Category fashion

Things becoming a little clearer.

Blogging – Well with around 2000 views, 100 or so followers (Love you guys) and as of today over 100 blog posts, I can say things are going well . It is a little odd not knowing my audience, as well as on occasion finding out some friends are reading this I didn’t even know about. Nonetheless, it’s one hell of a platform for me to work with and is effectively a storage space of valuable ideas to return to. 

My goals – My goals are pretty straightforward. Compete in powerlifting. bodybuilding and obstacle races, get every qualification I need (fitness and degree), open a gym selling my apparel and work as a sports psychologist and instructor. Granted they are pretty black and white but that does not mean they easy by any means. 

Methods – In terms of reaching these goals I have to give myself credit, progress if being made. In terms of training I am at a point where I could comfortably compete in powerlifting, around 1 to 2 years away from a bodybuilding comp and have a race in 5 days! As for the rest, well they are slower. my final year of my degree in Criminology and Applied Psychology begins in a month with qualifications in fitness are planned for next year. The longer term projects are my gym and apparel, I have an interested second party and designs for apparel are complete, time to bring it all together! I have to be grateful too for the growth of my platforms Instagram/blog/Facebook page (linked below). Between them all I manage to reach thousands of people which is unbelievable. Whatever it takes to change lives.

https://www.facebook.com/PBMoriginal

http://instagram.com/c_j_barney  

Battles – Nothing worth having comes easy. Well everything I want is certainly worth having, so of course that provokes struggle. So far there are issues I’ve made my way through, though on regular occasion they return to me, I’m not sure they ever leave. Reoccurring issues are things like body dismorphia, eating disorders and maintaining a positive mentality. Some battles are unavoidable as every one of you will appreciate. For instance, my main two issues are time and money – aren’t they always?  With the money and time, I could invest in my apparel for faster growth as well as produce more designs, with even more I could start financing my own gym! But we have what we have, there is no excuse for not making the most of that!

The last of my battles are to do with the necessary mentality. To go on with all this every day without faltering isn’t easy by any means. With little appreciation from the outside world as well as those around me (few exceptions) it becomes even harder and somewhat lonely. There has to be an ongoing thought, a belief that what I am doing is worthwhile, so luckily I have that going for me to drive me through. 

 

People – The people in our lives have a drastic effect on who we are. Too often we surround ourselves with people who cannot accept us or unintentionally cause us to close away parts of who we are. I learnt this lesson over several years and of course the hard way (seems to be a pattern in my learning methods). However today things are a little different, over time I have changed who I keep around me in both quantity and quality. I don’t really see the need for a hundred friends or the approval of the world, instead I have learnt to just be me and those who can accept that stay. Incredibly that has left me with a group measurable on both hands in quantity, but in quality? Immeasurable. 

I have friends who support me, understand me and encourage me. A girlfriend who beyond my understanding not only accepts all that I am, but actually seems to be fond of it? (yes an understatement but you see the point I am making). 

People say you surround yourself with like-minded people, of course they are right, I do not disagree. However when in a position like me you realise like-minded people can be hard to find, which I consider to be a privilege. No, instead surround yourself with people who, though may not be on your path, are willing to walk beside you when you falter, or will help you stand your ground when things get tough. I adore those in my life and can not thank them enough. 

 

Hard work – This is it. The determining feature. No dream nor goal was ever achieved without hard work. So on a regular basis I find myself saying to myself, ‘are you prepared for this? Are you willing to keep going?’. I am not arrogant enough to pretend my answer is always yes. On many days I will suffer, I will want to give in and take it easy. So of course I have my fears and like every other person on this planet I fear the possible. ‘Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure’ – Marianne Wiliamson. How far I have come terrifies me as it reveals the possible of how far I could go. Would you not be scared too? To have everything you could imagine, the ideal life and world unravel before you, are you brave enough to go all out and pursue that with one sickening thought daily echoing in your mind.

What if I fail? What if it all passes me by?

This will never leave my mind sadly, but that is not to say I cannot work aside it, the fear of failure will only be lost in my ability to succeed. 

 

Aspire to Inspire. 

Bodybuilding and Life – 30 Lessons

1) Wake up early

Laziness and procrastination is an awesome way to suck at life.
It’s ok to sleep in sometimes, but don’t make a habit of wasting your life in bed.
Get your ass up and go.

2) Don’t make excuses EVER

Nothing is going to derail your efforts faster than trying to place blame on anything other than yourself. YOU control YOU. Once you figure that out, things will start to happen for you.

3) Do shit other people aren’t willing to do

You have to be willing to get uncomfortable and go outside of the norm to dominate life. Whether you want to be a bodybuilder or a business-man, doing the things that others will not will give you confidence and an attitude of ass-kicking-ness toward life.

4) Eat well

Eating crap may not affect you now, but it will.

It’s not “cool” to be able to eat what you want and stay lean. It’s still destroying your insides and you’re setting yourself up for a shitty time when you’re older. Eat good whole foods and take care of yourself. How you eat reflects your sense of self respect. Take care of the temple!

5) Surround yourself with bright people

How you talk, walk, and act is a result of the people that you surround yourself with… so get around bright and successful people!

People, TV programs, the daily news all introduce thoughts and behaviors into your life. What goes in, must come out. Beware.

6) Always wear clean shoes

You can dress like a bum, but clean shoes say that this guy takes care of his shit. Shine those biatches.

7) Stay at nice hotels

Splurge! I know it gets pricey, but surrounding yourself with successful people and the first class lifestyle associated with 5-star hotel treatment will motivate you to work harder to stay there.

It’s an investment in your confidence and mindset. Plus the food is much better.

8) Become a professional

I wish someone had told me this sooner in life.

Whatever you do, BE A PROFESSIONAL.

I don’t care if you’re a professional Brazilian waxer or horse stall sweeper. Do it, and do it better than anyone else and do it with pride.

Want to be a pro bodybuilder? Then THAT is your profession. Eat, sleep, walk, talk like the best of the best (although it may be hard to find a decent role model).

Write down what you would expect from a pro in your field. What should a pro bodybuilder look, talk, eat, train like?

Why aren’t you doing that?

9) Enjoy life

Too many people have no idea what being happy means to them.

What really makes you happy? (if you say shopping you need to read a book…ANY book!).

Find what you enjoy and make it a large part of your life.


10) Get HARDCORE

The world is trying to breed mediocrity.
DESPISE mediocrity.
Get intense, get focused, get hardcore.

Whatever you choose to do, go HARD or go the Fuck home.

Wake the Fuck up people. Get excited. Get enthusiastic. Get hardcore!

11) Smile!

Smiling doesn’t make you a bad person… why don’t people smile?

12) Talk

I know there are 7.1 billion people in the world, but saying hello to the 30 people you encounter on a daily basis really isn’t hard. PRACTICE.

Communication is an art. No need to be afraid. Rejection is good for you too.

Read13) Read

Reading will improve your ability to think and communicate.

TV seems to be the new cool thing to talk about. Reading is now reserved for the very select few who choose to give a shit about their lives.

14) Choose your TOP 5

You are the 5 people you choose to surround yourself with. We all get into circumstances we can’t always control, but stop making excuses and take control of your life.

If you have a hard time finding 5 great people to surround yourself with, you simply aren’t bringing enough to the table. Respect is earned.

15) Fly first class at least once

Yep, it’s 4 times as expensive and you’re often paying a lot extra for a crappy meal, but flying first class will motivate your brain to start thinking about HOW you can start affording this all the time. MUCH better than spending the entire flight thinking about how much the fat person beside you smells bad and how the leg-room sucks in coach.

16) Choose what you put into your brain

A single drop of brown dye in a bucket may go unnoticed, but continue to allow drops of brown dye into that bucket and eventually you’re going to have a big bucket of shit. Don’t let people drop their shit in your bucket. Negative people are like the cancer of life.

17) Never talk negatively about others

Your brain can only hold one conscious thought at a time. Why would you waste that talking about someone elses life? Life is too short to waste it on other peoples problems.


18) Buy a suit

If you want to be successful, first impressions matter. Save up and buy a suit that makes you look like a boss. It will get you much further than dropping a few hundred at the bar every weekend.

19) Dress one step above everyone else

You never want to be under-dressed.

If you’re expected to wear a shirt and tie…. you wear a jacket. Stand out from the crowd. If everyone in the room is wearing a black tux, go out and buy a fkn fedora.

20) Always choose the road less travelled

When given the choice between picking the easy road and the road that would make something of you, always choose the road that others aren’t willing to take.

Rest less, work more.

21) NEVER quit

This is the number one thing learned. If you start, you finish!

No matter how much it sucks. You chose to start, you’re committed, and there may be someone relying on you.

22) Be grateful

This should be number one on the list.

If you suck at everything else and refuse to try anything outside of what you’re already doing, do this one.

Anything and everything in life has gratitude hidden somewhere inside it. Find a reason to be grateful for everything in life.

23) Get a mentor or coach

You are only one person and you have no time to do everything.

Hire someone or ask someone to help guide you in one area of your life you need most help with.

24) Enthusiasm moves the world

Get enthusiastic.

Why does it seem most people are afraid to show their enthusiasm for fear of ridicule. If someone puts you down for being enthusiastic, think about it, tell them to take a walk. Good people encourage enthusiasm.

Arnold25) MAN UP

Accept responsibility for your actions, be confident, take control of your life. 

Be a man!

BONUS POINTS:

26) Save money.

27) Be the first to help others.

28) Treat your lady like a queen.

29) The world waits for you to TELL them who you are. Decide the person you
want to become and show the world.

30) Give back!

 

Aspire to Inspire

PBM Release

 

So, PBM Apparel – Aka my baby, has just taken another step. T-shirt designs arrived and I am extremely happy, though it may seem simple, horrible amounts of work have gone into this including test products, designs, commissioned artwork, contacting printing companies and distribution, the advertising on social media, this stuff is NOT as easy as I expected, but I love it! In no way is the intention to make a profit for me, actually its the same as it has always been –

 

Aspire to Inspire.