744. From Natural Bodybuilding Champion to Natural Nutrition Pioneer

“I lost a New Brunswick bodybuilding championship in a very close decision. I was very frustrated, and I committed to double down and do whatever it took to win the show the next year, no matter what. I trained relentlessly, while working three part-time jobs because I needed the money to support my training and my nutrition requirements. I also started coaching people. I worked harder, longer, stayed focused and at the end of the year I won the contest. A year later I went to my first national championship, got a sponsorship from a nutrition company, and it was up and up after that.”

“Three major events happened in my life when I was 15 years old. First, my family moved to an extremely rural location, five miles from our nearest neighbor, and I was separated from my friends and community. Then, my older sister was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Next, out of the blue, my sister gave me a magazine on bodybuilding. These events led me to start exploring natural health modalities for my sister’s health, which is the field I am thriving in many years later, and I built a gym in our barn and set out on a path of becoming a bodybuilder, which has also been an essential part of my life journey.”

“I’ve always been highly curious and a voracious reader and those traits have allowed me to view the world through the lenses of the great thinkers and philosophers throughout history. The educational system was always a disappointment to me so, starting in the 3rd grade, I got into Greek mythology. And as I progressed, I got into science and sociology and psychology—all on my own. This innate curiosity and frankly, confidence to trust my own instincts that was instilled in me by my parents, has had a powerful impact on my life and career in every way.”

1. Broaden your perspective early on. Read the writings and biographies of the world’s great thinkers and philosophers to see your world through different lenses.

2. Seek out the 3 to 5 experts in the field you are fascinated by and learn from them. Meet them when you are able. Most are happy to share their wisdom.

3. Be prepared to work tirelessly to achieve your goals with determination, resilience and courage.

4. Don’t be afraid of failing. Be willing to experiment, explore and try something new. If it doesn’t work out the way you anticipate, you can always extract useful information from the experience.