was prepping for competition. But my spirit was crying with the surrounded opposition.

Book Two: Self-Inflicted Wounds

To ease the burden of self-destruction and shame, I told others and myself, “I need a break.” I listened to rationalizations created by myself and those surrounding me.

In difficulty, I questioned and contemplated the following:

  • Was I supposed to put all my energies into my career?
  • Were my days of competing gone?
  • Was it that my metabolism was showing signs of abuse?
  • Was I weakening?
  • Did I do something wrong?

Book Three: The Professional Mindset

Within minutes of reading the first chapter of Turning PRO, I unpredictably found myself shell-shocked, chilled, wide-eyed, and speechless. Surprisingly, Pressfield began to examine and define my internal language—a familiar dialogue I could barely understand nor felt comfortable sharing with another. For I knew if only an ounce more of bitterness were to be consumed, I would have continued to be in a state of nausea. It was not about the lack of stage time I feared. No, not at all. It came down to the actuality that I let it win. More now than ever, I needed Pressfield’s words, as I was dependent upon catching my next breath.

Iron Insights: Mindset

Perhaps you read my first article, Mindset? Mindset was written the morning after my show in Chicago, Illinois, in November 2012. Forty minutes early to my first photo shoot, I sat in my car alongside a busy road adjacent to the studio and felt the need to reflect on paper.

In a 14-week period, I read Turning PRO approximately four times (throughout my second attempt at contest prep). I went from lost to found, dull to vibrant, slightly hungry to ravenous. Reading after training and while performing cardio proved to be a delicate chunk of time optimally allowing me to concentrate and comprehend Pressfield’s subject matter. If my cardio called for sprint work, the book was open. If my cardio called for low intensity/longer duration-type work, the book was open.

Before Turning PRO, I thought I was pretty tough. I could trudge through thick mud and beat all odds, but AHA! I allowed foolish rationalizations to aid in giving up. Then and now I continue to be bordered by perfect storms. It’s only now that I anticipate them and know their occurrences are only natural. Instead of bolting for shelter or hitting the panic button, I remain still, focused, and ready.

Pressfield’s many words, battle analogies, first-person experiences, and blunt blows are life-changing and applicable to whatever your cause may be. Perhaps you are still figuring out what your cause is? His work will help you. Perhaps you are coming up with excuses and running away from your purpose? I’ll lend you my copy. Regardless of what you hold true and whatever it is you do for the sake of doing, he provides a clear path in finding your way. Expect to be held accountable, anticipate change, await focus, and welcome in success and bar-gripping power. Expect to never give up on yourself again.

In the quest to learn more, I had the privilege of sitting down with the best-selling author himself for a short interview. Being that elitefts™ successfully outfits and educates the strongest athletes in the world, there is no question that readers will benefit from Steven Pressfield's message and wisdom, using it to sharpen their athleticism. The wise adage, “You’re only as strong as your weakest link,” reveals how triceps strength can determine a big bench press. Yet, for others, this adage may apply when attempting to defeat the concept of Resistance he speaks about and defines. It is my hope that you, the reader, also becomes curious and seeks/utilizes his collection of alternative medicine methods (11 books and counting). I have no doubt that you’ll be able to heed off sickness, preserve and promote your health, increase the capacity to do work, maximize performance, and ultimately give yourself the push to show up day-in and day-out.

Sheena: You have mentioned that you felt Resistance when beginning to exploit its many forms in writing. How do you differentiate between your "gut feeling" and "the voice" that seems to want to destroy you at all costs?

Steve: I would say that the "gut feeling" is the Good Angel and "the voice" is the Bad Devil. I have an axiom that I use when I'm trying to tell the difference: "When in doubt, it's Resistance." In other words, if you're not sure whether that voice is trying to screw you up or not, bet on it being the one that's trying to screw you up. Ignore it! Don't take the day off. Don't have that piece of cake. Resistance is so devious and so clever; it can disguise itself and fool you. When it doubt, that "voice" is Resistance.

Sheena: Do you feel Resistance will become more tragic and perhaps debilitating for future generations? Why or why not?

Steve: I don't know about future generations, but I can tell you for sure that Resistance does not diminish with age or with skill level. It never goes away. It never decreases. You have to slay the dragon anew every morning.

Sheena:  I was under the impression that once I finished college, life would be one easy road, as if all the hard work was complete. I now know that college is just a baby step in the journey of life. Do you think colleges and universities are prepping their graduates with the real tools to be successful and powerful?

Steve: Definitely not, or there wouldn't be books like The War of Art or Turning PRO. Colleges DON'T teach the real stuff you need. That's okay. They're not supposed to. What I'm trying to impart is the stuff they DON'T teach you at the Iowa Writers' Workshop. This is real-life knowledge, from the University of Hard Knocks.

Sheena: Resistance was never a dinner topic growing up. That being said, I was told to always work hard. What do you say to the guy or gal out there presently surrendering to Resistance, ultimately in arm's length of unleashing his or her true potential?

Steve: The biggest mental breakthrough in dealing with Resistance is simply becoming aware of its existence. Resistance takes the form of that seductive voice in your head (or coming from people close to you), which is trying to sabotage your best efforts at moving to a higher level spiritually, morally, ethically, aesthetically, athletically, etc. Once you realize that those seductive devil thoughts are NOT "your" thoughts, but are being manufactured by this entity inside you that is trying to sabotage you, then you have a fighting chance to defeat them. You can now see through them. You see them for the bullshit they really are. Then you can simply say, "Well, I won't pay attention to them. I won't listen. I'll dismiss them."

Sheena: Where can we learn more about you, find and order your many books, and be aware of upcoming projects?

Steve: I have a blog at www.stevenpressfield.com. Every Wednesday I do a post called "Writing Wednesdays" that might be helpful to powerlifters too. I have two partners who do posts on Monday and Friday as well. You can see what other books I have, they're on the site. And books can be ordered directly from my own little company, Black Irish Books: www.blackirishbooks.com.