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Success Advice

How Getting in Shape Taught Me the Secret to Building the Business of My Dreams

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get into shape fit success
Joel Brown

Fame. Power. Wealth. If you are like me, you probably desire to attain one of the three attributes above (if not all three.) And as ambitious men and women part of the A2S community, we deserve all three.

That being said, there are certain laws you need to respect to achieve that level of awesomeness. And the biggest secret was taught to me when I finally decided to get in shape. The thing about fitness, is that you can’t cheat your way to be fit. You can’t get the results simply by getting lucky or showing up. You need to put in the work, consistently and until the very end.

That’s why it’s called working out. You either do the work to completion and succeed, or don’t work and get the results you deserve. This simple fact is certainly one of the most valuable lessons I have learned that has transformed my business, life and relationship success. As my mentor, and chief broking, John Romaniello, once said: “Half done is still very much not done, and there are no rewards for a half-saved princess”

Our Ancestors knew the true value of work

A few centuries ago our ancestors knew the true value of the word, work. If they half-hunted animals, they didn’t eat. If they half-built homes, they had no shelter. If they half-raised their children, there would be no one left to carry on the tribe.They had it hard and understood that it’s either put in the work, or death.

Today tells a different story. We are spoon fed from birth, sheltered, vaccinated and protected from everything that would’ve probably killed us back then. We play videogames or binge watch game of thrones to pass time. Don’t forget as well, everyone gets a participation ribbon whether they win or lose.

All these handicaps have made it easy for us to lose perspective, become weak and be seduced into a life of mediocrity. To be content with average. Today, we have learned to expect success instead of earn it. It’s time we unlearned it.

“Average. It was the worst, most disgusting word in the English language. Nothing meaningful or worthwhile ever came from that word.” – Portia de Rossi

Put in the work, or get put in your place

Thankfully, regardless of the technological advancements, getting in shape is one of those things that can’t be achieved without work. It takes dedication, hard work and a little mathematics.

When you go through the months of training, food discipline and mental wars, you realize that success in fitness has a price: hard work, consistency and completion. Life is no different. Working out, is a tribute to our ancestors hard work. It’s the cure necessary to cleanse our society, filled with the disease of laziness and entitlement. It’s also a reminder, that if you can change your body, you can change your life too. You can build, create and change anything you want.

Start hitting singles, instead of always going for the “grand slam”

Achieving success in any endeavor requires hitting a ton of “singles”. Many individuals who appear to have hit a “grand slam”, more often than not, haven’t. Instead they’ve hit 100’s of “base hits” over time.

On my quest for the perfect male body, trying to lose fat as fast possible or scouring the internet for the “best” diet usually failed. Instead, I was successful when I took it slow. When I put in the effort for going to the gym 6 days a week, keeping my food disciplined and winning the tough mental battles.

“Excellence is the gradual result of always striving to do better.” – Pat Riley

Once I took this approach to my business life, it soared. It’s time you took a similar approach. You just need to get on the plate and keep doing the things that’ll make you successful. Wake up everyday, put in the work, go to sleep and do it again.

Now it’s your turn. Be patient, keep hitting singles and remember, you can’t half-save a princess.

How has getting in shape changed your life? Please leave your thoughts below!

Peter Tzemis is the fitness coach your mom never wanted you to meet. He’s been featured by the media on all 6 livable continents and is routinely referred to as “the best fitness coach in the world”. He also loves green juice, reading books by or about great men, engaging in all sorts of debauchery. Check out his website or download is free book.

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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Success Advice

What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

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leadership tips for new CEO
Image Credit: Midjourney

When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
Image Credit: Midjourney

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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entrepreneurial leadership skills and traits
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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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