7 rules to live by that will keep you strong.
͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
 | | In today's edition, Joe shares: - Lessons from Hvar and the Middle East
- My 7 Best Rules for Life
- How to Stay Active with Limitations
| | | | Spartans,
I just flew in from a hell of a trip around the world.
First, 18 meetings in the Middle East, then Hvar, Croatia for Spartan's first-ever Sprint and 100M World Championship. If you couldn't make it out, go catch the livestream—it's wild!
It was an amazing trip. Being on the road in new places and meeting new faces is something I love. But it sucks to be away from the family. You feel it. And carrying the weight of Spartan and Tough Mudder on your shoulders brings some heavy moments.
But all that weight is relieved when I see our athletes and the Spartan community. Watching people work hard, motivate each other, and still have a blast—that fires me up. Every single person I met had the same story: Spartan changed their life. Gave them strength. Made them part of something bigger.
While meeting members of the community, they asked me: How do you keep it all together? How do you lead a global team, inspire 11 million people, leave your family, and still have the energy to push forward?
This is a question that resonates with everyone—from busy parents to entrepreneurs to hardworking people everywhere.
Here's my answer: Keep your standards tight.
1. Eat clean (although I'll admit, I did slip in Croatia with a few meals).
2. Work out.
3. Do your cold plunges and saunas.
4. Remember your "why" (hearing the community's stories definitely helped me here).
Those things will keep you grounded no matter where in the world you are.
But there's one other key reminder…
5. DIVE IN! Learn to embrace the chaos.
In Croatia, I joined the race (five hours of hell) but I made it fun. I ran alongside people who didn't speak English, stopped at random spots that looked cool—local honey with beekeepers, ancient olive oil wheels of death—and had a few swims in the sea.
Picture this: An added extra 3-mile chain carry, but with a detour at a beach dive restaurant for a glass of juice. | | I turned the grind into an epic experience.
Same goes for the Middle East: 18 meetings back to back with strangers? No problem.
I focused on what I could control, and tried to enjoy every person I was connecting with.
That's my advice to you when you're in it. I'm still learning it myself, but when you stick to your standards and find ways to enjoy the ride, everything—your team, your life, your mission—gets elevated.
Here's to The Hard Way,
Joe | | | 7 Ways to Live a Spartan Lifestyle | 1. Do hard things
Thanks to natural selection, humans are hard-wired to seek laziness to conserve energy. However, studies show that not only is doing challenging things rewarding for your brain, but the reward outweighs the pain of the challenge itself.
2. Life is a class: Don't skip
Most people go through life without fully understanding their abilities or potential. Learn something new every day to boost brain health, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
3. Decide who you want to be
Following your "True North," keeps you aligned with your core values and increases longevity and mental sharpness. "Your True North is a fixed point set by your deeply held beliefs and values," I write in The Spartan Way. "Align with it and your True North will act as a high-speed train pulling you through life."
4. Be honest and realistic
Success rarely comes easily—if it does, you may not be challenging yourself enough. Extraordinary results come from hard work, sweat, and persistence.
5. Wake up early
Waking up early gives you a head start on life and is linked to better health, mood, and productivity, according to researchers at the University of London and Harvard.
6. Eat healthy
The Spartan diet focuses on whole, organic foods like vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean proteins. Follow the Mediterranean-style diet for optimal nutrition and energy.
7. Train daily
Daily movement, whether a run or a walk, keeps you healthy and committed, reducing the risk of diseases and aligning with Spartan discipline and consistency. | | | | You Ask, Joe Answers | Q: Hey Joe, I'm 67 years old and I started doing Spartan races in 2013, my first one was Washugal (Portland). I have arthritis in my shoulder. The doc says no more OCR, but I need something. I still run and modify my weight lifting but I need more competition. What do you suggest?
- Stuart S.
A: Hey Stuart, I'm thinking you'd really love Spartan TRAIL and DEKA events. You'll get all the community and adventure of a Spartan race, with the exercises that will be compatible with your shoulder. Plus, the competition is fierce.
Aroo!
Question for Joe? Want to tell him what you think of The Hard Way? Email him at thehardway@spartan.com. | | | | They Said It | | "In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." | | – Albert Einstein | | | The Hard Way Podcast | | | "There's this cognitive dissonance that exists between what people say they want and then what their actions say they want…their actions tell a different story." | | | | | | To keep receiving this newsletter, sign up here. | | | WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THIS NEWSLETTER? | | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment