The Hard Way With Joe De Sena

UFC fighter "The Spaniard" and lifelong wrestler, Charlie grew up in normal circumstances. As he puts it "I'm just like you," he didn't have to overcome a great deprivation or trauma, he just worked hard and went on to great successes. Brenneman dispels the myth that you must follow a Rocky type trajectory to compete with the best. Instead he shares the simple steps he took, including surrounding himself with good mentors and Consistency. He arrived by realizing that in a sport like wrestling in which "heartbreak far outweighs the triumph" the journey is what matters. Lessons: 1. Being in a normal family that provides good core values and a supportive environment is an underestimated advantage. It doesn't take extraordinary circumstances to do extraordinary things. 2. Every opportunity, no matter how small, counts. Things add up. 3. If you don't move the proverbial line in the sand, you're never going to get best.

A former infantry officer Josh Mantz was shot by a sniper in Baghdad. He flatlined, and his life was in the hands of a nineteen year old medic in the heat of battle. Mantz was revived ten minutes after the period that's considered survivable. When asked why, the medic said simply that he never gives up. Mantz moved on to Tesla, pioneers in electric vehicles. The atmosphere there is in some ways as intense as the military. Why? They too are mission driven. Outside of Tesla Mantz has harnessed his healing to help veterans heal from their trauma. Lessons: 1. You can't do it all alone, sometimes even your very life is in the hands of others. 2. Recognizing and absolving yourself of guilt and shame is the first step in overcoming trauma. 3. A solid sense of mission and purpose precedes any great accomplishment. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Hosts: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra, Col. Tim Nye, Delle & David Deluca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2016 Spartan

Former Olympic downhill skier Doug Lewis decided at 8 he'd compete on the Wold Cup level. Success came very early, but during his first World Cup race at age 17 he broke his back. Failure, he now says, is critical to building confidence. He went on to win World Cup Bronze and represent the US in 3 Olympic games. The problem with peaking early is the looming question of what to do next - and will anyone care. Lewis chose to pass on the lessons he learned by creating a youth development program called Eliteam. He also chose to stayed close to ski racing and is a Skiing analyst for NBC for World Cup and Olympic games. Lewis is content with his life, but continues every day to look for new adventures and inspire kids to set lofty goals then dig deep to achieve them. Lessons: 1. Good coaches set goals challenging enough to spur growth but not so overwhelming they create despair. 2. Students should set goals they may never reach, they will provide direction and inspiration. 3. Confidence requires failure. 4. In any meaningful life path, ebbs and flows are inevitable.

The founder of a massive sports promotion company Matchroom Sport, started off without a clear direction. He says just start, take a scattershot approach and eventually you'll find your direction by the process of elimination. Aim high, then adjust. Hearn wanted to be a heavyweight boxing champion, but his path lead him to be a promoter instead. His own passion could comes across as draconian, but that's only testament to how strongly he believes in the power of the individual to create a meaningful life. Lessons: 1. At first take a scattergun approach in life; don't set limits and then adjust to find your place. 2. Start an hour earlier and end an hour later. 3. Champions are impressive, but the people at the back of the field who refuse to give in may be even more impressive.

His first memory is the moment his mother gave him away. Former NFL player, Anthony Trucks, wants to matter because his first memory in life was feeling like he didn't. At 14 a harsh remark by a girl in school shocked him into self awareness. Sheer force of will it set him on a course that has defined his life to the present day as a successful business owner, athlete speaker & author. Lessons: 1. Live a life that will produce a huge turn out at your funeral. 2. If you think the hand you've been dealt is an excuse, think again. 3. Practice effortless effort--that activity that resonates so deeply with you that the work you do starts to feel effortless.

