welcome and thank you for celebrating with me! · doing the right things right. and very often this...

31 Life Lessons – An Inspiring Manifesto Copyright © 2011. Yuri Elkaim

1

Welcome and thank you for celebrating with me!

Yes, it’s true.

On March 24, 2011 I will be 31 years young. Simply by reading this new manifesto

you are showing that you care enough about me to read what I’ve learned through

my brief experience on this planet. Thank you very much for taking the time to

allow me to, hopefully, inspire you.

It is people like YOU that inspire me to do what I do. My vision is to empower 10

million people live a healthier, active life by 2018 and I am thrilled that you are one

of them.

Life is a constantly evolving journey. Who and where I was just a few years ago has

changed somewhat to where I stand today. Nonetheless, I’m still me and I’m here to

empower you because I know the kind of life that you can enjoy when you are fit,

healthy, and living life on your terms!

What follows are 31 short, to the point, thought‐provoking, and inspiring anecdotes

and lessons from my life as they relate to health, fitness, and living a great life. My

goal is to inspire you or at the very least get you thinking differently about a variety

of topics. They are not meant to drag on but rather give you the goods concisely.

I hope you enjoy them as much as I have. Your friend and coach,

Yuri Elkaim, BPHE, CK, RHN

YuriElkaim.com


2

Lesson #1

You Are Deserving But You Are Not

Entitled

Each one of us has been put on this planet for a reason. We all have a purpose; a

goal; a mission. Part of life’s journey is to figure out what that purpose is and then

do whatever we can to fulfill it while ideally enjoying the process along the way.

But just because we deserve to be happy, healthy, wealthy, or anything else doesn’t

mean that we are entitled to such things.

Entitlement breeds laziness and complacency.

People who feel that life “owes” them something don’t go very far. No one is entitled

to anything – unless you’re the heir to the throne of a monarchy.

In my life, nothing has inspired me more than stories of individuals who have come

from nothing and achieved incredible success against all odds. Life truly rewards

those who dream and take massive action towards making their dreams a reality.

Nothing happens without taking massive action.

I don’t care if you were born into poverty, ill health, or had the most privileged

upbringing. We are not entitled but we CAN earn the right to achieve our dreams by

working hard and never giving up.


3

My childhood dream was to play professional soccer. For 24 years, that’s all I did. I

turned down family vacations and job opportunities to focus on training and playing

as many games as I possibly could.

I never felt entitled but I did feel that I deserved to reach my dream because of the

belief I had in myself, and the incredible amount of hard work that I put in each and

every day.

I achieved my dream of playing pro soccer but I also realized that sometimes your

dream is not your mission.

Which leads me to…


4

Lesson #2

Sometimes NOT Achieving Your

Dream Is Your Destiny

Leadership is often defined as not just doing things right, but more importantly

doing the RIGHT things right. And very often this can apply to the dreams we wish

to realize.

Sometimes the dreams you want to achieve are not really your TRUE destiny. But

you won’t usually realize that until you’ve achieved it or at least come very close.

It’s kind of like climbing a mountain, reaching the summit, and then saying to your

self “Is that it?”

However, you must first devote yourself to achieving that BIG dream to realize that

it might not really be your true calling.

That happened to me in early 2004 when I looked deep inside, had heart‐to‐heart

with myself, and asked…

”Is this really my purpose in life? Is playing pro soccer all there is? Am I really living the

life I thought I wanted? Is it in line with my core values?”

This is a question that scared me at the time, but needed answering. I realized that

playing pro soccer didn’t meet my #1 core value, which is freedom. It also didn’t

mesh with some of my other values including family and empowering others, just to

name a few.


5

So what began as a childhood dream eventually became a step (a long one at that) in

my on‐going journey to truly discover my purpose in life.

What’s your big dream? Is it really your true calling? Does it excite you to a degree

that you would pursue it no matter what?

Now, go for that dream. And along the way you just might find that there’s

something even MORE important that is calling is you!


6

Lesson #3

Life is Like Football

I’m not a huge football fan but I what I have realized is that life is very much life

football.

As in life, progress is what matters. Football is a unique sport in that it requires a

team to continually progress up the field toward scoring a touchdown. To facilitate

this task, the team is constantly driving for small gains and seeking that 1st down in

order to continue its path to the end zone.

Life, and your health and fitness, is very similar. Sure, we want to reach the all

mighty touchdown with a 50‐yard “hail marry” pass but the reality is that most BIG

goals in life are simply a culmination of smaller successes.

In most games, a touchdown doesn’t usually happen in just one play. It might;

however, the majority of scoring occurs as a result of smaller plays that have

progressed the team down the field.

We live in a culture that has engrained “instant success” in our minds. We want to

lose 20 pounds today, and yesterday would be better.

We want success now.

A classic example of this are all the “overnight” successes we hear about in sports, in

Hollywood, and in business. The media portrays these people as having appeared

out of the wood works when in reality they’ve been busting their butts their entire

life – only now they’ve been recognized on a bigger level.


7

Success is like a duck on water…

It looks calm on the surface but, underneath, that duck is working non‐stop!

So take time and appreciate that small improvements are great (and necessary) and

they require continued hard work.

Strive for those 10‐yard gains and reward your small accomplishments en route to

your ultimate goals! And hey, sometimes a field goal is good enough – at least for

now.

Remember that progress and not achievement is the key to happiness!!!

Football also shows us that even though life will knock you down, you must get

back up and keep going for that touchdown

Obviously, hard‐hitting tackles are a hallmark feature of football. They’re also a

hallmark of life.

At some point in our lives we have (or will) come across great adversity that will

make us feel as though we’ve been pummeled by a 300‐lb defensive linesman.

But like any great football player, you just have to pick yourself up and keep on

running for that touchdown.

In every day life, “defensive lineman” might appear as people who tell you that you

CAN’T achieve your goals, an unsupportive spouse or loved one, or a stressful job

that makes you cringe when the alarm clocks goes off.


8

These are just a few examples of how millions of people are held back from their

dreams every single day!

But you’re stronger that that. I know you are!

If you get hit down, get back up because NO ONE can hold you back from scoring

your touchdown. It might take you longer but you’ll still reach that end zone.

And in the process you’ll have become such a better “player” for having overcome

the obstacles and adversity along the way!


9

Lesson #4

Elastic Bands Are Resilient and

Becoming Your Own Batman

Did you know that human beings are elastic?

That’s right.

I’m not suggesting that you are an elastic band. However, like an elastic band, you

can bounce back from being stretched out of your comfort zone. You can also

bounce back from facing incredible adversity.

One definition of “elastic” (from physics) is the “reversible deformation of a

material”. When you stretch a piece of rubber, it usually returns to its original state,

right?

Have you ever seen the movie Batman Begins?

In it, Bruce Wayne (aka. Batman) gets his mansion burned to the ground by the

villains. Bruce is knocked unconscious during this “heist” only to saved by his

trusted butler – Alfred.

Upon waking the following day, Bruce is dejected and ready to throw in the towel.

He had been up against so much and was ready to call it quits.

But then Alfred says something absolutely inspiring…


10

“Bruce, why do fall down? [PAUSE] So we can get back up!”

It is so simple, yet so profound.

I’m sure there have been times in your life when you’ve been knocked down or felt

like giving up.

Maybe it was after working so hard in the gym and not seeing the results you’ve

wanted to see?

Or maybe it was eating really healthy for several days or weeks only to end up going

on a “bender” over the weekend and then criticizing your self for not being

“perfect”?

The point is that there are so many times in life when things won’t happen as you

expect them to.

The important thing to remember is that many troublesome events in life happen,

but it’s the meaning you give to any particular situation that determines your

reality.

And that’s why it’s so important to be resilient (elastic, if you will) and realize that

nothing will hold you back from your dreams – unless you allow it to.

So take Alfred’s advice and “get back up!”


11

Lesson #5

Life Rewards Speed – SO Do IT

Now, Not Tomorrow!

Procrastination is part of the human condition. Have you ever put something off

until tomorrow? I sure have.

In fact, I nearly failed graduating from University because I would sleep in and

purposely miss my morning swim training classes. I have never been a fan of

swimming – let alone during the cold Canadian winter mornings. And that nearly

cost me my 4‐year degree in Kinesiology.

Eventually, to graduate I had to make up 20 hours of swim training and submit a 20‐

page report on procrastination. Lesson learned.

When we avoid doing something today, we simply end up doing it tomorrow, but

with interest.

Life rewards speed and those who take immediate action. If I had just gotten out of

my comfortable bed and attending swim training classes when I was supposed to, I

would never have had to deal with packing in 20 hours of swimming and 20‐page

report on procrastination in just one week.

The stress and frustration is just not worth it!


12

One of the best books I’ve ever read is “Eat That Frog” by Brian Tracy. In it, he hits

home the importance of tackling your most important task (ie. your “frog”) first

thing – no matter what. I can’t tell you how powerful that has been in my life.

We put things off because we don’t want to do them. They make us feel uneasy

because of their complexity or because we’re overwhelmed by them.

The problem is that the longer we avoid them, the more “interest” they accumulate,

and the tougher they are to tackle in the future. Plus, these “incomplete” tasks hang

on your mind and drain your energy, like a computer that is running far too many

tasks for it’s RAM to handle.

As William James once said, “Nothing is so fatiguing as the eternal hanging on of an

uncompleted task.”

I’ve learned that one of the best ways to boost your self‐esteem, your enthusiasm,

and your overall level of energy is to get things done right away. When you do so,

you’ll feel great about yourself and you’ll have built incredible forward momentum.

So take action today. Do it now!


13

Lesson #6

Get ‘er Done!

I love interval training. You know I think it’s the best way of improving your

cardiovascular fitness, burning fat, and training for sport.

But I would NOT recommend living your life like an interval training workout.

Here’s what I mean…

Imagine starting something, stopping, then starting up again, then stopping, and

then continuing this cycle. Can you see how this would be similar to do an interval

training workout ‐ similar to sprinting and jogging/walking intervals?

Interval training is so effective at burning fat because it requires an increasing

amount of energy to increase your speed or start up again after you’ve just

completed a recovery interval. It takes more energy to start sprinting after a bout of

jogging then it does to continually run at the same pace. That’s why it’s so effective

and tiring.

But you surely don’t want to live your life that way. What I’ve noticed in my own life

is that every time I focus and commit to completing something from start to finish, it

always gets done. And it gets done quickly, efficiently, and with less energy than the

alternative:

Starting and stopping before completion.

Inertia, or momentum, is a powerful force and it applies to all aspects of your life. If

you start a task and then get distracted with something else before completing it,


14

you are required to spend more energy (usually about 10‐20 minutes) to refocus on

your original task. Can you see how this start/get distracted/stop approach can suck

the life out of you?

It’s great for fat loss interval training but not for getting things done in life.

Momentum is the reason that it’s so easy being consistent with your workouts once

you’ve gotten into the habit of doing them consistently. But start and stop and you’ll

find it tougher and tougher to make daily exercise a part of your life.

The message is clear – get focused and complete your task FULLY and then stop.

If not, you’ll constantly be spinning your wheels, wasting your energy, and

accomplishing very little. Remember, there’s a big difference between being busy

and getting things done.

Choose the latter and get things done.


15

Lesson #7

Be the Leader of Your Tribe

The world needs more leaders. It needs you to step up to the plate and lead others

to the Promised Land.

Your tribe might be your family, your colleagues, your sports team, or any group of

people that you influence. And regardless of your role within that group, you need to

be a leader. Everyone does.

Being a leader doesn’t require you to take an advanced business course, do an MBA,

or attend special leadership conferences. You can learn to be a leader by living your

life and learning from other people that inspire and influence you.

After all, the best leaders are ones that “walk the walk” and that set the example for

their “tribe” simply by BEING. We learn by observing and modeling others and when

it comes to being a more effective leader, simply start by being the change you wish

to see in the world, as Gandhi famously said.

A lot of people have asked me what they can do to motivate their spouse/family to

be more active or eat better. My response has always been the same…

You can’t force people to change.

They must be motivated and willing to do so on their own. And there is no better

way to inspire them than to live life on your terms, feel empowered, and “be” the

change you wish to see in those you care about. It will only be a matter of time

before they come around.


16

Lesson #8

You Must First “Be”

To have anything, you must first be.

Do want to have more energy, greater health, a fitter body, and a long and happy

life?

Who doesn’t!?

If so, then you need to do the things that will enable you to enjoy these benefits. But,

in order to do, you must begin by being.

What this means is that in order for you to take the necessary action (do) toward

your goals (have) you must first become the type of person (be) that will do so.

Being is where it all starts.

To “be” means your thoughts, your emotions, and your habitual ways of being you.

For instance, by fostering empowering thoughts and emotions you will be a

different person than someone who does the complete opposite. In the end, each

way of being will lead to very different actions and, thus, different results.

The problem is that most people view life in the opposite direction. They believe

that they need to have something before they can be something/someone. The

classic example of this is when people say, “I’ll be happy when I just lose 20 lbs!”

But this way of thinking doesn’t foster the appropriate actions. Instead, we should

say, “I am so happy each and every day for my wonderful body!”


17

The difference can be profound. By being happy now, you immediately build your

self‐ esteem and show gratitude for where you are. As a result, you feel better about

yourself and feel more empowered to take action toward the ultimate goal (i.e.

losing weight).

