Mike Mahler is someone whose done some pretty remarkable things with his life and something tells me the most exciting chapters are still to be written. He’s built a wildly successful fitness business from scratch, earned respect as an expert in the field of natural strength, kettlebell training, and now on the cutting edge of nutrition and hormone optimization. But what makes him stand out to me is his high standards for himself in all areas of life. I feel fortunate to have had the chance to interview him. In his responses below there is literally zero “fluff.” I counted a total 13 distinct life lessons and tips you can take away from his replies.

They’re not enumerated. I’ll let you pluck them out for yourself to see if they add up. If you like what you read here, check out Mike’s articles over at: http://mikemahler.com He’s also got some killer DVDs and info on hormone optimization for sale at: http://www.mikemahler.com/store.html
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YC: Mike, one of the themes I find in your work and your teachings is the recognition that nothing exists in isolation. You always address health matters systemically. We often look for single “cause and effect” solutions to our challenges but you remind us that it’s many pieces that fit together for optimal health, hormones, or strength.

That being said, maybe you have some starting points you recommend as initial causes to get some momentum on knocking over some of the key dominoes?

MM: For real strength and vitality a multi-faceted approach is crucial. Eating right and training properly are both of course very important but we need to go beyond that. If you do not have a career that gets you excited and friends that hold you accountable to be your best, then you are really missing out. When you take charge of your life on multiple fronts, you realize how exciting and fulfilling life can be. That does not mean it all needs to be done at the same time. Focus on one component at a time. Perhaps you are out of shape and starting a solid training program and nutrition plan is the best move to make. Once you start losing fat and feeling better you will automatically start thinking about other areas of your life to improve. Never get complacent and always work on taking it to the next level. Maintenance is an illusion as we are either getting better or worse.

YC: “Maintenance is an illusion.” I find that one realization motivating whenever I reflect on it. If you think you’re “maintaining” odds are you’re slipping.

Here in the Silicon Valley the pace of life is pretty frenetic. What would you advise a person who is totally consumed by their work, feels he is doing everything he can to stay afloat and provide for his family, yet he knows he needs to protect his health to avoid a breakdown in the long run, which could potentially cause harm to those who depend on him?

MM: All you can do is the best you can with whatever life throws your way. Get as much sleep as you can and eat the best food you can afford so you can give yourself the most amount of energy possible to take care of yourself and your family. Engage in exercise that energizes you and helps you stay on top of things rather than programs that just add to the stress you already have.

Start thinking about passive income sources as well and no I am not talking about MLM. Develop some products on your own or buy stuff you use at wholesale and sell at retail. Relying on any one income source is a mistake as that can be taken from you at any moment as far too many have learned the hard way. Take charge of your finances and develop several income streams.

YC: Indeed. “All you can do is the best you can…” So many of us are “overwhelmed” because we’re really asking of ourselves more than what’s possible in the short term. One quote I like related to what you point out is, “have unrealistic dreams with a realistic plan.”

You encourage people to live life aggressively. Why do see this as continuing to be important and relevant when some feel that those of us in the “civilized” world have evolved passed this need to be “aggressive?”

MM: Living life aggressively means taking charge of your life plain and simple. It means not being passive and docile and standing up for what you believe in and not giving up on meaningful goals. It has nothing to do with being violent or abusive to others. If being a pawn in the game of life is the civilized thing to do then I choose to be a barbarian. Many people are punching bags in the game of life and live re-actively. Why not be proactive instead and pursue the life you have always wanted? People need to have the courage to improve and evolve and that is what living life aggressively is all about.

YC: Great stuff. That’s what’s so powerful about your message Mike. More than anyone else I’ve seen in this field, you really articulate the role training should play in one’s life and put in a needed context.

Part of that “ideal life” for most of us is having a trim waistline. Many in the corporate world just want to maintain a slim waist and aren’t too concerned with “strength.” What do you feel are the some of the benefits of pursuing strength that might not be so obvious to the ambitious person, who wants a lot out of life but doesn’t see the pursuit of physical strength as part of that process?

