Work Smarter, Then Work Harder!

Or, as Lance Armstrong puts it, "Work like you stole something."

Teammates, I’m over all the efficiency experts in the world saying: “Work Smarter Not Harder”. Who’s kidding who here? Just because you’re going to “work smarter” doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still work harder. Think about it! Let's assume you’ve discovered a smarter way to work (assuming you haven’t just discovered a Genie in a bottle), you have to assume others have unearthed a similar “smarter” approach; which means that you’re no further ahead then when you started “working smarter” because others are doing the same “smart work” – which means you’re right where you started UNLESS, you take your new found “smart work” technique and apply a hefty dose of good old fashioned hard work to the equation.

For those looking to really make something happen – then live by this slogan:

“Work smarter, THEN Work harder!”

There’s lots of ways to work smarter (we think we’re on to something here at Team Perfect!) but that’s only half of the equation – the other half is hard work, and lots of it! At the end of the day, the person with the prize is the one who learned to work smarter while working his or her tail off all along the way. When you learn a better way to do something, be like Lance Armstrong when he would earn the yellow jersey for the first time on each of his tour wins – he’s been quoted as saying: “I ride like I stole something”. I love that phrase, because that’s exactly what you should be thinking when you’ve discovered a better way to do something. Take that smarter approach, then work like you’ve stole something! Because sooner or later, others are coming, and the one that wins will be the one that is relentless on learning how to work smarter while working harder!

And guess what, your ability to work harder is directly correlated with the condition of your body! The strength of your brain, body and attitude – the only three things you can control – determine your ability to generate work. The better conditioned your brain, body, and attitude are, the better you’ll be at generating relentless amounts of smarter, harder work toward your goal. That’s why fitness Fires me UP so much, because it’s a key component in enabling you to work harder to accomplish your goals – i.e. it powers your ability to make a difference – to live the life you want!!

So next time you hear some self-help expert tell you that all you need to do is Work Smarter Not Harder – correct him/her immediately before they accidentally infect another poor soul with a slacker’s slogan.

Define your goal, then work it like you stole something!

CHARLIE MIKE - ALDEN

Pearl Harbor Attack, Dec 7, 1941

Teammates – Sixty-eight years ago today was the attack on Pearl Harbor. Nine ships of the U.S. fleet were sunk and the overall death toll reached 2,350. The battleship Arizona alone lost 1,117 military personnel. As I have said before, probably one of the more over-used terms today is “on a mission” but what does it really mean? I want to define the true term, because once you appreciate it, you’ll think about it in a whole new light.

In the military, On a Mission literally means in harm’s way, and in SEAL Team on a mission meant doing whatever it takes to get it done – including if absolutely unavoidable, the ultimate sacrifice. Sixty-eight years ago, there were men and women out there willing to die for a good greater than themselves.

Today let us honor the memory of the brave men and women of Pearl Harbor. They were willing to die to complete a mission and their sacrifice will never be forgotten.

CHARLIE MIKE -- ALDEN

The Mission of CHARLIE MIKE

My name is Alden Mills and I started this blog while I was on a new mission in my life – moving slowly from one peak in my life (as a platoon commander of Navy SEALs) to a new peak as an entrepreneur. The “valley” I encountered between those peaks reminded me of other valleys that I have endured during my life. Though the mission may be different, the tools to succeed remain the same … and that’s the purpose of this blog – to share with you those tools of mission success, so you are empowered to encourage others to go after their own missions – that is – their own purpose-driven goals.

I named this blog CHARLIE MIKE after the SEAL Team radio call sign for CONTINUE MISSION. I don’t care who you are or what you’ve done – we all face dark valleys in our lives and when we do, we are faced with a decision: quit or forge ahead – that is, Continue Mission. It’s our hope that the words shared on CHARLIE MIKE will inspire you to Continue your Mission. It takes a team to accomplish a mission – and we’re here to help … God only knows we’re received more than our fair share of help from teammates over the years.

If you find success, we’ll hope you’ll share it so others may benefit – for there is no great success than helping others succeed.

CHARLIE MIKE – ALDEN

The Perfect Fitness Journey

CM TEAMMATES – stand-by and get Fired Up! We've just launched our next generation website! Huh? What’s the big deal about a new website?? And what’s it mean to you? Well, let me tell you: from the first day we started this company in 2002, the defining core value – the foundation on which this company is based - is the fact that WE CARE ABOUT YOUR HEALTH. And we don’t mean that as lip service – we mean this from the very depths of our souls – every element of product design, fitness routines, education, motivation and more is focused on helping all types of teammates with all levels of fitness experience be successful at taking control of their bodies. Do this and WE PROMISE YOU your life will change in ways you cannot imagine.

Our new site called www.PerfectOnline.com has an entirely new architecture that will allow you to get access much more easily to our library of free workouts and tips – it will enable you to connect with others, to help you find the right swim buddy – the right motivation, to pull free when you're stuck – to help take you to the next level – to Fire you Up when everyone around wants to drown you – to help you be as successful as you want to be – to help you take control of your body, so you can take control of your life.

We’ve come a long way since 2002, but there’s still so much more work to be done in helping teammates worldwide unlock their potential. Launching this new website is another step towards being a better teammate to you – our success is judged by your success – so PLEASE, let us know what you like and more importantly what you don’t like so we can be even better. Perfection is not a destination – it’s a journey, and the journey just got better with PerfectOnline.com!

Fired Up!

CHARLIE MIKE - ALDEN

How to Continue Your Mission

In the Special Operations world, CHARLIE MIKE is phonetic shorthand or code for Continue Mission when speaking on the radio to higher command or other teammates. Whether you're about to jump from an airplane, dive from a boat or assault a target -- CHARLIE MIKE is all about making the mission happen -- it's about Never Giving Up until you hear the words MIKE CHARLIE: Mission Complete. That's what our blog is all about -- encouraging folks to find their mission, whether it's a better body or a better life.

CHARLIE MIKE blog is code for an attitude of action, and the people that post and comment [getfit@perfectpushup.com] are committed to taking action and encouraging others to do the same. You will never fail if you take action toward your goal, but you are guaranteed to fail if you never act.

If these posts inspire you to set your sights on bigger, more daring missions, post your journey so you can inspire others. WE'RE ON A MISSION -- ARE YOU?

CHARLIE MIKE -- ALDEN

Teammates, I'm reprising this blog today to give a big HOOYAH to some teammates on an impressive 2,500 Perfect Pushups in one 5-day week mission! Bravo Zulu Jim!!

Picture of US Navy SEAL trident

CHARLIE MIKE SITREP: May 2009

Teammates – Check out our SITREP (Situation Report) for May - highlighting the depth and breadth of the CM SEAL Team bloggers. Click on their names to read more.


CM SEAL Team blogger: Mike Ryan
Title: Secret Weapon #1
"Cowards never got started and the weak died along the way. Truer words were never spoken. The first time I read this quote I was standing at parade-rest waiting to begin my first day of SEAL training. The words were carved into a wooden bench that stood just inside the doors of the Naval Special Warfare Center. At my feet, just in front of the bench, stood a perfect line of about 30 helmets - the last remnants of students who had reached their mental and physical limits and quit training. Predictably, my initial reaction was a mix of skepticism and sarcasm. “Yea” I thought, “that’s a little bit over-the-top.” About twenty minutes later I realized my worst nightmare had just begun.



CM SEAL Team blogger: Tom Rancich
Title: A Debt of Memory to Brothers and Sisters, Gratefully Paid
Memorial Day has always had an identity crisis. Even in the very beginning, it was only for Union soldiers, not merging all "Decoration Day" activities until after World War One. In 1971, Memorial Day became the last Monday in May instead of May 30. This move, designed to create a three-day weekend, irritated many by adding to the day an air of celebration instead of reflection: picnics, parades, ballgames, sales -- the start of the summer party. That doesn't bother me: somewhere in the 1.5 million soldiers remembered every Memorial Day there is certainly someone who would have really enjoyed another picnic, parade, ball game or day shopping. Some of those sacrificed would have liked one more party or one more prayer. It's all good.

CM SEAL Team blogger: Marcus Colburn
Title: MMA Fighters: Modern Day Gladiators
They entered the ring to the sound of rap, rock, old-school hip-hop, reggae, and even country-and-western, but the one thing every fighter at Saturday’s UFC (mixed martial arts fighting) event had in common was a powerful athletic physique built from metabolic resistance training. These modern-day warriors know better than to do bodybuilding, because those workouts just take too long and leave you puffed up, slow, and inflexible. That’s not how modern man should be – or look.



CM SEAL Team blogger: Stew Smith
Title: Stew Smith's Bodyweight Exercise Plan: Part I
Calisthenics, or bodyweight exercises, originated thousands of years ago in ancient Greece and have been a major component of fitness in athletics, military, law enforcement, and daily fitness for home workouts without equipment. Here is a request from a Perfect Pushup user in our YouTube group seeking to do more exercises without having to go to a gym.

"I need help in making a full body bodyweight routine. Any advice/sample that you can offer? I am seventeen and have been using the Perfect Pushup on and off for a year now."
CM SEAL Team blogger: Tim Grizzell
Title: Completing a Marathon: IV (a): The TAPER
Hello Charlie Mike teammates – I was initially going to cover just the day of the race in the final post of my marathon series. After reviewing a previous answer to CM teammate, Joe G., regarding tapering, it was suggested that I should cover this topic and break up the blog up into two parts: tapering and the day of the race. It was a great idea!

Tapering is very important if you want to post a good marathon time. It gives your body the opportunity to recover from all of the hard training you put in leading up to the race. You can replenish energy, rejuvenate muscles and possibly kick any nagging injuries you might have up to this point.

Teammates -- Mike, Tom, Marcus, Stew, Tim, Sav -- all of them get the meaning of CHARLIE MIKE -- that it's "An Attitude of Action" and they're preaching what they practice. Drop on Down and Get Fired UP for pushing out and pulling up after you read what my Teammates have to say.

CHARLIE MIKE – ALDEN

CHARLIE MIKE: An Attitude of Action

What does the term “CHARLIE MIKE” mean?

In the Special Operations world – Navy SEALs, Delta Force, Green Berets, Rangers, Marine Force Recon, Air Force CCT/Para-Rescue, to name a few, we use the term CHARLIE MIKE as a code for Continue Mission when speaking on the radio to higher command or other teammates. Whether you’re about to jump from an airplane, dive from a boat or assault a target – CHARLIE MIKE is all about making the mission happen – it’s about Never Giving Up until you have completed the mission and hearing the words MIKE CHARLIE: Mission Complete.

Though very few folks will ever endure the training and missions of Special Operations teams, the lessons learned from these special warriors can be applied to anyone, and that’s what our blog CHARLIE MIKE is all about – encouraging folks to find their mission, whether it’s a better body or a better life, and Never Giving Up on their mission. CHARLIE MIKE blog is code for an attitude of action, and the people that post to CHARLIE MIKE are committed to taking action and encouraging others to do the same. You will never fail if you take action toward your goal, but you are guaranteed to fail if you never act. We hope those that post inspire you to set your sights on bigger, more daring, missions, and if they do, we hope you’ll post your journey so you can inspire others to do the same.

We’re on a mission – are you?

CHARLIE MIKE - ALDEN

HOOYAH SEAL TEAM!

CM Teammates – talk about Be Strong, Be Ready (our motto at Team Perfect) – So damn proud of our forces (and for that matter our Commander in Chief who had the guts to authorize the mission) for yesterday’s successful rescue of Captain Phillips – HOOYAH SEAL TEAM!

Though I don’t know all the specifics, I do know how challenging it is to shoot with any accuracy off of a vessel at sea – not to mention shooting at an even smaller vessel that’s moving in sea state conditions. Add the pressure of an American hostage’s life hanging on their accuracy with the countless hours they sat looking through their scopes practicing their timing of a simultaneous shot and you’ve got an extremely tough mission to complete. I’m no sniper, but I had the pleasure of serving with many – and the first thing they’d tell you after making sure that you know your weapon, is to know yourself – that is, to know your limitations, and then to push them so your old limitations are your new strengths. I guarantee you that not one of those Navy SEAL snipers had not even a shadow of doubt in their mind that they would miss – they knew what they could do – no matter what the outside pressures, and they executed: they slowly exhaled, had a consistent squeeze on the trigger while tracking the target – then the gun went off and it was over. If you interviewed them, I bet they’d say something like: “I tracked the target – waited for the count down and pulled the trigger.” Sounds simple doesn’t it – we all know it isn’t because the brain is involved, but the point is the action is simple – you just have to execute it under more complicated situations.

See a similarity here? Take action – get result. The point is whether you’re a Navy SEAL sniper or a Soccer Mom – the same rules apply: know yourself – find your limitations and take action on making your limitations your strengths. It doesn’t happen overnight (just ask those snipers – I bet they trained for years for that opportunity) but every time you take action toward your goal a result will occur that in some small way will help you toward your MIKE CHARLIE (Mission Complete).

In the meantime, put a smile on your face because it’s Good Guys 3 – Pirates 0.

CHARLIE MIKE - ALDEN

Striving for PERFECT'ion Partners

CM SEAL Team blogger: Marcus Colburn

Teammates, Partner’ing up is the Best Way! Just by thinking this way, you're now one step closer to getting a jaw-dropping physique. Like me (fist raised and my "surf's up" friend Billy).

If you are one of the people that likes results & action quickly, you made an excellent decision that's going to pay off, visually and functionally, once you dedicate and commit yourself to your "striving for "PERFECT"ion program".

There's no doubt in my mind that you're on your way to a brand new mindset... a brand new body... and a brand new life. Just the fact that you're striving for perfection is a totally positive thing. You could be a couch potato or just an average Sunday morning quarterback. But no way Jose.... You want more out of life. Well I say "GO FOR IT!"

When your so called friends ask why you're not drinking with them or that you're acting (STRANGE), just tell them with a smile on your face about your new goal is striving for "Perfection"ion "I've got THE muscle-shredding, belly-busting and ab-sharpening solution."

Your results will be noticeable before you know it. Alas, Too bad So Sad that they just don't have the same attitude or passion for life as you; but you can show them your results "PAY IT FORWARD" how you did it & how you're doing it using the "PERFECT" method & get them to partner up. Get their own "Perfect" products for themselves & make it into a bet or a competition. Workout with friends or partners is always more fun & you can watch each other, help each other with spots & make sure ya'll are sticking to your "FULL LIFE STYLE CHANGE & EATING CLEAN PLAN"! Because if you really want to strive for "PERFECT"ion; Partnering is the best way!

During BUD/S the class ahead of us used to (rib us & taunt us to no end) but especially during (HELL WEEK). They used to leave power bars hidden all over the place & that really made us fight harder!

Hope everyone had a great Easter weekend,

MOJOFROG OUT!
___________________________________________
Back in 1997 while serving with the elite Navy SEAL jump team called Leap Frogs, Marcus was involved in a life changing parachuting accident. After free-falling to three thousand feet, Mark opened his chute. But the SEAL above him did not and continued free-falling at ninety miles an hour. The other jumper tore through Mark's chute, hitting him in the head and hand with his body. The impact sent Mark twirling unconscious through the air with few cells left on his chute, and he hit the ground, changing his life forever. Mark's amazing recovery became his biggest challenge – and surviving the accident is a miraculous story in itself -- but what is even more inspiring is how he handles his life after the accident.