As you may already know about me, I read every day.

I read great books on personal and professional development.

Sometimes I read them in the traditional sense, and other times I “read” via audible- while walking, working out or something else.

On this morning’s walk I was “reading” Sell Or Be Sold by Grant Cardone, which I’ve actually read a couple of times.

But two profound principles jumped out at me this time, that resonated with me such that I decided to share with you about it today.

The first was on the power of commitment.

Grant basically postulates that it is almost impossible to be successful at anything that you are not totally committed to.

And also that it’s hard to fail if you’re dedicated enough.

He tells a great story about how, once when he was young, he had a job in Louisiana where he worked on a boat that was basically a supply boat for other boats, mainly the fishing boats.

He worked two weeks on and two weeks off and it was a basic labor job. When they weren’t resupplying the other boats, they’d basically sit waiting to be called by one and, Grant says, while waiting they’d drop a huge 20 foot line off the side with multiple hooks, and do a little fishing.

Well, this one day, they hit a blessing and caught like 200 red snapper.

Grant shares how he had never been successful at selling anything (though he’d tried sales before) but how, on that particular day, when hearing the other men on the boat talking about how they were going to eat good for weeks and such, something hit him; and he offered to buy all of the men’s fish with the idea that he could sell them on the way home.

So now, he’s got a pick-up truck full of red snapper on ice, and the ice is melting, so he has a very limited time to successfully sell all of this snapper.

He says it’s getting darker and he’s thinking about how he just spent his whole paycheck buying this fish and how if he doesn’t sell it before the ice melts he’s going to lose it all.

He remembered the persistence of the door to door Bible salesman he had known before and decided to go door to door.

He sells some to residences, but then starts hitting businesses- realizing there are far more potential customers at each stop.

And, anyway, long story short, he sells all the fish and makes more in those four hours than he did in the 2 weeks he’d toiled for the  paycheck he’d used as seed money- or fish money in this case.

While there are of course many lessons in this story, the one Grant was sharing was that this time he was committed; he had to sell all those fish or lose big.

He realized that all of the times he had failed before at sales, he wasn’t; and that was a discovery that changed the trajectory of his life.

I believe that can be true for anyone.

If you’re like me; it’s a powerful reminder.

Or maybe you’re like he was at that juncture, and have never realized the truly magical power manifested through commitment.

It’s the same with martial arts.

Those truly committed become Blackbelts.

And on the way to that milestone are rewarded with the skills, fitness, leadership, relationships, confidence and all of the other great things that they develop by that time.

Those that were never truly committed quit.

And the truth is, if you’re not committed, any excuse will do.

There’s always some person, obstacle, hardship or catastrophe to blame…….

I’m not trying to be rude, hard or hateful here, but just trying to really land a hard lesson.

Because the same is true of anything- any goal, any role, and job, relationship or challenge.

With true commitment, failure is not an option or possibility; but without it, it’s more likely than success.

I’ll be teaching more about the magical power of commitment at this Friday night’s Leadership seminar.

I hope to see you there!

I decided not to write about the second profound revelation I had from the reading this morning, by the way, though I will be acting on it immediately, and sharing it with my Team at our power meeting today.

Maybe I’ll tell you in the future, if you ask me.

Or maybe I’ll teach about it at this month’s CIT.

Anyway, what are you truly committed to? 

Is it to get in shape, be a better husband, wife or parent, or some other relationship?

Are you committed to finishing college, success at work, building a business, becoming a Blackbelt or some other worthy personal or professional goal.

To succeed at any of these, step one is to commit- like real, serious, “burn the boats” kind of commitment.

Start with that and, over time with the right coach and effort, you will get better and better, crush that goal and be on to your next.

And with each such success, confidence increases as well as commitment and what was at first so hard gets easy.

But don’t take my word for it!

Commit and start!

I can’t wait to cheer you along, or even help you, on the journey to your dream!

Congratulations to all my Blackbelt Leadership students on your commitment to Blackbelt Leader and beyind!

       See you at the Leadership seminar this Friday night from 6-7pm

Join Us For the Valentine’s Buddy Bash This Saturday from 2-4pm

  This is a free community event for students, friends, family and community too!

  Join us, even if you aren’t a student yet! Call 813-948-4844 to reserve your spot.

Parent’s Night Out, Friday February 18 from 6:30-9pm

  Another perk of the all inclusive tution at KMMA!

Stripe Testing February 21-26

Certified Instructor Training (CIT)

  Friday February 25 from 6-7:30 or Saturday 12-1:30pm

Remember there is no additinal charge for CIT either if you are a Blackbelt Leadership student. You just have to qualify by being an A student in class! Ask your Sensei if you’re not sure!

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TampaKravMaga.com and Krav Maga Martial Arts have been empowering lives through the martial arts in the Tampa Bay area for 20 years!

Founded in 2000 by Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo, a 7th degree Black Belt and Sr. Master Instructor, Krav Maga Martial Arts and Karate lessons for pre-school children ages 3-6 and elementary age kids ages 7 and up are designed to develop the critical building blocks kids need – specialized for their age group – for school excellence and later success in life.

Krav Maga Martial Arts Adult Krav Maga training is a complete adult self defense, fitness, and conditioning program for adults who want to learn real world self defense, lose weight, and/or get (and stay in shape).

If you have any questions about our program, or would like to go ahead redeem your 2 weeks FREE, you can call us anytime at 813-547-6368 or visit our Krav Maga Martial Arts website.

About Grandmaster Stephen J. Del Castillo: Grandmaster Del Castillo is the founding Master Instructor of Krav Maga Martial Arts and has been empowering lives in Pasco and Hillsborough Counties since October of 2000. He is a 7th degree Blackbelt, MBA, author, mentor and success coach, a US Army Veteran and a proud father and grandfather. He is married to Ms. Barbara Del Castillo who helps him run the school. Grand Master Del Castillo began his training in the early 80’s and has high level blackbelts in Tae Kwon Do, Karate, Premier Martial Arts and Krav Maga Martial Arts as well as experience in kickboxing, Jeet Kune Do and Jiujitsu. He has high level instructor certifications from BBSI, IKMF, and KMG and has been featured in numerous Martial Arts publications and also Success magazine. He was a competitive sport karate and American Kickboxing instructor until he enlisted in the US Army where he served in the 82nd Airborne Division, where he won an Army Green to Gold scholarship and proceeded to ROTC and the University of Tampa. He was commisioned in 1992 and went on to serve in Germany with the 3rd Infantry Division and then in several other posts in the US until he left military service to pursue his dream of creating KMMA in 2000.

The Krav MagaMartial Arts Headquarters is in Lutz, FL at 1900 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., 33549. Krav Maga Martial Arts serves Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, and surrounding areas.

Also, check us out on Fun4TampaKids & on Go2Karate.com