Explorer and mountain biker Shannon Galpin brings cycling to Afghan women. The 2014 National Geographic Explorer believes bicycles are a vehicle for transformation in a society where this simple freedom and pleasure is denied to women and girls. This simple act, easily taken for granted in the West, provides them with a stronger voice so vital in what often appears like an insurmountable obstacle--positioning Afghan women in a place of greater equality. Lessons: 1. Simply doing something right can a powerful form of activism since it will inspire others to mirror you. 2. Hope and change prevail over fear. 3. Don't take even the simplest things for granted.

www.spartan.com/103 As a professional recruiter and founder of Executive Athletes Ken Lubin knows what it takes to build a career. As one of the ultra endurance athletes that built the epic Stone Steps in Pittsfield, Vermont he knows grit and hard work too. He says it's what will get you hired, and what will make you successful once you land a job. Knowing the company culture, offering them what they need is crucial too. Become the indispensable lynch. Building a massive network that includes all types of people, not just those who can obviously help you may be the most important step of all. Garner lots of career development gems in this week's episode. Lessons: 1. Be the guy that does the hard thing and you'll distinguish yourself from the rest of the pack. 2. Know the culture of where you want to work and find out how you can fit in. 3. Realize the power of the network: even when it doesn't look like a connection has any benefit at the time it may prove to be beneficial down the line.

When Amelia Boone isn't pulling i-beams out of frigid Vermont rivers for the Death Race or winning Spartan Races, she working as a highly competitive attorney. Every day she's up at 4:07, running trails at 5 and at her desk by 7. Has she always been that way? Yes. As a child, in what must have seemed odd to observers, her family was encouraging her to relax and not take things so seriously. She believes perseverance and drive can be a habit, don't let them lapse. It's harder to start or start again than just keep going. Lessons: 1. Make success part of your routine as regular as brushing your teeth, not allowing yourself to opt out. 2. The difficult path is where the growth happens. Choose it often. 3. Make one small change a day and let it build into something great. CREDITS Producer – Marion Abrams, Madmotion, llc. Host: Joe De Sena with Johnny Waite, Sefra, Col. Tim Nye, Delle & David DeLuca Synopsis – Matt Baatz © 2016 Spartan

US Pentathletes Nathan Schrimsher and Dennis Bowsher. The pentathlon has been an Olympic sport for over a century, but chances are most people don't know much about it. What are the skills a messenger would have needed in wartime? Riding, swimming,running fencing and shooting. It has recently been given a modern upgrade: the guns shoot lasers instead of the original bullets. Joe talks to two of the best American pentathletes to discover what it takes to excel at this intriguing discipline - one on the current Team competing in Rio in a few weeks. Trust us, there are 4 or 5 key lessons that will carry over to whatever challenge you face on the way to your goals. Lessons: 1. Run your own race, the race of life. 2. There is no substitute for the internal motivation to practice EVERY day. 3. Don't underestimate the value of wisdom and patience. 4. Set aside your wins and your losses, focus only on what is in front of you now.

One hundred episodes in, Joe, Delle, Johnny, Colonel Nye and Sefra talk about the guests that resonated with them the most. Spartan UP! has interviewed writers, athletes, generals, monks, CEOs, entrepreneurs, nutritionists, farmers, lawyers, doctors, explorers...to garner their unique spin on what it takes to succeed. There have been one hundred different answers, one hundred stories on how to live a fulfilling life, but many common threads. These inspiring people are telling us it's okay to be afraid, but not to live in fear, to have a why, but live in the moment, and to find a passion (or passions) and follow it with all we got. Lessons from 100 Episodes: 1. Have a why. 2. Life is a series of moments. Live each one. 3. A challenging life is a satisfying life. 4. The first step to success is getting off the couch. 5. Surround yourself with good, supportive people. Lose those who aren't. 6. Persevere, but if you find yourself on the wrong path, be prepared to go a different direction. 7. Aim to be a whole person, mind, body and soul. 8. Those who succeed aren't afraid to fail, often. 9. Experiences are much more valuable than things. 10. Whatever you are doing, no matter how big or small, commit to it wholly.