So you Want to Become a Strength and Conditioning Coach?

KSI is 20 years old this year!

I am somewhat reticent to make too much of a deal about this milestone because I have witnessed so much deceit in claims in this industry, one are around how many years one has been in business.

So just to be clear - this 20 years does not include from when I first started to walk. Nor does it include from when I first lifted a weight. Nor does it include my undergraduate study years.

It is the time frame from when I commenced a legally recognized business with the focused intent to provide commercial services of physical preparation to elite athletes in any sport, and have conducted that same service continuously since then. An unheard of business at that time. Now of course, the industry is crowded with so many claiming that they walked off the arc with Noah and were his coach. Just the other day I noted a 4 year 'veteran' in terms of self-employment seek to infer a time period 400% greater than that.

So I am careful to say - this really is 20 years, of real service, in the same theme with the same intent and the continuous action of servicing the athlete and coach. And I'm proud of it, whilst conscious that by sharing this feat I may be lumped into the same category of those those have no moral concerns of b-s'ing about their business experience...

So really...KSI is one of the most established company in the world of physical preparation, dating back to it's formal commencement in 1986. (that is the business was registered in that year, and hit the ground running, servicing over 100 national and international level athletes in our first year!)

We lead the field in 1986, with anticipation, innovation and excellent. And nothing has changed. At least nothing in our approach. The industry has changed. The wellness industry has created a market crowded with instant experts willing to lie and exaggerate about what they offer.

Our goal has been to be known for our achievements, not for our self-created claims. We are happy to let our impact on people be our marketing vehicle. So in many ways we cannot and chose not to 'compete' with false claims common these days.

We are happy to stand alone and focus on what we do best - get results in the real world because we are committed to doing that. For KSI it's not about 'wanting to be important', or a 'industry heavy- hitter' or 'guru'. We just want to play, train, compete, win and chill out in between with family and friends!

A year or so after releasing the original Get Buffed! book and workout, we released a video with Ian talking you through how to approach the entire 12 week program and demonstrating each exercise.

The day George Hincapie finally got to be the bride...as promised earlier,

So there we were, at the top of the Pyrenees, the finish of the toughest mountain stage of the Tour. The basin housed a sizeable tent city, the inhabitants of which had been drinking and carousing for days awaiting the arrival of their heroes. It was baking hot, dusty and gritty and along with the growing anticipation of the day's events came a feeling that complete chaos was just one jostle away. In other words, the locals were getting restless. The race was well underway but it would still be an hour before the riders made their way across the finish line.

The two guys responsible for much of OLN's up close race coverage (they shoot it from a motorcycle alongside the riders until the last 25 Kilometers or so when they shoot ahead to the finish compound), showed up at the truck after traveling the day's route looking completely shell shocked. They were covered in water and beer, and had been hit with any number of objects and insults from rowdy fans on the side of the road.

That cemented it for me, I was staying put inside the media compound.

The night before, Chris Carmichael (Lance's coach), had told us at dinner that today was the day Lance had singled out months ago. This was the one he really wanted to win.

Works for me, I thought. After all, I hadn't seen Lance win a stage yet, and I was more than ready to be present for some epic mountain stage with the great one beating out his rivals for the last time. An instant classic. We sat and watched the race on TV, dismissing the fact that the lead group was 15 minutes ahead of Lance and the peloton. Of course they would be caught; after all, George was just there in case Lance needed help on the final climbs.

They plodded on, through the crowds, somehow unaffected. It was impossible not to fear for the riders' safety. The live feed suddenly went dark. A moment of dread. Until they cut to the overhead camera's feed and showed the replay of what had happened. A fan actually being run over by the motorcycle filming the race. I gasped, as did most of us, but simultaneously, from the other side of the truck came a raucous cheer... from the OLN motorcycle cameramen. They're the ones who have to deal with these road fans every day. And that's when I realized: this is Pamplona. And you know what they say about messing with the bulls... If you are dumb enough to get in the way, you'll just have to deal with the consequences.

As the lead group approached, slowly, and somewhat reluctantly, we let go of the idea that Lance would save the day with an inspired and superhuman ascent. It started to seem possible that George, the perpetual best-man, might actually get to stand up on the podium himself this day.

Watching him approach the finish, I got the sense he was hesitant, almost uncomfortable. But as he crossed the line and heard the cheers, you could see him slowly allowing himself to sink into the beauty of what he had just done for himself.

In the compound, the effect of the win crossed all national boundaries. It spoke to everyone who has ever toiled for someone else’s glory or gain. And for those who have been around to see George (the only rider who has been with Lance through each of his 6 victories) win a stage for the first time, the victory was especially sweet. Imagine if Scottie Pippen had ever won the NBA finals MVP trophy instead of his superstar team-mate Michael Jordan. (Then imagine you actually liked Scottie Pippen.) All this and I haven't even gotten to the gondola ride down with 45 drunken Basque fans and a live pig. Really, I'll have to save it for another time.

Hard to believe we are rolling toward the finish in Paris already. As dirty and road-weary as I am, can't say I’m anxious for this to end.

Hope you’re all enjoying the show back home. I'll be sure to check in after Paris and what is sure to be a tearjerker on the Champs Elysees.

--Carrie

Every life form seems to strive to its maximum except human beings. How tall will a tree grow? As tall as it possibly can. Human beings, on the other hand, have been given the dignity of choice. You can choose to be all or you can choose to be less. Why not stretch up to the full measure of the challenge and see what all you can do?

Reproduced with permission from the Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine.