I like all kinds of sports, but I love the competition aspect behind most extreme sports better than that of traditional sports.  Its thrilling for me to watch Freestyle motocross when someone throws an impossible trick or a snowboard half-pipe when someone catches impossible air.  The feat itself is amazing, but what is most amazing is when all the competitors come out and congratulate the athlete they are competing against with an attitude of awe and excitement.  Sure, each competitor wants to win, but each competitor also knows that when someone reaches a new "height" in the sport, it resets the standard for what is possible and makes the sport that much better.  When this type of unity takes place amongst those who are competing, the competition no longer is between one another, but instead becomes a competition of self within each individual to better themselves so they can add to one another as opposed to "beat" one another; they actually make each other better.

My name is Michael Maples and I have been a friend of Noah for several years now.  We met because we were in the same industry and shared in common that we were the only ones our age in the area that owned a fitness business of a significant size (forgive me if I overlooked someone).  I had a gym in Branson (Maples Training and Fitness) and Noah had BigTime Results in Springfield.  I have to admit that I was inspired by and jealous all at the same time of Noah's accomplishments.  It seemed that everything I was lacking in how my business operated, Noah had in his and that he was personally achieving things that I was not.  Even though it was human nature to initially bring negative feelings at times, I was always able to quickly cool it off, reminding myself that the "sport" we were playing was not in a competition with each other, but rather a competition with the negative pull of society that is creating unhealthy communities.  With this realization, I was able to use Noah's achievements to realize what was possible and actually apply it in my own life.

In 2010, mostly by choice, and partly by circumstance, the time came that I had to sell my gym.  It was a relief and sad all at the same time.  I moved to Colorado for a short time (still working in health and fitness) and Kansas City for a short time.  I have been back in the Ozarks since July of 2011.  I still do a lot of work in fitness and own and operate a couple of other small businesses.  Every month I still get the opportunity to work with Noah by making this newsletter, filling in some gaps in training, and helping watch over some operational things when he goes out of town.  We have developed a relationship, not as Saturday night buddies, but as friends who are fighting a battle with each other and never against one another.  Although my business may not have amounted in the end to what BigTime Results has turned into, I'm thankful that my perspectives as well as Noah's were able to maintain focus on the real task at hand, which is to increase our collective communities chance of attaining their God Intended Right to be Healthy.  As a human it is often so easy to let our pride get in the way that we stop battling the enemy and start battling each other.... NOT THIS TIME!!

If you ever have any questions or have a promotional idea for BigTime Results you can feel free to contact me at maples@bigtimeresults.com. Until then, I'll be here behind the scenes.