The Ultimate Underdog

(EXCERPT FROM JOEL’S UPCOMING BOOK!)

My story begins in the Fall of 1981 in my hometown of Luling, Louisiana. Luling was a great place to grow up; it was a quiet, friendly blue-collar community nestled in the heart of Cajun Country. While at a news stand in nearby New Orleans, I remember being awe-struck by this perfectly sculpted bodybuilder name Frank Zane on the cover of a bodybuilding magazine. WOW! How cool would it be to look like that! For me, that was the day that physical fitness became a big part of my life. I wanted to be a body builder and I wanted to compete. It was all I could think about; I went to bed with it on my mind and woke up with a passion in my gut.

Now, having a body like this may not be your dream. Having big muscles or winning a bodybuilding contest is not what this book is all about. Your desire may be climbing the corporate ladder or building a successful business. It may be losing weight or getting into top physical and mental shape. But, I can assure you that any goal or dream you have is achievable if you get the proper mindset.

I soon joined a local gym called Universal Health Spa to begin the quest towards the physique of my dreams. I was sophomore in high school at the time and being a part of the “popular crowd” was no problem. I was fairly strong with decent athleticism. However, I was on the thin side(145 pounds) and when it came to the bodybuilding crowd, I was definitely an underdog. So, it was my feeling, if I could build a physique half as good as Frank Zane’s I would be one happy young man.

I began to visualize myself looking like a Greek statue; I would imagine my name being called out as the winner of a bodybuilding contest. I would visualize the contest as if it were real and I saw myself taking my place atop the podium as I received my first place trophy.

This was a desire that I kept to myself until “Trey” entered the picture. Trey was a well built “stud-muffin” who was one grade ahead of me in school. He was a nice guy for the most part, but a bit cocky; he didn’t mind letting you know that he was “the stuff” and that you were not.

Our “old school” style gym had just a few machines and a lot of free weights. It looked like an indoor version of the outdoor Venice Beach gym that Arnold Schwarzenegger trained at during his reign as the world’s greatest body builder. At least, that is how I remember it. Every one there was very nice and supportive of each other, for the most part. There was a little competitive jealously among some of the guys, but the majority of people who worked out there were truly nice people who helped each other out and rooted each other on.

As I poured out blood, sweat, and tears towards the attainment of my dream. Trey enjoyed trying to burst my bubble. I remember one day specifically when he walked up and said, “Lucky, you are just wasting your time, bro.” You work out hard, but you just don’t have the right kind of body to build any muscle. You’re never going to get big.

No longer could I keep my dream a secret. I replied, “Trey, not only am I going to get big, one day I will enter a bodybuilding contest and win.” I thought to myself, “I’m going to make him eat his words.” I made a commitment to myself and to the world; in my mind I left myself no outs. I felt empowered and ready to kick some butt!

Trey started laughing and called some of his buddies over and shared my declaration with them. They thought it was just as funny, and they all had a good time at my expense. I thought, “That’s Ok, I know that I will succeed despite what these guys think.” That day I made a decision; that if I really wanted something, I was going to find a way to make it happen. Anything negative that was said to me from this day forward would only drive me more. I was never going to let anyone STEAL MY DREAM!

Fast forward to Savannah, Georgia, 1991. I had been working out hard for over ten years. During this time I had entered numerous bodybuilding competitions, but I had never placed first. I would probably have given up if it weren’t for the fact that each time I entered a contest, I placed a little higher that the time before. I also remembered those words that Trey said, “Lucky, you’re never going to get big.”

With each contest my confidence grew as did my commitment, until I barely missed winning and wound up with a controversial 2^nd place. I was 25 years old and I had other dreams I wanted to accomplish. I started to wonder if I was ever going to win a bodybuilding contest. I began to feel a sense of urgency to win because I knew I was close to my “genetic ceiling” as far as bodybuilding was concerned. After yet another near miss, I gathered myself, utilized some positive “self-talk”, and made some slight changes in my routine. I also made a couple of nutritional adjustments that I felt would take me to the next level when I got on stage again.

Two weeks later on a cool March night in the Old South I walked out onto the stage confident and with a deep belief that I would win. That night I realized my dream and I actually won two bodybuilding titles in the same night; the Mr. Savannah and the Mr. Adonis. I didn’t care that these weren’t large, national competitions. What it represented to me was the culmination of a dream. I achieved the physical goals that I had been visualizing every day since I was 16 years old!

From that experience, I learned that with the right mindset and a relentless focus on achieving your goal, anything is possible. I also learned that just because something isn’t working for you today, doesn’t mean it is not achievable in the future. You just have to try harder and make slight adjustments to your approach until you get it right. Your past never has to equal your future unless you let it. The choice is yours. And, just in case you were wondering, Trey was notified! When told about my recent bodybuilding success, he did not believe it. A friend of mine had to show him the newspaper clipping and pictures of me at the top of the victory platform to prove he wasn’t lying. Trey was said to be speechless and simply walked away stunned.