Mindset Monday 12/10/12- Constant Improvement

The 3 Pillars that uphold the Z-Fanatical Life Philosophy are Intensity, Consistency, and Constant Improvement. The Japanese word for Constant Improvement is "Kaizen." I would suggest looking deeper how the Japanese apply this to business (big reason their products are as great as they are). For today’s post, I will be using an excerpt from the last chapter of my book The Z-Factor: The Missing Link Between You and the Body of Your Dreams. Application of philosophy to life: … constant improvement should be applied to every aspect of your life. You don’t let a day go by without improving yourself mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, socially, financially, intellectually, etc. etc. Life provides us with enough dimensions and enough levels for our evolution process to last more than a few lifetimes. Since the biggest room in the world is the room for improvement, get started applying fanaticism to every aspect of your life. There it is. Short sweet and to the point. Definitely do not wait for New Years like most people. Begin now! There is always something you can be doing to get better. Stay Fanatical! For more on the Z-Factor book: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236180 Gene Zannetti, M.S. Z-Fanatical Life, CEO Peak Performance Specialist: One-on-one consultation & Motivational Speaking genezannetti@gmail.com

Mindset Monday 12/3/12- Consistency

The past few weeks, I spoke of fueling yourself with optimal fuel. Obviously, you must fuel with proper Exercise and Nutrition, but also Mindset. Your Mindset fuel is your WHY. WHY you want the goal that you set. Your WHY powers all the decisions you make and actions you take. Z-Fanatical endorses 3 Pillars of Fitness. 3 philosophies to live by. 3 WHYs- Intensity, Consistency, and Constant Improvement. Today is the Pillar #2- Consistency. By the way each of the 3 pillars is equally important. In no way do these numbers reflect a rank order. Just as each column of the White House or ancient Greek Temple must be the same size to balance the roof, so too are the pillars to balance Fanaticism. I define consistency as- prioritizing your action plan each day. A priority is like sky diving and making sure you pull the pin to release the parachute. You would not forget to do that or make some excuse to procrastinate until tomorrow, or the New Years (Hint- start today). You make sure you pull the pin. My former wrestling coach John Sacchi once told our team, “If you don’t have discipline, you don’t have a damn thing in this world.” Notre Dame’s football coach was asked in the beginning of the season what he felt his chances were for bringing the Fighting Irish to a National Championship game. He told them, we need to first talk about having a consistent team before talking about a national championship team. Discipline and consistency both have to do with having the same high level of expectation and performance day in and day out. Dabblers work really hard for a short period of time then stop, than pick it up again. True Masters avoid these peaks and valleys (or at least minimize their effect) by taking consistent action. Life circumstances do come up and can derail you from your action plan. But this should not happen more than 20% of the time. If you are not consistent with your action plan at least 80% of the time, these are not extenuating circumstances. They are your lack of to planning ahead. If you get nothing else form today’s lesson, (1) Write down a specific Exercise, Nutrition, and Mindset Plan. Actually put the pen to paper and write it out. DO NOT TAKE THIS STEP LIGHTLY. Reputable psychological professionals will all tell you the same thing- writing things down increase your chances of compliance. Aren’t you reading this to increase your chances of success. Be sure to go all the way with it and write it down. Maybe you are stuck because you are lacking an exercise, nutrition, and mindset plan. Not to worry, Z-Fanatical Fitness has done the work for you. All you need to do now is follow through. Mindset breeds consistency. Get the Z-Factor book today: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236180 Gene Zannetti Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness Peak Performance Specialist: One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker (908) 337-6143 genezannetti@gmail.com www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday-11/26: INTENSITY the 1st Pillar of Champions

Last week I spoke of fueling yourself with optimal fuel. Obviously, you must fuel with proper Exercise and Nutrition, but also Mindset. As I have said, your Mindset fuel is your WHY. WHY you want the goal that you set. Your WHY powers all the decisions you make and actions you take. Z-Fanatical endorses 3 Pillars of Fitness. 3 philosophies to live by. 3 WHYs- Intensity, Consistency, and Constant Improvement. Today is the Pillar #1- Intensity. Intensity is performing at the highest level to which you are capable of RIGHT NOW. This is likened to the idea of always seeking the challenge. Compete with people or situations that are at or slightly above your present level. This will push you forward toward growth and expansion. You are always faced with the decision, Am I going to go all out, or am I going to hold back? Consistently decide to go all out. Err on the side of being gutsy. That is what life is all about. Not taking it easy and just getting through things. You only go around once, so you might as well go hard when it is your turn. Or, you will probably be sorry you didn’t. Few people get old and say, “ I shouldn’t have gone for it so much” or “I should’ve taken it easy” or “I should have played it safe during the game.” Compete a grade level above yourself in sports, don’t play video games on Easy for long, volunteer for more responsibility at work or school. Set all standards a little bit higher. (Best yet, don’t let others standards impact you at all- set your own mark and enforce it!) Remember that this is all a game designed for your improvement. So do not take wins or losses too seriously. You objective is improvement- so you must be INTENSE. Do not put yourself in too high of a level. Failure and success are both important. Failure is important to keep you humble and continually seeking improvement. Success is also important for confidence. This is why you must compete or participate in the highest level you are presently capable of performing- you will experience both success and failure. I must add here that PASSION for what you do & Desire to Improve are prerequisites for all goal attainment. You will not have proper perspective of success and failure if you do not love what you do or want to improve. If you are not looking to improve, you may want to participate at lower levels to ensure success and good feelings. But, if you have a goal, then you must always push yourself to your threshold or risk becoming stagnant or moving in the opposite direction of your goals. There is no substitute for Intensity. You gotta go hard. You gotta be Fanatical. Stay tuned for the next few weeks where I will elaborate on each of the other 2 pillars. Or, if you can’t wait- purchase the ebook “The Z-Factor” for under $10 at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236180 Gene Zannetti Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness Peak Performance Specialist: One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker (908) 337-6143 genezannetti@gmail.com www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 11/19- Know WHY You Want To Achieve!

You may have heard the saying, “if you can find a big enough WHY, you will figure out HOW.” You just won the lottery and bought a high performance sports car. What kind of fuel do you put in it- Regular, Diesel, Premium? The fuel you use to power your vehicle will certainly have an impact on how efficiently it runs. You may want to win a drag race, but it is not enough to have a goal if you are going to disregard the fuel you will use. What does this have to do with YOU? Your WHY is the fuel that will empower or disempower you en route to YOUR PERSONAL GOALS. Your WHY must be clear and sound. To win OR be the best OR beat someone else CANNOT be your main WHY. Why? ;) Because your orientation is based on outcomes and others. Your WHY must be internal. Process oriented, Self directed. Some good WHYs for achieving your goals: -You love what you do -You want to be the best you can be -God asks for your best effort These are the equivalent of Premium fuel for your sports car. They are PROCESS-oriented and SELF-directed. It is okay to want to be the best at something, to win, and to beat someone else. Competition can bring out your best. But this should not be your primary reason to achieve your goals. Outcome and Others Orientation often fail people during times of adversity. We all feel good when things are going well, but things quickly change mentally when times get tough. I am splitting hairs with this because you need emotional and mental immunity for these tough times if you want to persist and become a champion and ultimately achieve your goals. Z-Fanatical endorses 3 pillars of Fitness, which are very clear and sound WHYs: (1) Intensity (2) Consistency (3) Constant Improvement. These pillars or WHYs are excellent philosophies to live by enroute to any GOAL. Stay tuned for the next few weeks where I will elaborate on each of the 3 pillars. Or, if you can’t wait- purchase the ebook “The Z-Factor” for under $10 at: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236180 Stay Fanatical! Gene Zannetti Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness Personal Trainer, One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker (908) 337-6143 genezannetti@gmail.com www.zfanatical.com

GREAT MINDSET VIDEOS

Putting it on the line with Ben Askren Dont take losing personally with 2x State Champ Andrew Flanagan Concept of Risk with Kendall Cross Mike Tyson- The closer to the ring, the more confident I get Keeping PRE-GAME fun and light with soccer legend Diego Maradona Philosophy and constant improvement with Tom Brands Sakuraba, a real free-wheeler, getting after it Cockiest boxers. You gotta have a little of this in you

PERFECTIONISTIC WRESTLERS GET MORE NERVOUS BEFORE MATCHES…and the role parents play in this

The Full Master’s Thesis of Gene Zannetti

Mindset Monday 4/30/12- What happiness has to do with your success in wrestling, finals, and interviews

Being nervous, anxious, worried, or scared has a predictable affect on your mind. Tunnel vision sets in. You revert to your most rehearsed behaviors for safety. You become literal-minded. Have you ever tried telling a joke or being sarcastic with someone who is in this state of mind? Notice how they don’t quite get what you are talking about right away. These people have difficulty understanding even semi complex material. Creativity and flexible thinking go out the window. Creativity and flexible thinking are absolutely essential in a sport like wrestling where there is no set routine. On board course corrections become necessary. How well do you think a wrestler in this mindset will make appropriate adjustments in the middle of competition. Again remember, we tend to revert to our most rehearsed behavior while nervous. Now think about taking a final exam. Many tests are difficult because the teacher/professor asks you to apply the knowledge that you know. Multiple choice and fill in the blank questions may be easy if you studied adequately, but what happens when you are presented with familiar material and you are asked to do something novel with it? This often trips people up. Typically when the teacher goes over the test, after the fact, we see the simple adjustments and application that should have been obvious to us beforehand because we did, “know the material.” When you panic, creativity and flexible thinking are out the window. Imagine now you are on an interview and the interviewer asks how you would react in a novel scenario. How might your nervousness affect the quality of your answer? Keep in mind, this phenomenon occurs regardless of your skill level. Panic, fear, nervousness will block you from achieving your potential. You can still perform well despite this feeling, you can succeed, but wouldn’t you rather bring out the you that you know is within you- your potential? Here’s the remedy- happiness- being in a good mood. The next time you feel nervous, begin to act the opposite way. Fake it till you make it if you have to. Better yet, fake it till you feel it. Keep the “tense” atmosphere light-hearted. Joke around. Smile. Pre-plan ways to make yourself smile and laugh during these situations. Some coaches and teachers may not like this because they think you are not taking the situation seriously, but they just don’t understand this important lesson. This is crucial to your success, especially in situations that require you to make adjustments and react in novel ways. Get good at laughing at yourself and mistakes. Stop taking yourself so seriously. Most people don’t care about you, they’re too busy thinking how they look. Practice how you will look and feel before, during, and after a competition, or test, or interview. See yourself smiling and enjoying yourself out there. You will be surprised how well you perform when you stop taking yourself so serious, let go, and have fun. Flexible thinking, adapting, creativity will be open to you from now on.

Mindset Monday 2/20/12 - Taking Risk in Sports

A word about risk from Kendall Cross 1996 Olympic Champion:

"If you want to sail the high seas, you got to be willing to step offshore"

http://www.flowrestling.org/speaker/5508-Kendall-Cross/video/206428-Kendall-Cross-Explaination-Of-Techniques


In many instances in life it is beneficial to play it safe. Don't text and drive, look both ways before you cross the street, practice safe sex, and say no to drugs. Failing to abide by these rules could get you in serious trouble, if not killed. This is REAL RISK.

When the stakes get high and a big competition comes up. We tend to avoid risk. We err on the side of doing less. Play it conservatively. Try to be perfect.

What we forget is that sports is just a game. It is play time. We can take risk and not be in any REAL danger. In sports, taking risks is fun and often very rewarding.

When I say RISK, I mean Calculated risk. We should know the difference. Technique that succeeds. We know what to do, but we second guess ourselves. What I am really taking about is attacking your moves and technique without fear. We tend to get so afraid things may not work out if we go after a move. So what? You will live to see tomorrow. That is a comforting thought.

Avoid life threatening risk like I mentioned before. In sports, you must embrace the unknown and approach your goals. Do not shy away. It is fun to play hard and go after moves. That sure beats hanging back and waiting for something to happen.

If you are afraid of making mistakes, you will probably not make much of anything.
Get after it. Go all out. Get Fanatical

Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Peak Performance Specialist: One-on-one consultation & Motivational Speaking
genezannetti@gmail.com
908-337-6143
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 2/13/12- Entering the Post-Season

When entering the post season, many athletes make the same tragic flaw: they lose sight of why they do what they do.

It is easy to get caught up in the significance of an event. Just pick up a newspaper, go on a forum, and talk to some of your friends, family, and coaches. The focus will quickly turn to winning, or even worse, not losing.

Athletes begin demanding more from themselves as the post-season approaches. They try to do more than they usually do. They make the upcoming event "special." Everything is important, nothing is special. Once you make something special, you put the performance on a pedestal, and this adds a tremendous mental weight for the athlete to carry, as if the athlete was not dealing with enough physically.

We learn from sports movies and media the wrong way to think about the post-season. "This is it, now or never, do or die." "This is all that matters, what you have been working your whole life for" etc etc. You get the picture. People hype it up. This is great for selling movies and maybe 10% of the athletic population, if that.

Watch the Olympics or World Series or Super Bowl. Listen to those interviews. they will likely tell you a very different story than Hollywood. Real athletes talk about consistency and staying within themselves. Doing what they do every day. Not focusing on the event, but on effort, attitude, and execution of skills (technique).

A great way to separate yourself from the masses you will be competing against is remembering what you love about your sport. I would assume you are playing the sport you are because at some level, you enjoy it. Enjoyment is the base of the pyramid to feeling the Flow State of being In the Zone, where you just cant miss. Most athletes recall being in this Flow State at some point in time. To get back to it, you must enjoy what you are doing. You won't achieve a Flow Mindset if you are frustrated, annoyed, upset, or angry. The sport must be it's own reward.

Activity of the week: Create a long list of everything you enjoy about your sport and read it multiple times a day. If you are looking for that Flow State in the next few weeks, you better do the things that will facilitate its occurrence.

In a period of time where all your opponents are stressing out and worrying about a future challenge or potential loss, remind yourself why you love doing what you do. Your mind will make an immediate shift, and the results will likely follow your good feelings.

Gene Zannetti
Z-Fanatical Fitness
Peak Performance Specialist
www.zfanatical.com
genez@zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 1/30/12- The Key to a Quiet Mind Before Competition...and how to get it!

The key to a consistently high performance and mental quiet before competition is a solid Pre-Competition Routine. After developing and intensely practicing your routine, it will become a safe place you can live by, compete by, and train by. Your routine will become home. You will no longer get pulled physically and mentally from idiosyncratic occurrences and random thought before competition because your sole focus will be on performing actions that are designed to specifically bring out your optimal emotions and thoughts.

Take out two blank pieces of paper. On the first paper, write down your three best performances (leave enough room for equal spacing). What were you thinking before the performance? If you feel your best performances were in practice, that is fine too, simply write them down. Specifically, what were you thinking? How warmed up were you? Were you speaking with anyone, or were you to yourself? Who was around? What specific thoughts were going through your mind and what specific emotions were you feeling?

Label the second paper, three worst performances. Follow the same instructions as above.

Most people find there to be a major contrast between their mindset and physical warm-up when they are at the top of the game versus the bottom.

You now have a baseline for your mindset and physical state before you compete. You will benefit from returning to this mindset regularly if you would like a consistently high performance.

Over the next few weeks we will be discussing this topic more and more in depth. In the meantime, put the idea of a pre-competition routine and what it will entail for you personally into your mind. Stay tuned…

Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Personal Trainer, One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 1/16/12- 4 Mandatory Mental Attitudes for Sports

I posted this message on my previous blog, but it is worth revisiting.

Pre-Competition

1. I don't care who I go against, I want everyone. I go after the tougher opponent. I live for the challenge.
The best defense is a good offense right? Same thing with your mindset. If you seek the challenge and look for tougher opponents, you're not worried about competing against someone good. You want them!

2. I'm good enough to beat this person, or anyone else for that matter.
Confidence Plus is a Must.

3. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world right now. I live for this. I love it!
Present, In the moment. Devoted 100% to the experience you're having.


Post-Competition

4. This is the best thing that could have ever happened to me.
Learn from everything- wins and losses. Learn lesson regardless and move on.


Note- If you are missing ANY of these mindsets, it is important to rethink your mental game and take the steps necessary to change them to the ones above.

Gene Zannetti
Z-Fanatical Fitness Owner
Mindset Mastery & Fitness Instructor
888-804-1819
genez@zfanatical.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 1/9/12- Jordan, Tiger, Gable, Ali, Arnold, & Phelps on Mindset HERE

HOW MUCH TIME DO YOU PUT INTO YOUR MINDSET? Maybe the greats will convince you to work as hard mentally as you do physically-

Arnold Schwarzenegger
“The Secret is to make your mind work for you, not against you.”
(Arnold’s approach to bodybuilding was more mental than physical)
http://www.askmen.com/sports/bodybuilding_60/69_fitness_tip.html


Michael Jordan
Michael's biggest strength was his mental game. Jordan held a decisive mental edge over his opponents throughout his entire career. It was his mental toughness... Jeff Janssen, M.S.
http://www.teamarete.com/ificouldbe.html


Wayne Gretzky
…he (Gretzky) was not very strong physically, but he made up for that in the mental edge he held over opponents.
http://www.lycos.com/info/wayne-gretzky-hockey.html


Tiger Woods
Tiger's biggest club is his mental strength –USA Today
His mental game is every bit as good as his physical game. –Bob May
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/golf/2004-02-10-tiger-toughest_x.htm

there’s another quality even more important than skill. It’s his mind, and that very well could be his greatest weapon.
http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/09/sports/sp-mindgame9


Michael Phelps
His strongest asset is relaxing & focusing in competition. He can take himself mentally to a place. That’s what separates him from his competitors. –Coach Bowman
http://video.aol.com/video-detail/bowman-on-phelps-mental-strength/3003143297


Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali was a master of psychology…his mental toughness played a great factor in many of his fights. There was no one stronger mentally then Muhammad Ali.
http://greatestofalltime.homestead.com/muhammadali.html

Dan Gable
“Mental Toughness is the key of all keys…Mental Toughness is the foundation.”
http://www.briancain.com/articlesbybriancain/Dan%20Gable%20-%20Brian%20Cain%20CBN.pdf


Coach John Wooden
“I am constantly trying to make players realize the mental side.”


Coach Vince Lombardi
“Mental Toughness is essential for success.”
He was always working on both the minds and bodies of his players. The guy was a beautiful psychologist. – Jerry Kramer (former player)


Coach Bobby Knight
“Mental toughness to physical (toughness) is as 4 is to 1.”

Learn How to Train Your Mind with Evidence-Based Techniques taught by:

Gene Zannetti
Peak Performance Specialist at Z-Fanatical Fitness
One-on-One Consultation and Motivational Speaking
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 12/26/11- What to Focus On When You Compete/Perform

Focus

In competition, focus is best spent on the present moment- on actions.

Thinking about past successes or failures will distract you from your mission. Your mission is whatever you have to do right now, not a few moments ago, not a few seconds from now, much less the end of the competition- but right NOW.

Think of this as a blessing. Very seldom in life do you get the opportunity to act without regard for the past or future. In competition or a performance, it is almost always beneficial to disregard everything but right now.

Nothing else matters but the action you are taking right now. Do not let this be a source of stress, but of empowerment. Do not build up the moment, because soon enough it will be gone, and will not matter much because the new moment has now become the topic of your focus.

Mastery comes from getting out of your own mind (evaluations, doubts, fears, regret) and into your senses. Literally your senses- sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. In other words, focus on what you are doing and not what the result of it will be. Because you know that your actions are preplanned from all of your past hard work. From this, you can trust yourself.

A great way to live in the present moment is to forgive yourself. Forgive yourself for all past losses, failures, errors, and mistakes. Accept that you are human and thus fallible. Do not let this be an excuse to stop trying to be the best that you can be. Just know that you will mess up sometimes and this is okay. What is not okay is giving up and quitting on something you want.

Forgive yourself your past and future faults. That’s right, forgive yourself for future faults you make. Again, this isn’t to be used as an excuse to not do the best that which you are capable. Just accept yourself as human, and know that the most productive thing you can do with yourself is to proceed confidently, attempting, trying, and doing.

When you compete and perform be like flowing water- adaptable and opportunistic to flow through the cracks, seizing the opportunity. Do not make this a big deal, this is what you do.

Furthermore, this lesson will be of little value if you do not practice this “prescentism” in practice. When you practice competing and performing, be sure to include this attitude, as it will be extremely difficult to compete/perform like this without any practice doing it before. Imagine trying a new skilled technique without ever attempting it in practice first.

Stay in the moment when you compete and perform. You are fanatical! Nothing derails your mission, which of course is whatever you are doing this moment…now this moment…and now this moment.


Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Personal Trainer, One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 12/19/11- The Fanatical Approach to Goals

Z-Fanatical is a commitment to a lifestyle of consistency and intensity.

You should not support or endorse something that you do not understand or agree with. For this reason, I will elaborate on the ideals and message of Z-Fanatical.

We do not do things just to do them. I am advocate for having a master plan. It is okay to have fun and relax and act spontaneously in your down time. Goal related action however should have a purpose. Above our workouts, nutrition plan, and mindset plan, Z-Fanatical is an ideal that my brothers and I have and would like to share with the world.

You can have any goal you want. This is about the attitude we take toward pursuing our goals.

Philosophy is very important to me and Z-Fanatical Fitness. Our philosophy is a Commitment to a Lifestyle of Consistency and Intensity. Several key words should jump out at you there: Commitment, Lifestyle, and Consistency all drive home the point of regular, daily action. Z-Fanatical Fitness is not a fad or something that you go off and on. I define consistency as prioritizing your action plan each day. (1) you must have an action plan (2) you must follow it or attempt to. We all mess up from time to time. When we fall off the horse, we get back on as quickly as possible. It is not that we never fail or fall short, we just try again, and again, and again, and again, and again, etc.

This persistence is a piece of the second part of our philosophy- Intensity. Along with our dogged determination and refusal to quit, we endorse living with the utmost passion, zeal, and fervor. These words almost contain a religious connotation. Such is Fanaticism- not in terms of religion, but in terms of pursuit of goals. We try to handle our action plan, whatever it may be at the highest level possible- Relentless, Ferocious. Sounds a bit animalistic? Good. This type of pursuit will get you to your goals faster.

It doesn’t matter what your goals are, just that you approach them in this way- Fanatically. I choose to live my life by this. I have seen good results. I have watched others succeed with this attitude. It makes sense to me to emulate the best.

Strive for your goals as well as improvement in all areas of your life. I often say- Fitness is Never just Physical.

Strive to improve all areas of the human experience. Improve yourself Spiritually, Mentally, Emotionally, Physically, Socially, Fiscally, Academically, and every other way you can.

Z-Fanatical Fitness endorses the idea of being as Successful and Happy as you can in life. You want both. You can have both. If you strive to always improve in all areas of your life, you begin to develop good habits that will serve you well in the future. Limits are arbitrary walls you put around yourself.

Now you know what we are about. We would love for you to join us in this mindset. It is and always will be Your Choice. Choose to Get Fanatical!



Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Personal Trainer, One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 12/12/11- Cure Procrastination

Procrastinate later. In fact, I heard the procrastinators annual meeting was postponed…again!

Fanatically successful people usually prefer to do things NOW. If you want to be successful, you are going to want to get into the habit of acting now. Now is the only moment of power. Do plan ahead. Do have goals. Do think about the future. Do learn from the past. But ACT NOW.

The past already occurred, so you cannot change it, and you do not know what the future will hold. Now is when we reap the harvest of the past, now is when we plant the seeds for the future.

When you get the slightest urge to take productive action toward your goals, get up immediately and start moving in that direction. Do not sit and wait and let that burst of energy, that little feeling dissipate or disappear. Do not give yourself a chance to talk yourself out of it. Get good at recognizing that feeling- that moment when you first feel a pull to take action. Build on that momentum. That is what the greats do.

Get into taking action even when people around you are not doing so. You may have similar goals to other people in your life, but do not count on them to take action together. You are responsible for yourself. Be sure you take action regardless of what anyone else does.

Also, do not wait for perfect conditions to take action. There are exceptions to acting right now. But usually, most of the time, now is better than later. You may think, wait until things are better, well what if you wait and conditions become worse? What if you put it off and never get around to it? Someone who is Fanatical will act unless in rare extenuating circumstances.

Remember, the only time that is a gift is the PRESENT. Act now, Get Fanatical!

Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Personal Trainer, One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 12/5/11- Get to Your Goals in the Shortest Amount of Time Possible

If you are like most people, you would like to have what you want in the shortest amount of time possible. Human nature is valuing economy and efficiency. We do not like to waste effort and we would like to have our goal or present RIGHT NOW.

There is no formula known to man that allows you get what you want instantly. So we go back to something you already know- hard work makes dreams come true. This is by and large true. If you work hard, you will get results…in time. Hard work will always need to be sustained over time to achieve results. But, how much time? This is up to you…I will expand…

You want results now! I cannot get you results immediately, but I can show you how to get them AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

If you change your stance slightly from “I want what I want right now” to “I want what I want, or as close to it as I can, as soon as possible” then I have the answer for you-Fanaticism. You have to Get Fanatical about your goal. You have to Get Fanatical how you train, and you need to alter your mindset to something entirely different to just about everyone around you. You need to adopt a Fanatical Mindset.

You must become completely immersed in your goal. You need to create an intense action plan and consistently carry it out, everyday- always striving to get more out of yourself. Living a lifestyle based around the achievement of your objective.

To your friends and family who value balance and moderation, YOU WILL appear crazy. That’s ok. Which is more important to you- (1) Be seen as normal and cool by others or (2) accomplish your objectives?

If you would rather be seen as cool and normal, then this Blog really isn’t for you. I don’t have much tolerance or respect for accepted mediocrity in a world of limitless possibilities.

If you are looking to accomplish your objectives, then this blog is for YOU. If you stay with me and make the choice to Get Fanatical, I can make several guarantees: People will at times call you crazy and weird (because you will do and attempt things they would never dare to try). You will make mistakes, become frustrated and at times fail more than others (because you will be “in the game” more than those around you who prefer to be spectators in life) BUT you will also achieve your objective: GET WHAT YOU WANT, OR AS CLOSE TO IT, IN THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME POSSIBLE.

The choice is yours. Choose immersion, intensity, and passion. Get Fanatical!

Find out more by contacting me-


Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Personal Trainer, One-on-One Mindset Consultant & Motivational Speaker
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 11/28/11- What is Determination?

To succeed in your goals, you need to be Determined. What is Determination? And how does one become Determined? Passion is the first prerequisite for Determination. You will not be determined for long if there is no passion as the foundation. Difficulty will arise, and if you do not quit right away, eventually you probably will, without passion. Make sure first that you are doing something you love. OR, and this is big, CREATE LOVE and passion for what you are doing. Even if you are not crazy about nutrition and exercise, be creative and find things you like about them. Build on this and turn like into love, love into passion.

After passion, Knowledge and Acceptance will give you Determination. You need the knowledge that successful people fail many, many times before they reach their ultimate goals. Read biographies, talk to successful people, you will see. You need to internalize that mistakes and bumps in the road are part of your journey to success. You can eliminate failure forever if you view it as feedback. To succeed in your goals, you cannot be afraid of making mistakes. Errors and relapses are to be expected and ACCEPTED. Accept your mistakes. Accept yourself as less than perfect. Once you accept yourself as less than perfect, you can forgive yourself for mistakes you made in the past, and mistakes you are currently making. You will be able to move forward and focus on what you need to do.

Determination = Passion(Knowledge + Acceptance)

Live with passion. Make a list of why you love what you do. Remind yourself that failures and mistakes are part of success. There is no success without mistakes. Finally, forgive all your past mistakes, forgive your present weaknesses, and forgive your future errors. Focus solely on becoming the best you can be.

Fanatically yours,

Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Z-Personal Trainer, One-on-One Consultant & Motivational Speaker
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 11/21/11- Know your plan

“Failing to plan is planning to fail”
“Plan your work, work your plan”

Okay, so you have a goal to lose weight or get stronger. You know you need to exercise and eat better. You know this. You cannot expect this to just occur automatically. What is the action you will take to get from point A to point B? What is your action plan? You cannot leave this up to chance.

You may have friends who exercise and eat well on a regular basis. You may ask them what they do and they do not give you an exact and specific action plan. Consider that this is because they have already internalized exercise and healthy eating as part of their life. You have not yet. Therefore, you cannot move forward without a plan of some kind.

There are many reputable exercise and nutrition plans out there. We recommend you do Z Fanatical Fitness. We created this for your success in the shortest period of time. Each workout lasts just 10 minutes, which means you would exercise, at most, a half an hour a day for 6 days a week with no equipment. Your nutrition guidelines allow you to maintain your energy levels while cutting out unnecessary calories that add weight and slow you down.

Even we must admit that the choice you make between exercise and nutrition plans is negligible compared to the consistency and intensity you must have in executing either plan. This is why we add a mindset mastery element to Z Fanatical Fitness. Fitness is never just physical. You can look at several different exercise and nutrition plans and see what works best for you. You could even intelligently modify one of them to make it fit your personal preferences. After you choose what works best for you, you must follow it consistently and intensely. Z Fanatical also provides Mindset consultation to make sure you have the tools mentally to follow your plan.

The bottom line today is: make sure you have a plan. In the beginning, do not get too caught up in what plan it is, so long as you plan on following it.

If you are clueless on what plan works best for you and/or have trouble following any plan you are on, we strongly recommend Mindset Consulting from Z Fanatical Fitness where Gene Zannetti can personally walk you through the mental steps to be consistent and intense.


Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Z-Personal Trainer, One-on-One Consultant & Motivational Speaker
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com

Mindset Monday 11/14/11- Top 10 Reasons You're Still Out of Shape

Still don’t have the body you dream of?

You tried everything and nothing seems to work?

HERE IS WHAT YOU ARE MISSING:

Top 10 Reasons You Don’t Jump Levels; and Z Fanatical Fitness Solutions

Your physical limitations
1. You don’t train hard enough -> Contains a Progression System so everyone can train at their max.
2. High intensity programs are too difficult to keep up with -> Modifications for all exercises.
3. You don’t have enough time -> Each workout is, at most, 10 minutes
4. Equipment is a turn off, too risky, or too expensive -> No equipment

You haven’t mastered your mindset
5. You have not made a real commitment to your goal -> Mindset Mastery Lesson #1
6. There is no social element to your exercise -> Mindset Mastery Lesson #2
7. You still look at exercise & dieting as a verb, something you “do” -> Mindset Mastery Lesson #3
8. You do not understand the true meaning of Motivation -> Mindset Mastery Lesson #4
9. You have not learned to how to tap into your true potential -> Mindset Mastery Lesson #5
10. You don’t have deep confidence that you will achieve your goal -> Mindset Mastery Lesson #6

Learn ALL 6 Mindset Mastery Lessons from Gene and have the body of your dreams!

Start Z Fanatical NOW!
Contact Gene Zannetti: (888) 804-1819
Ask about the 6-Step Mindset Mastery Plan

Mindset Monday 11/7/11- Growing Confidence (Factor 3 of 4)

Growing Confidence

I spoke at the University of Pennsylvania Coaches Clinic at Wrestle-offs yesterday. I spoke about the ideal mindset in sports and performance- Flow. One of the five factors that lead to the Flow state is Confidence.

We all know how important Confidence is to our success. Most coaches tell their athletes to be confident and believe in themselves, without telling them exactly how to do this. Perhaps this is because most coaches do not know how to do this themselves.

Don’t be too hard on the coaches, sport and performance psychology is still relatively new. It is however a scientific field, and we do know how to improve confidence.

One of the four major ways to improve confidence is Verbal Persuasion or Pep talks. This is a way many coaches choose to appeal to athletes. Probably because they have seen this approach work in sports movies.

But this verbal persuasion goes beyond pep talks from coaches. It extends to the individual’s personal preference even to an unconscious level.

If you are looking to raise your confidence, you need to have a good understanding of your own personal confidence buttons. What movies make you believe in yourself? What songs give you more swagger? Are there speeches you have heard that make you believe? Are there quotes that make you believe that the world is yours? If you do not know your buttons, you will certainly not be able to press them when you need it most.

Write down your confidence buttons on paper. Review them frequently. This will ensure that in moments of doubt, you will have your buttons fresh in your memory. Control your confidence levels. Come to a Z Fanatical seminar and Get Fanatical!

Gene Zannetti
Owner of Z-Fanatical Fitness
Z-Personal Trainer, One-on-One Consultant & Motivational Speaker
(908) 337-6143
genezannetti@gmail.com
www.zfanatical.com