Big Is Inside

Want to be a leader in the sport of bodybuilding?  Here’s the secret.

My last post prior to this one was about the new guys (and gals — remember, I’m from Boston where both men AND women are called "you guys").  So I guess this one is about the old guys.  Well, not OLD, but the ones who are in the game.  

And also the ones who want to get into the game . . . which might be you . . .

This is about all you BIG dreamers.  All you guys (there it is again) who want to be the next BIG bodybuilding and physique AUTHORITY.  You just KNOW in your BONES you got what it takes to ROCK the #1 game . . . And now you think you’re ready (and willing).  You want to ascend to becoming the next #1, video-having, article-spouting, fan-base-building, benchmark-creating, hero-worshiped ultra authority.  You might even think you deserve such authority.  And, in fact, you might even be correct.

So how do I GET THERE?

Well, let’s face it: there are LOTS of those who claim authority in bodybuilding.  Authorities in physiology.  Authorities on diet.  Authorities on training.  Authorities on competing . . .

And the Authorities will ALL tell you — the way authorities ALWAYS do — that THEIR way is THE way to get the authority.  Any authority in  bodybuilding will claim that THEIR OWN method of practice, their education, and their experience is THE BEST way to go . . . otherwise, they wouldn’t even BE the authority.  

Right?

And if you were an authority in the sport, that would imply that you are ALSO a leader in the sport.

Right . . . ?  

Well, maybe not . . .

See, authority relies on being #1 in some way.  And there is only so many #1’s.  (In fact, pulling out my calculator here, there is only one #1 in each category, last I did the math.)  So there’s only a FINITE amount of authority.  Not everyone gets some.  If YOU have authority, the other guy doesn’t.

When it comes to authority, some will end up having too much, others just enough, and still others won’t be given quite enough.  There will be inevitable scarsity.  We will run out of authority before we make more to accomodate those who deserve or take it.  There’s only a limited amount of “authority” to go around.  Only so many “#1 bodybuilding So-And-So’s”  

To focus on becoming an authority, you also have to compete and compete and compete with those trying to get some of that limited amount.  SO MUCH energy is spent trying to get a name for yourself.  

Meanwhile, leadership is limitless. Leadership is infinite.  There is no scarcity.  LOTS to go around with leadership.  If you want to be a leader, you can just dig right in, and get more than your fair share.  No need to compete — only the desire to lead.

Authority requires you play THEIR game.  LOTS of learning and work involved.  

Leadership only requires an understanding of your own game, and how it relates to the games of those you lead.  You already HAVE all your learning there.

Leadership is intimate.  It is personal.  It is based on what you already know and do.  

Yet, authority remains distant, avoiding intimacy.  Authority is removed.  Authority is foreign to those it commands.

Leadership does not require approval, only agreement.  Authority does not require agreement, only approval.  

Authority tells.  Leaders teach.

Authority most defend itself, closing off.  Leadership must open itself, defending others.

Authorities are focused on their own power.  Leaders are focused on the power of others.

Authority is claimed by placing demand.  Leadership is claimed by offering example.

Authorities defend their thoughts.  Leaders explain their ideas.

Authority seeks to limit the boundaries of other’s power.  Leadership requires the expansion of other’s power.

Authority has built into it a sense of scarcity.  Yet Leadership has built into it a sense of abundance.

More is found for you if you focus on being a great leader, than if you focus on being a #1 authority.  

The two need not be seperate.  Authorities can be great leaders.  And many great leaders end up having much authority.  

The balance between the two — and how that balance is achieved — is the JOB of every bodybuilder or physique competitor shooting for the top.  

You WANT the authority of the #1 slot.  But are you also a LEADER?

If you want MORE from your work, look into how your example, your ideas, and your strengths might lead others.  Continue to lead, and you will get more and more.  Authority might come — or it might not.

But you will never be without abundance.  And then you guys (there it is AGAIN!) will ALWAYS be in the game . . .

This entry was posted on Monday, July 2nd, 2007 at 8:41 am and is filed under The XN Files, Physique Culture, A Bodybuilding Education. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.