"A black belt only covers two inches of your ass -- you have to cover the rest."

~ Royce Gracie

I was going to write an article about “dopers, cheaters, and liars” in general with the overall sentiment of “fuck 'em” – or more optimistically phrased, “let them.” My conclusion at the end of that draft was that I should…

“Do it clean. Do it with spite if you have to. But, do it with a smile, or not at all. Think of everyone you could carry with you along the way. Think of what you’re really idolizing and representing; the process, the work, the change – or the trophy and the title.”

About two weeks before my debut at ADCC Open ATL

In other words, you have to “stand on business” as the kids say; and let other people’s business represent them. Recall that it takes no effort to complain, and only a little more effort to complain and be correct. I’m not any more responsible for the for the charlatan’s lies than I am the penitent doper’s shame.

I’m responsible for what I say, and more importantly, what I do. I’m responsible for who I spend time with. I’m responsible for who and what I give my attention to, what I let draw energy and time from me.

There are a few books, or at least sections of books, I re-read every year. Okay, every couple years – but the point is that they are perennially relevant. For our discussion today, let’s consider the chapter on “reputation” in John Berardi’s “Change Maker.”

Step 1: "Earn a set of unimpeachable credentials."

“… like all things hard-won, earning new credentials – not just degrees and certifications, mind you, but tangible accomplishments relevant to your career goals – is worth the effort because it’s so difficult to compete with.”

Step 2: "Do great work, celebrate others’ great work too."

“This is the cornerstone of your reputation… No matter your credentials, if you show up and don’t produce, you won’t get hired again.”

Step 3: "Show up as a respectful, trustworthy, and consistent human being."

“Further, if you don’t build the capacity to really connect, you won’t develop the skills required to be successful with clients and / or team members. Finally, without real human connection, mental and emotional health suffers.”

Surely someone will say, “but Austin, I don’t want to be a coach or trainer, I just want to win – for myself.” I’m not mad that. Winning is awesome. Winning is also costly. So much so that nobody “wins” anything worthwhile alone. If someone were to push the issue, I’d point you back to the two two-word responses in the introduction.

Speaking of introductions… why did I abandon the “PED post”? First, I’ve written on that topic before, and my opinions haven’t really changed, nor have I seen any convincing new evidence or exhibits to do so.

Secondly, there’s a broader point to all of this that I find, if not optimistic, at least a little more encouraging. This summer is the 1-year anniversary of going into business for myself – I’ve also recently talked about the ups-and-downs of that. However, even more recently some fantastic opportunities that I didn’t see coming fell on my lap.

I’m not going to shit talk deals, projects, and opportunities that went sideways in the past. Surely, I played a role in those processes as well. What hasn’t changed is my commitment to and the delivery of the steps mentioned above.

I don’t believe in coincides any more than I believe we get extra credit for making things extra hard on ourselves. What I do believe is that if Rumi was correct in that “what you seek is seeking you”, then the inverse is true, “what we produce is what we attract.”

Is that a “culture” of doping and lying? A culture of backstabbing and grudges – petty or justified? How about the 24/7 rage-bait and fear mongering that pervades our “media?” Originality and creativity in music and movies died about the time the iPhone was invented. “Health and Fitness” magazines have been running the same headlines for 50 years.

“Cleaners”, as Tim Grover calls them, have a few things in common whether we’re talking about team dynasties, business tycoons, or individual superstars. On one hand, they stay rooted in fundamentals. They have a history, earned in experience and fact-checked by competitive reality, and stick to “what works.” That grants them, on the other hand, the freedom to experiment and cultivate the “cutting edge” of an industry.

What they’re not doing is jumping on “trends”, mimicking the “bleeding edge” (which follows the cut), or obeying “conventional (popular) wisdom.” If you’re always emulating the past accomplishments of “the best”, you’re always going to be one step behind.

There is no easy way to a “good reputation.” There is no shortcut to results worth talking about. There is only what you did, what you say you did, whether or not you “let them” think what they will of it, and how you move forward.

Do the work. Do it honestly. Don’t do it because it matters to someone else. Do it because it must matter to you.

Stand on your reputation.

Stand on business.

Let them.

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Savage / Zen Newsletter No. 100