The idea is to love yourself (no matter what!) and nourish your mind with

empowering thoughts and emotions that will propel you to take massive action

toward your goals. If you let your “being‐ness” right now suffer for the hope that it

will miraculously come to you “some day” as a result of some external event, then

you can never be!

So, think of your goals and ask yourself “Who do I need to BE right now to achieve the

goals I’ve set for myself?”

The answer to this question will change your life. It did mine.


18

Lesson #9

Own Up or Shut Up!

There is one person to blame if your life does not measure up to your expectations –

You. It can be a devastating realization that you alone are responsible for your

happiness and your health. But it can also be very liberating and reassuring because

it means that you CAN take control starting today!

Taking responsibility means letting go of blame. You may blame your parents for a

lot of things – for not being rich and handing down poor money skills, for not

teaching you how to eat properly, for feeding you hot dogs and Kraft dinner instead

of fruits and vegetables, or for your being fat because they were fat. If you keep

blaming them for your problems, you will never take control of your own life – or

your health.

When there is someone else to blame, you never have to take responsibility for your

own role in creating your life. Once you realize that you and you alone are

responsible for your health and quality of life, things can start to get a little

uncomfortable.

The weight is on your shoulders. So what are you going to do?

You can cry about it, which will give you temporary relief from your problem, but

could result in a mad dash to the kitchen for some food therapy. The only for sure

way to get out of pain and into pleasure is to act in accordance with your deep

desire to be healthy, fit, and full of energy.


19

There is one person I know who has it in them to go the distance, and that person is

you. Otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this or following my teachings at all.

Do you blame anyone in your life for anything at all? Do you complain on a frequent

basis? Do you make excuses?

Any time you find yourself making an excuse, you must stop and think of why you

need an excuse. Were you late? Did you forget an anniversary? Couldn’t make it to

the gym?

Why? Stop making excuses and own up. Apologize to whomever you were late

meeting, make the most of your time in the doghouse, and get to the gym! Were you

too tired? Too hungry? Ran out of time? If you didn’t make it to the gym, than the

gym obviously wasn’t a priority.

So let go of the blame and start taking the lead. Start learning the things you need to

learn in order for your life to unfold as you wish. And don’t settle for anything else.

Once you accept responsibility for your own health and life, you will be empowered.

You won’t need to rely on doctors, drugs, or hopeful miracles because you now have

the power to do what is necessary to live life on your terms!


20

Lesson #10

Hitting Your Head Against the

Same Wall Can Hurt

We are bombarded with conflicting advice. Some people tell you to keep pushing

and you’ll reach your goals. Others tell you that you need to do something different

if you want different results.

What are you supposed to believe?

Ultimately, I think it’s a combination of both.

I believe that if you work hard and continue moving forward to your goals you will

achieve them. At least that’s what has worked for me and countless other people.

However, if you’ve been doing the same thing time and time again and you’re still

not seeing results, then it’s probably time to change things up.

The easiest example of this is with your workouts and nutrition habits.

If you’re doing the same workout over and over again, eventually you’ll hit a plateau

and your body will have a tough time progressing.

The same thing goes for your diet. If you consistently eat the same foods and the

same number of calories each day, your metabolism will hit a wall.

The solution?


21

Change up your workouts. Add new movements, heavier weights, different number

of reps and sets, etc…

With respect to your diet, if your goal is to lose weight, one of the easiest things to

do is vary your calories. This means that some days will have higher caloric intakes,

others less, and perhaps one day a week might be a fasting day.

Making these small adjustments will keep your body guessing, keep your

metabolism on its toes, and help you to move forward without hitting those

frustrating plateaus.

And if you get frustrated just remember this…

If someone else has done it, you can too!

That might mean trying something totally new – something you’ve never done

before. And it may or may not work.

But at least you tried and that’s all that matters.

When I first started my business I knew nothing about systems, marketing, etc… I

had the “entrepreneurial spirit“ and a deep desire to serve others (still do). But I can

unfortunately recall wasting upwards of $39,000 on things like product inventory,

trade shows, TV ads in gyms, and other foolish things. None of these things paid off

and I would have been crazy to continue doing them. So I stopped, corrected course,

and pursued new avenues.

At least if you try something new (ie. take a small risk), you’ll know the eventual

outcome. You can rest assured that you tried every avenue. In many cases, NOT

changing is the biggest risk of all!


22

If you don’t try a new approach or get out of your comfort zone, then you’ll always

be wondering…“What if?”

So don’t be afraid to take chances and try something new.

You might fail but that’s awesome because failing is filled with valuable lessons that

will make you a better, stronger, and fitter person!

So go for it. Change things up and keep working hard. Take the plunge today!


23

Lesson #11

Your Friends Determine

Your Future

I am happy to pay for friends.

By that, I simply mean that I am willing to fork over good money to join a

mastermind group, coaching program, and the like if it means that I’ll be surrounded

by people that will force me to grow, get out of my comfort zone, and achieve

greater results than I could on my own.

I understand that not everyone needs to “pay for friends” but the lesson here is that

your friends are very, very important. Who you spend your time with will most

likely determine your future.

Let’s say you want to lose weight. Is it worthwhile hanging out with other

overweight people who don’t workout or eat well? Not at all! Their mindset, choice,

and lifestyle habits will eventually rub off on you.

That’s not a good thing, unless you surround yourself with people who ARE who you

want to become. Hanging around slim, fit, and healthy individuals makes a lot more

sense.

Just imagine going to a restaurant with either group of friends. I’m sure you can

appreciate that the healthier group would make much better food choices than the

overweight group. Wouldn’t you agree?


24

This is not about discrimination or excluding people out of your life. Actually, it is a

little bit of the latter. If you’re serious about getting out of your rut, expanding your

horizons and possibilities, then you must spend more time with people who playing

at a higher level.

This is how athletes improve. This is how sports teams get better. This is why

working with a trainer is a surefire way to get you in great shape.

I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my life (I regret none of them) but the one thing I have

done right has been to constantly seek out coaches and groups of people that push

me to be a better Yuri.

I hope you’re willing to do the same.


25

Lesson #12

What “Inputs” Are Feeding

Your Mind

I was recently in Orange County for the biggest fitness business event of the year.

One of the speakers was the world‐famous internet marketer Frank Kern. You

probably don’t know who he is but he’s HUGE in the online world.

Frank shared a very powerful lesson as to why so many people fail to achieve the

results that they’re after. In a nutshell, here’s what he shared:

The results you want are predicated by taking certain action. In order to take that

action you need to feel a certain way, which, in turn, is determined by your thoughts.

However, where do our thoughts originate? Just think about that for a moment.

How we think (and thus everything that flows from that) is determined by the input

we receive from the external world. And sadly, for 90% of the world’s population,

these inputs include the news, gossip TV, and negative people – just to name a few.