MM: We all have an obligation to society to be strong members. We should be at our best at all times and having physical strength and vitality is an important component. When you develop physical strength you learn a lot about yourself. You see how well you push yourself and how well you handle pain. Do you give up when things get hard? Or do you suck it up push through? Do you give up when progress does not come easily? Or do you find a way to make it work. The more you know about yourself the more successful and fulfilled you will be and intense physical exercise teaches us a lot about ourselves.

YC: Awesome stuff. Maybe “self-awareness” is the most valuable and unintended byproduct of adopting an intense physical regimen.

One thing that is obvious about you is self-respect. You command respect with the way you carry yourself and don’t allow anyone to belittle your value or dictate terms to you. Do you see that as a product of your strength or is your dedication to strength a product of your own self-respect?

MM: Thanks and I would say this it is a product of my strength and a component of that strength is brutal self-inventory. I do the hard work to determine why I do what I do and think the way I think. If something is not working for me for the better I relinquish it and push forward. It is very synergistic. Training makes me a stronger person and being a critical thinker with a moral code makes me better at training. It is not one or the other as both feed off of each other.

Getting stronger can instill confidence for sure but not always. Some people get stronger and bigger and become bullies and I have no respect for that. My greatest strength is compassion. Not just compassion for other people but for animals as well. Being strong and fit is not enough. Being strong and healthy should make you a better person.
The accomplishments I am most proud of are not things that I can do physically but times when I showed compassion for other beings in need instead of being disconnected and not getting involved when doing so makes a difference.

YC: A lot there to chew on, incredibly dense. One of the things that trips me out if I reflect on it is just how interconnected things are. You highlighted that feedback loop of support, how one strengthens the other. I’ve found that’s where a ton of motivational leverage can be had, when you sit back and see how an area of your life you want to improve is so intertwined with another area that is not so obvious at first. Mapping out that relationship visually is a cool exercise to try.

Winding down here, I want to get to your Dad, who you’ve referenced a number of times and cited the fact that he works for the United Nations. You’ve been overseas a lot as a child, more than most Americans, and have been able to see humanity in a number of different contexts.

Do you think that exposure has shaped your own pursuit of physical excellence in anyway? If so, how?

MM: Yes, I think so. Being exposed to extreme poverty and suffering at a very young age made me realize how lucky I am to have great parents that want the best for me. It also made me value my life and want to get the most of it. An essential part of getting the most out of life is being healthy and vital. If you do not have energy you will not have the fire to get things done and live life fully. The great coach Vince Gironda once said, “fatigue makes cowards of us all.” This is very true, when we have no energy we are not empowered and do not take charge of our lives. The more energy we have from healthy living the more energy we have to pursue the lives we want.

I also view compassion as a strength and seeing people that have nothing made me compassionate to the plight of others and also showed me what real problems are.

YC: Solid gold! Love that quote from Coach Gironda. I think we can all relate to that. It’s also, really nice to see you pay tribute to your parents. Many of my readers are parents so hopefully we can take the example of your parents to heart and seek to build ambition in our kids.

Thanks for doing this interview Mike, it’s been HUGE thrill for me and I think quite valuable. Wrapping up here, can you leave us with the ONE habit you’d advise every man to cultivate on the path to living an aggressive life?

MM: Be brutally honest with yourself. Evil exists and flourishes when people are delusional and fail to be well calibrated. Being well-calibrated means your perception of yourself is accurate. Just because you have always done something does not mean you need to keep doing it. You can evolve and be better. However, it all starts with being brutally honest. You have to accept the person you are now and then take the necessary steps to improve. Surround yourself with great people that tell you what you need to hear instead of what you want to hear. Be humble and avoid looking down on others. Focus on improving yourself and be an example to others.

Thanks a lot for the interview Yusuf.

YC: My pleasure. I really appreciate you taking time out to do this Mike. I know you’ll take good care as you always do .