The major messages from these negative inputs are that the world is a scary place,

people are bad, you can’t trust anyone, and other disempowering nonsense.

For whatever reason, I’ve never really watched the news. In fact, as far back as I can

remember, I would refuse to even listen to the opening preview of the daily news. I

would (and still) jump out of my seat to change the channel of turn the TV off all

together.


26

I have made it an absolute priority in my life to be surrounded by positive, uplifting,

and empowering inputs. Perhaps that’s why my friends tell me that I’m the most

optimistic person they know.

Do I know what’s happening in the world? Absolutely. I know just enough. But I

certainly don’t need to be glued to every single breaking news report.

Whether you choose to watch the news or “consume” other negative inputs is up to

you. But just realize that you are feeding your mind a particular “food”, if you will,

that is not serving you.

Would you jump into a dumpster and feed your body garbage? Probably not.

So why must we do it to our minds?


27

Lesson #13

Give More Than You Take

John F. Kennedy once said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather

what you can do for your country.”

Talk about a shift in mindset! Instead of relying on others to do things for you, the

truth is that we should all be seeking to help and serve others. In doing so, we also

help ourselves.

In my last year of college, I was privileged to have met a guest speaker named Peter

Burwash. He had come to our class to give a talk about life. Peter was not a good

student when he went through the Faculty of Physical Education and Health at the

University of Toronto (where I studied) earlier in his life. He did however go on to

play pro tennis on the ATP tour and later opened several youth tennis centers

around the world. Needless to say, he had his own views on higher education.

The most powerful message that Peter shared with us during his talk was that

BEING OF SERVICE TO OTHERS is the most important and noble thing we can do in

this world. When he said that, something clicked inside me.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined someone of his level of success

and fame to mention helping, giving to, and serving others as the most important

goal we can achieve in our lives.

But wow did he ever hit the nail on the head with that one. If there’s one thing I

know, it’s that helping others is the secret to happiness and living a fulfilled life. And


28

that probably explains why I wasn’t overly happy with my life when I was playing

pro soccer. It was a selfish endeavour and I was serving no one.

Now, I’m more grateful than ever for having touched so many people around the

world. It’s ironic how good you feel when you better the life of someone you’ve

never met, not to mention those that you are closest with.

If you want to better your life, seek to help someone else’s. Look first to give, and

then receive. As Zig Ziglar famously said, “You can have everything in life you want,

if you will just help other people get what they want.”

My friend, it’s all about helping others. If you simply focus on doing more of that

your life will never be the same. Oh, and the more you help others, the more they

will help you in return.

Be good. Do good.


29

Lesson #14

It’s NOT All About the Benjamins!

Having money is great but life is more than just the Benjamins.

Earlier this year (2011), my cousin Igal passed away suddenly at the age of 40.

He lived in Paris and of all my cousins (I have a lot of them), I probably knew him

the least. In all my years, I think we may have spent a total of 2 minutes talking to

one another.

As you can imagine, his sudden death was a massive shock to my family but

I think there are many valuable lessons to be learned from his tragic passing.

Because I didn’t know Igal that well, my dad filled me in on what I needed to know

about what had happened and we spent a good hour or so on the phone discussing

his tragic passing.

As my dad told me story after story about Igal, I couldn’t help but think to myself...

"Man, I do not want to live like that! It's just not worth it."

Apparently, Igal lived a very lavish life. He was the president of a very successful

produce import business in France and enjoyed only the "finest" things in life.

Being in the position he had created for himself, Igal worked far too much, smoked 2

packs of cigarettes per day, was constantly on the go, and relied on coffee's caffeine

to get him through his days.


30

To boot, he had surgery for a slipped disc 2 years ago and since then was on a

concoction of pain medications.

You can probably start to see the picture, right?

While he worked himself to the bone and led a life of high stress, his 2 beautiful

children, Margot and Robin, barely got to spend time with him.

As little as I knew of my late cousin, I did love him. After all, he was (is) family.

However, I find it tragic any time someone so young passes because of his/her

lifestyle choices.

I'm no doubt painting a simplified version of his life. I'm sure there was more to it

than what I know, but I thought this message could perhaps help you put some

perspective into your life.

Are your overworked? Over‐stressed? Are you chasing the wrong things? Are you

trying to prove something to someone? Are you really living the life you want to

live? Are you as healthy and vital as you can be?

These are questions that I asked myself when I was 23 years old and playing pro

soccer in France.

That time I spent on my own in a foreign country was the turning point in my life

because I was able to get true perspective.

After some time, I realized that playing soccer wasn't really what I wanted to do

with my life. I wasn't happy. I was always criticizing my performances. I was always

frustrated. I wasn't healthy, even though I was fit.


31

But all of that changed when I decided enough was enough!

I've truly been blessed in my life. And especially over the past 4 years, through the

work that my company and I have done in helping over 37,000 people around the

world live the lives of their dreams, have I found true meaning and happiness.

And all of it comes back to one central theme:

Having great health and helping others.

And I'm not just talking about being fit and eating well most of the time. I'm also

referring to living life on my terms. Being able to work from home and spend my

days surrounded by my family.

For me, it's not about working 80 hours a week to earn more money or become an

investment banker or lawyer or anything like that. I truly cherish what I have in my

life and who I am as a person.

But everything I have and who I am started with a decision I made several years ago.

My decision was this:

Live life on my terms.

In order for me to do this, I need to get and stay healthy. And thankfully I took action

and did just that.

I guess I've been fortunate to realize that life sucks if you're not healthy and happy.

Obviously it helps if you can be financially sound too, but even the richest people

lack true wealth if they have poor health and barely see their family.


32

You can have all the money in the world. You can have all the latest gadgets and

toys. You can take all the fancy vacations you want.

But unless you have your health, none of that really matters! Please don’t wait until

it’s too late.


33

Lesson #15

Never Settle for the Status Quo

Why should you settle for a mediocre life? Why should you accept things the way

they are?

Why not break all the rules, shatter the status quo, and break through to new

possibilities?

For me, the “status quo” refers to living within your comfort zone. Living a life that

has been scripted by others, not you. Knowing that you have so much more to offer

but are not doing so, for one reason or another.

You deserve to be best you can be. You deserve to live the best possible life. Not only

do your deserve it, but it’s your duty! By living below your potential and staying in

your comfort zone you don’t give yourself the chance to achieve your true brilliance.

And how can you help others if your own star isn’t shining brightly enough?

I’m a bit of a rebel. I will openly admit that I have a problem with authority. I guess

it’s because of that that I’ve gone against the grain throughout my life in order to

pursue the life I’ve always dreamed of.

It’s funny because many of my childhood friends tell me that I’ve “set up my life the

right way”, while they continue to work jobs they don’t enjoy and remain in

relationships that suck the life out of them. But really, the only thing I’ve done

differently is refusing to live like everyone else.


34

An exceptional life is not created by ordinary measures. Dreams are not realized by

obeying others, living out of fear, or without ruffling a few feathers.

You don’t have to be a rebel but you can surely make changes in your life that will

challenge convention and create new possibilities for you and those you care about.

Refuse to settle for anything less than what you truly want. Don’t go through life

wishing you had done something. Don’t live with regret. Don’t live in fear. Take life

by the horns and go for it!


35

Lesson #16

On the Pursuit of Perfection…

My life got a little easier and a lot less stressful when I accepted the fact that

perfection is simply not possible. Who defines what perfection is anyway?

I think part of the problem might stem from the way our school systems raise us to

believe that scoring 100% on a test or attaining a 4.0 GPA is what matters most.

From what I’ve gathered in 31 years, striving for excellence is good enough. A

famous NCAA coach (whose name I can’t recall) once said that we must strive for

perfection knowing full well that it will never be achieved.

The idea of perfection held me back as a soccer player because my performances

were never good enough in my eyes. Unfortunately, when you feel that either your

performances or someone else’s is not good enough you’re simply projecting the

fact that YOU are not good enough.

That’s why the idea of needing to be perfect can quickly evaporate once you realize

that you ARE good enough and deserving. If you’re worried about what others think,

then don’t be. As it turns out, most of the time they don’t even care.

Several years ago, I made a conscious effort to resist the need to be perfect in all

areas of my life. After all, how rewarding is when you have a target that can never be

achieved.

My new mantra is “you don’t have to get it right, you just have to get it going.”


36

The need for perfection is one of the biggest reasons for procrastination and not

getting things done. Once you give up the need for perfection, you’ll find it easier to

accomplish small goals, which will build your confidence to reach your ultimate

dreams.

In the game of life, no one – not you, nor anyone else – can ask for any more than the

best of what you can bring to the table. So instead of trying to be perfect, just do

your best at whatever it is that you do. That is good enough!


37

Lesson #17

Running Away From Your Problems

Doesn’t Solve Them

The notion of escaping your reality by fleeing to some remote area of the world in

order for all your stress and problems to go away is flawed.

Don’t get me wrong, taking a regular vacation is extremely helpful in bringing

balance and joy to your life but what I’m talking about is a bit more permanent.

I can vouch for this firsthand having recently moved from the big city (Toronto) to a

small town of just 9,000 people. Life might appear to get easier by doing so but I

believe that’s a temporary illusion.

I’ve known several people who thought that moving out of the big city or moving to

a remote part of the planet was their ticket to a problem‐free and stress‐free life.

Well, here’s what I’ve realized. Whether you stay where you are or move to the top

of a mountain, one thing remains the same – you. And because of that, no matter

where you live or decide to vanish to, you’ll always be battling with you.

You might get some temporary relief from such escapes but how will you handle life

when you get back to reality. Will you have become a different person who is better

able to handle life’s craziness?

“Big” people rise above their problems. “Small” people allow problems to

overwhelm them and control their life. Problems are a fact of life – it’s part of being


38

human. Part of our mission en route to ultimate self‐actualization is to become a

“bigger” and “better” version of ourselves. This way, we can better handle

increasingly difficult situations.

We need to be able to rise above adversity. So don’t run away from your problems,

but grow yourself so that you are bigger than them. In doing so, problems that once

appeared insurmountable will be dealt with more easily. Continually working on

yourself and growing as a person allows you to take on more challenges and it

allows you to experience life to the fullest.


39

Lesson #18

The Carrot or The Stick?

Which motivates you more – the fear of pain or loss or the possibility of pleasure

and reward?

Let me put it another way…

Let’s say I asked you to workout 3 times per week and as a reward I would give you

$1000. Or, let’s say I made the same request but now said that if you did not

complete 3 workouts per week I would take $1000 from you.

Which scenario would be more effective for you?

If you were like most people, you would probably agree that me taking $1000 from

you would really suck. After all, this is money you already have. And that’s why

research has shown that the fear of loss or pain (ie. the stick) is generally 2x more

effective at getting out butt in gear.

It’s sad but true. Personally, I would rather be motivated and compelled to achieve

amazing things knowing full well what rewards I will eventually receive. This works

to a certain degree, but for real change and real action to occur on a consistent basis,

you need to have a clear picture of the consequences of not taking massive action.

If you have trouble getting motivated to workout why not take a moment and

consider how terrible you’re going to feel about yourself when you look in the

mirror, step on the scale, and put on those “skinny” jeans.


40

Imagine what other people will think of you. Imagine what your spouse or children

will think of you for being a lazy, overweight, and out of shape person.

How does that feel?

Pretty horrible, right?

Now I’m not saying that this is who you are but I’m just using it an example. You can

do a similar exercise for any area of your life that needs a jolt for you to start taking

massive action.

But I’ve realized that it’s also very important to reward yourself as you accomplish

small successes. Sure “the stick” will get you going, but “the carrot” (ie. the reward)

will KEEP you going. When you reward your successes, you will build your self‐

esteem and there’s nothing more powerful than feeling great about yourself to help

you along your journey.

Using a combination of pain and pleasure, I feel, is the most effective way of creating

lasting change. And it need be no more difficult than simply imagining the

consequences of doing something (the carrot) and NOT doing something (the stick).

That will get you going – it has for me.


41

Lesson #19

Do Your Goals Move You?

At the beginning of 2011, I declared that I was going to pack 20lbs of muscles on to

my lean frame. As of this writing, I’m up about 7 pounds. I’ll tell you right now that I

will not be achieving my original goal.

And there’s a very important lesson here. One that I feel needs explaining.

For some reason, when many people set goals (myself included) they don’t achieve

them. Why does that happen? Here’s what I think…

I think the goal that you’ve for yourself (in my case gaining 20 lbs) is not important

enough. There are not enough reasons WHY it’s an absolute must for that goal to be

realized. Essentially, there isn’t enough “juice” behind such goals. We state them or

commit to them without really feeling a visceral NEED to achieve them.

Looking back, gaining 20 lbs of muscle would be nice, but it’s definitely not a must

for me. And “would be nice” is certainly not an emotionally‐charged belief that will

make you do whatever is necessary to reach that goal.

The other reason that goals are not achieved is that they conflict with your core

values and your beliefs.

One of my core values is feeling energetic and healthy. I simply did not feel like that

while stuffing my face with copious amounts of food. For many guys, building

muscle is a must. For them, they’re reasons WHY far outweigh the discomfort of

non‐stop eating. But not for me.


42

This conflict between my actions and my core values created friction. And where

there’s friction (or resistance) there is very little forward progress. If any progress is

made it’s with bitterness and resentment because you’re doing something that is

against who you are as a person.

Setting goals is an absolute must for living a great life. But taking the time to

seriously consider whether your goals are a MUST for you is vitally important. In the

book, “Art of War”, it is stated, “the battle is won or lost far before the battlefield”.

That’s because smart armies (and individuals) take the time to plan their “attack”.

And the same MUST go for you and how you set your goals. Take the time to plan

and set a course of action that resonates with your core values and who you are as a

person. If you don’t, you’ll only be going through the motions and watching your

self‐esteem dwindle down the drain.

So set goals that move you. They should just “feel right”, deep in your gut.


43

Lesson #20

Core Values and Decision Making

Every decision we make is a clarification of our core values and priorities. For

instance, I was recently talking with someone who was interested in joining the

mastermind group to which I belong.

He was concerned about the investment (roughly $15,000 per year). Now, I know

that may seem like a lot so I asked him if owns a car, likes to travel, buy stuff, etc…

He responded YES to all the above. I then asked him how much he spends on these

things each month. He figured about $1,500.

I told him what I thought, which essentially boiled down to this…

His car, traveling, and buying “stuff” was more important than investing in himself

and his business. He clearly showed that he had the money yet his priorities were

not where they needed be if he was truly serious about building his business.

The person who decides to wake‐up early each morning to exercise or finds 30

minutes after a long day to workout clearly shows that being active and fit is an

important core value for them. Does that make sense?

All decisions are simply a reflection of what you value most and each decision

literally paints a picture of what is most important to you. Personally, my top core

values include freedom, family, health, connection, learning and growth, adventure,

and being happy. As a result, everything I do in my life is based on whether it “jives”

with those values.


44

I realized that playing soccer wasn’t making me happy because I didn’t have the

freedom to do what I wanted to do, when I wanted to do it. I felt like an employee

bound by a contract. For someone whose #1 core value is freedom, I’m sure you can

see the resistance that was created because of that.

Core values represent what you stand for. They are the essence of who you are and

what you do. They are the reason that so many people struggle with the internal

resistance that is created when their actions are not in line with what they value

most.

What are your core values? Are you living in accordance with them?


45

Lesson #21

Thoughts on Happiness

If you live in Washington, DC you’ll surely know of Ted Leonsis. He practically owns

the entire city. Well, not quite, but he owns the Washington Capitals (NHL) and

Washington Wizards (NBA), sits on the Board of Directors for Groupon, and is the

former VP of AOL (one of the leaders in bringing the internet to the masses). He’s

done far more than that but that should give you a quick idea of how successful he

is.

A few weeks ago, I was fortunate to have attended a talk he gave in Washington, and

it blew my mind. Here was a man, worth hundreds of millions of dollars, telling us

that the pursuit of happiness is the real American Dream ‐ NOT money. It was

amazing to hear such words from such a “big dog” in the corporate world, especially

amidst all the corruption it’s known for.

Throughout his talk, he gave us 5 key predictors of happiness from what he’s

observed in his life. Do you want to know what they are?

See if they resonate with you:

1) Be an active participant in numerous networks

2) Have very high levels of self‐expression

3) Must have very high level of empathy

4) Must be willing to get out of the "I" and into the "we"

5) Pursue the higher calling in everything you do


46

These predictors of happiness are pretty different than what most sources tell us

about happiness. Usually, thanks to ridiculous commercials and societal

indoctrination, most people equate happiness with lying on the beach, having your

dream home, having lots of toys, having lots of money, and the like. But it isn’t until

they’ve attained all of those things that they realize that something is still missing.

Ted’s incredible perspective came about after a near death plane crash earlier in his

life. Before that incident, he was like everyone else looking to make lots of money

and chase the American Dream.

But he quickly realized that he was miserable. He realized that happiness is not

something that you can buy. And unfortunately, sometimes it takes a near‐death

experience to make us aware of what is truly important.

As Ted mentioned, it should be our goal to be happy (by doing the 5 things he

mentioned above). When we’re happy, it is much easier for success (in all forms) to

flow into our lives.


47

Lesson #22

Food Fanaticism and

Thinking Yourself Sick

Ignorance is bliss. I’m beginning to think there’s some real validity to that statement.

I’ve spent the last 12 years learning about myself, health, fitness, nutrition, and

much more. During this time, especially more recently, I’ve come to realize that

over‐thinking things can be detrimental to your health ‐ and your sanity.

Before I studied holistic nutrition, I really had no clue about what healthy eating was

really about. The funny thing is that even now I’m still perplexed. It seems that the

more you learn, the less you know and the more confused you get. And it’s not just

me. This revelation is also shared among a lot of my nutrition expert colleagues.

The trouble is that there’s a fine line between learning about getting healthier and

becoming fanatical about it. I think it’s very important to learn more about healthy

eating, which foods work well for your body, and how to improve your overall

health. But sometimes that can be a double‐edged sword.

I have a number of friends who have taken this idea to the edge. For instance, my

business coach’s wife is an amazing woman who eats really well, loves green

smoothies, and spends upwards of $300 per month on new nutrition books!

But speaking to her recently, she revealed that she’s still perplexed and

overwhelmed by all the conflicting dietary advice and she feels that constantly

worrying about whether a particular food is right for her or not is driving her mad.


48

Similarly, David, a younger friend of mine has recently plunged into doing whatever

is necessary to create the healthiest body possible and live forever – literally. But

I’ve found that each time I see him he seems more and more hopeless because he’s

letting conditions like leaky gut, gluten and food sensitivities, and a lack of energy

consume his daily life.

I commend him tremendously for wanting to better his health at such a young age

(he’s just 22), but after speaking to him at length about this topic I’ve come to realize

that obsessing about every food you eat is probably even more destructive than a

Big Mac combo.

Thinking negatively about the foods you eat is known to alter how those foods are

metabolized in your body. Negative association to any food, no matter how healthy

it is for you, is problematic.

In contrast, one of my best friends, Tyler, doesn’t particularly eat well but he’s never

been sick in the 20 years that I’ve known him. He simply tells himself that he’s not

going to get sick. It’s just not an option. He eats tons of bread, cereal, milk, cookies,

and chocolate. His very active and fit and even refuses to even wear a jacket in the

cold winter months in Toronto.

But somehow, he’s healthy – at least on the surface.

What I love about holistic health is that the WHOLE individual is considered, not just

one problem or condition. Accordingly, you can have the healthiest diet on the

planet but if you BELIEVE that it’s still not good enough or that you feel you’re never

healthy enough, then you’re no better off than those who are living off packaged,

processed foods.

Learn. Eat well. But just let it be.


49

Lesson #23

Your Mind as Muscle

If you want to get physically stronger, you must strength train, correct?

But how do you develop a strong mind? The same way ‐ you train it!

As far as I’m concerned, achieving any goal is 90% between your ears. The diet and

fitness stuff is easy. But it’s what is in your head that will help or hinder you.

In order to have better control over your mind, you must devote daily attention to

training it. The more you train your brain, the more control you’ll have over it.

Most people have minds of mush, that’s why they don’t amount to greatness. They

allow themselves to get easily distracted, they don’t follow through, they lack focus,

and they talk negatively to themselves, and on and on.

But all of these mental habits can be changed with consistent training. Want bigger

biceps? Do more pull‐ups on a consistent basis. Want better mental focus? Train

yourself daily to stay focused on a particular task until it is complete.

Sounds easy, but it’s not. It requires a lot of dedication to resist the urge to fall back

into your old habits. But the good news is that with a small dose of daily practice,

you can mold your mind into whatever you want.

Have you ever meditated? It was probably tough the first few times, right? But as

you continue to meditate on a consistent basis, it gets easier. That’s because you’re

forming new neural connections and building the muscle that is your mind.


50

Truth be told – your mind is probably the toughest “muscle” to train, but once

you’ve done so, EVERYTHING in your life becomes so much easier to achieve. Eating

well and exercising regularly becomes easier. Being more productive at work

becomes easier. Managing your time becomes easier.

Your life becomes easier and more fulfilling because you’ve done the hard work in

training your mind – the ultimate goal manifestation machine – to do what you tell it

to do and not the other way around.


51

Lesson #24

High Tech vs. High Touch

John Naisbitt, former Assistant Secretary of Education under President Kennedy and

Special Assistant to President Johnson, once said that in times of “high tech” there is

increasing need for “high touch”.

Nothing could be truer.

Just look at our lives today. Human interaction is becoming more and more scarce

thanks to Blackberries, iPhones, and all the technology that we now rely on. We are

becoming increasingly disconnected, yet the basic human need for connection and

belonging still remains. It’s no wonder that social media sites like Facebook and

Twitter – which connect us to each other – are so popular.

This deep need for connection and communication is also a big reason why we are

constantly checking our email – in the hope that someone has reached out to us.

Unfortunately, email has become a double‐edged sword as most of us now receive

hundreds of emails per day.

As technology becomes more and more pervasive, the deep‐seeded need for not

only human interaction, but also human TOUCH will be increasingly important and

valuable.

Face‐to‐face interaction will always be more engaging than email and even talking

on the phone. Has technology made our lives easier? I think so, to some extent. But I

also believe that we need to make an earnest commitment to staying true to our

roots as human beings. If we don’t, happiness will be a pipe dream at best.


52

Animal studies have shown that monkeys that don’t receive physical touch from

their mothers end up sicker, socially inept, and end up dying much sooner.

Are we much different? I don’t think so.


53

Lesson #25

Small Successes and Confidence

I believe in setting big crazy goals. But I also believe that it is vitally important to set

smaller goals along the way. Why?

If you constantly strive for that big (and perhaps impossible) goal without

acknowledging your smaller successes along the way, you will most likely veer off

course very quickly.

Why does this happen?

It boils down to ever‐decreasing levels of self‐esteem and confidence. Without small

“milestones” on your journey, you inevitably feel that you haven’t accomplished

anything. The focus is constantly on what you still have to accomplish instead of

celebrating the small successes that you’ve already achieved.

There’s a Chinese proverb that says it well, “One rain drop raises the sea. Do not let

great ambitions overshadow small success.” Don’t focus solely on the “sea”.

Celebrate the “raindrops” along the way.

Let’s say you want to lose 100 lbs in one year – a really ambitious, but doable, goal. If

you don’t set smaller goals (i.e. losing 8‐10 lbs per month) and celebrate their

achievement, you’ll feel as though you’re not making progress. In turn, you will have

less confidence and you will be less eager to continue taking action.

The key to realizing an amazing goal is to think big, then work backward and chunk

it down into smaller milestone goals and celebrate once each one has been achieved.


54

That’s the fuel that will build your confidence. And confidence is the fuel that will

drive you forward!


55

Lesson #26

Kaizen

“Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” ‐ Chinese proverb.

Sometimes it can be tough to focus on small improvements in a world that wants

rapid overnight results. But as we’ve just seen, getting down on yourself for not

achieving miracles overnight leads to stagnation.

Instead, adopting the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen is helpful. Kaizen essentially

means “constant, never ending improvement.” I think that’s a great philosophy and

it’s one that I’ve based my life around. I’m constantly willing to learn, grow, and

better myself in some way, each day.

Otherwise, the alternative is nothing. You just stop. Life continues but you remain at

a standstill. It’s like Eric Hoffer once said, "In times of change, learners inherit the

earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world

that no longer exists."

Growth is a basic human need. We grow physically and we MUST also grow as

people. We must develop our minds and learn more about who we are so that we

can do more good in this world.

In nature, you’re either growing or dying. It’s that simple. Just look at the lifespan of

a flower. From a seed, it eventually grows, blossoms, and then wilts. Humans are the

same. We grow physically (aging) until the point where we begin to “wilt”.

Why do we live? Why are we here?


56

These are interesting philosophical questions to consider. I believe that we are here

to grow, to learn about ourselves to the point of self‐actualization, and to somehow

make this world a better place for everyone – now and into the future. But we can’t

accomplish this mission if we refuse to make small improvements each day.

So do your best to do something each day that helps you grow as a person. Become

the best person you can be and leave a true, lasting impact in this life.


57

Lesson #27

On Asking Questions

“He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool

forever.” ‐ Chinese proverb.

If you want to know something, don’t be afraid to ask. Often we don’t ask a question,

especially in a public setting, because we think we’ll look stupid. We fear what other

people will think of us. They might think that you’re not smart or that you’re not

worthy of their time.

But the truth of the matter is, those who ask questions are those who are truly

committed to resolving a problem, learning more, and bettering themselves.

I love answering questions about health, fitness, and nutrition and that’s why I do

my “Ask Yuri” LIVE Q& A sessions on Facebook. In my mind, there are no dumb

questions. If you have a question it’s because you want to know something. What’s

dumb about that?

And here is the other cool thing about asking questions:

When you ask a question, not only do you benefit from the answer, but EVERYONE

else as well. If you ask me a question, that is a great way of giving back and helping

others, let alone yourself.

I’ll even take it one step further and say that you are acting selfishly if you have a

question and you don’t ask it. Instead of being wrapped up in your own ego, just let

go of the need for approval from others and ask away.


58

I had a friend in college who always sat in the very front row. He was notorious for

asking questions all the time. And, even though it frustrated some of our classmates,

some of the best learning came from the answers to his questions.

So don’t be shy. Ask and you shall receive.


59

Lesson #28

Being Too Smart, Space Shuttles,

and Taking Action

Nothing is guaranteed to help you succeed in life more than taking massive action.

You can talk all you want. You can plan all you want. You can be the smartest person

in the world with the greatest ideas but unless you take massive action you will not

get anywhere.

When someone transforms their body through exercise and diet, are they

necessarily the smartest person? Do they know EVERYTHING about how to workout

and eat well? Probably not.

Instead, they’ve used a great program or worked with a trainer that has pushed

them to take consistent action. That’s it. It’s really that simple.

Teachers can open the door but only you can enter. You can learn everything there

is to know about everything but you still need to get your butt in gear and take

massive action. Don’t obsess about needing to know every little detail. Don’t wait

until things are perfectly lined up for you to start.

Start taking action today, build that momentum, and allow it to carry you through.

Yes, it’s true that starting to do something can be tough. It can be tough to go the

gym after not having gone for several weeks. But it gets easier. You just have to

start.


60

Think of a space shuttle. The initial amount of energy it requires to take off and

leave the earth’s atmosphere is absolutely enormous. But once it’s in orbit, it

requires little to no energy to keep going.

We are the same. And once you realize that it’s little tougher to get started, you’ll

more empowered to actually start. Because remember, you just have to get started.

Just expend the initial energy and the momentum will keep you going almost

effortlessly.


61

Lesson #29

The Power of the Written Word

Throughout this manifesto I’ve mentioned goals several times. And yes, you should

be setting goals on a regular basis. Essentially because once you do, your mind feels

a compelling pull to achieve them. It’s pretty awesome.

But there is a correct way to set goals and that starts by writing them down. In fact,

no matter what method of goal setting you use, the most important thing you can do

is write your goals down on paper. I guarantee doing this simple act will change

your life.

So what do you want to achieve? Think on paper and write it down. By writing your

goals you inherently commit to them. You’ve essentially written a contract with

yourself. There’s no turning back because you’ll have that piece of paper in your

handwriting as accountability. There is no better accountability than that which is

created once you declare something in writing.

As the old Chinese proverb goes, “The palest ink is better than the best memory.”

It’s easy to set a goal and then forget it. But write it down and it’s yours forever!

Plus, you’ll be amazed at how life somehow arranges itself to help you reach your

written goal. A little while ago, I dedicated to writing my company’s vision for what

we want to achieve. What happened next was almost serendipitous…

I had written about the exact people I needed to bring into our company to help us

accomplish our vision and no later than ONE day after writing our vision statement

did a friend recommend someone to me that was exactly whom I was looking for!!!


62

There really is nothing more powerful than the written word. So pick up your pen

and get to it!


63

Lesson #30

Money, Mission, and Motivation

I really do believe that we are motivated by a worthy cause or powerful mission

more than anything else, even money.

Otherwise, why would so many people devote themselves to such meaningful

causes all around the world with little to no compensation?

Yes, money is great and we all want more of it. But, as I’ve said before, there is more

to life than money. After all, money simply allows us to do more of what we really

want to do. And very often that’s giving ourselves over to worthwhile causes.

Part of our company vision is to attract the right people into our circle of influence.

This includes customers, partners, and employees who resonate with our greater

vision of empowering 10 million people to live healthier and fitter lives by 2018.

I truly believe that companies that attract employees and customers with a

compelling vision and company culture are the wave of the future. This goes back to

our basic human need of belonging to something bigger than ourselves.

Studies have also shown that our performance can actually be hindered when

rewarded with money. Instead, being rewarding with a deep sense of purpose, in

which we feel that we are contributing to something truly meaningful can be one of

the most rewarding experiences of all.

Do you have a vision for your life? Why not create one? It will motivate you more

than anything else!


64

Lesson #31

Be True to Yourself

In my 31 years or life, I’ve been really fortunate. I’m in great health, have an

amazing family and friends that I love being around, and I love what I do. I really

don’t need much more. For me, that’s being true to myself. I feel that I’m living

along path that I’ve truly desired.

It has also helped that I’m crystal clear as to what and where I want to go in life. This

vision has enabled me to be true to my core values and most important priorities.

Looking back, there only a few occasions in which I would have acted differently at

the time, but I have nonetheless learned and grown from them.

With regards to my views on health and fitness, it would be foolish to say that they

won’t change. I mean, they have already since I first started in this industry over 12

years ago.

After all, as we continue to grow and experience new things, we are inevitably

altered. We can never be the same person we used to be, but our core values usually

remain the same and that’s why it’s so important to be crystal clear on what yours

are.

Once you identify what you stand for, it is easier to put your foot down, say no or

yes, and live life on your terms.

If there’s one thing I can leave you with it is to live YOUR life and no one else’s. If you

want to do something, then do it. Don’t go through life wishing you had done things


65

differently. Live with no regrets. Know who you are, be proud of that, and live your

best life ever!


66

I Hope This Has Inspired YOU!

Thanks for reading my “31 Life Lessons” manifesto. I hope something within the last

65 pages has inspired you or prompted you to sit up, think differently, and take

action.

I’d love to hear thoughts.

Join me on Facebook to let me know your thoughts of this manifesto.

www.YuriElkaim.com/Facebook


67

So who is Yuri Elkaim anyways? Yuri Elkaim graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelors of

Physical Education and Health from the University of

Toronto. He is a Certified Kinesiologist, a Registered Holistic

Nutritionist, and the Head Strength & Conditioning and

Nutrition Coach for the University of Toronto men’s soccer

program.

Over the past 12 years, Yuri has helped over 37,000 people

around the world lose weight, get fit, and live their healthiest

lives ever through his innovative iPod workout programs – Fitter U, Treadmill

Trainer, and Fitter U Fitness – and his best‐selling nutrition programs – Eating for

Energy and the Total Wellness Cleanse.

Before founding his company – Total Wellness Consulting ‐ Yuri played professional

soccer for 3 years ‐ with the Toronto Lynx of the North American A‐League and with

Lille OSC of the French 1st division. Yuri was also named a 2‐time All‐Canadian All‐

Star and team MVP/captain with the University of Toronto Men’s Soccer team

helping the team capture provincial gold and silver medals and leading the team to

the National Championships.

Yuri has shared his wealth of knowledge and expertise by publishing articles in

Beyond Fitness Magazine, Impact Magazine, and Fitness Business Canada Magazine.

He and his fitness and nutrition program have also been featured in several media

including: Maximum Fitness Magazine, CityTV, Perfect Fit, CP24, 24 Hours, Calgary

Herald, eTalk Daily, and Breakfast Television.

For more information on Yuri visit www.YuriElkaim.com

welcome and thank you for celebrating with me! · doing the right things right. and very often this...

Documents