Everybody goes through it once they get to the Big Time but none of us likes the cold feeling of getting slammed!

I see it every year, a guy comes out of the amateur ranks with high expectations and lots of promise, only to fall short of someone else’s expectations and get ridiculed by lesser athletes for failing to knock the lights out on the old veterans of the Iron Game! The guy spends half his life trying to get to the Pro    and once he gets there, reality sets in!

There’s no immediate fortune or fame, there’s not even a guaranteed contract by major sponsors? Sure some guys are more marketable than others and get some change tossed their way but even they have no idea of where to go once they get their Pro Cards? There is no manual on “How to be a Pro?”  Is someone waiting in the wings, to show the way to success for these professional athletes? No.

How many “No’s” are there for the New Kid on the Block after accomplishing part of his life long dream? At what point can the New Pro’s feel comfortable with their accomplishments?

The answer is simple, 5.

Five years into the game the guys begin to realize the “Business of Professional Bodybuilding.”

The first year out on the scene, most of the new Pro’s miss their peak. They have new found traveling to do, picking the next show, charting their future plans, mental and physical exhaustion. Many of the new Pro’s step on stage in sub-par condition due to their inexperience with Peaking & Traveling for contests. Sure some fare better than others i.e.; Labrada, Levrone, Wheeler and Yates.

Others like myself, Cutler, James, Anthony, Hill and Paris did not pick up where we left off coming into the Pro’s at the Mr. Olympia due to other contests, contracts, traveling, timing, etc.

While we may think that because a guy is a great amateur, reality is- many of the Pro’s were better Amateurs than they ever were as Professionals.

What happens to some is that they get caught up in the “Size Game” and wind up never getting hard enough, distended Guts, over powering body parts, lack of completeness.

Still others get back to what got them there i.e. Weight control, hunger to succeed, basic training, motivation and the ability to remain focused!

While it is not impossible to come out with guns blazing, the norm is nothing but a big Thud.

The “Big Chill” comes after these amateurs arrive at the Mr. Olympia with the “Glitz and Glamour” from being King of the NPC but they ultimately fail to deliver the goods in the IFBB and get ignored by the judges while being rarely competitive. It happened to me, as I placed 13^th in my first Mr. Olympia at 22 years old. A learned lesson to be sure but I swore to never arrive at that show as a participant again! I wanted to be a Competitor and focused my energy on what got me there in the first place! I busted my tail to ensure that if I lost, it would not be due to a lack of effort! For the next 12 straight years, I remained in the top 5 on pure focus and hunger! When the hunger leaves, it is time to move on and search for something more fulfilling.
Sadly, a lot of people hang around too long and get fat off their names while losing respect due to lack of performance and losing their hunger due to greed. Some get caught in the “Paper Chase” for Dead Presidents and are left empty and hollow at days end.

In truth, the Big Chill awaits even the savvy veteran if he thinks his past will carry him to the top of the food chain. More often than not, it is the sheepish “Rookie’s” that seal their fate by repeating the history of prior great amateurs and not learning from their mistakes. When I say it gets Cold on that stage, it gets COLD!

 No call outs, no photos, no applause, no challenges. The “Big Chill” is a wake up call to those who thought they were great. Getting passed over for lack of preparation is nothing new in this business. In fact, we have come to expect if from our sports most hopeful Rookies!

However, if there is a lesson to be learned. Let is be said here and now:

The Future does not rest in the Past.

Rookies, search your hearts and stretch your boundaries beyond places you have yet to venture into in the gym!

The Big Chill will be there, waiting for some….

It does not have to be you, if you’re in Hot pursuit of Physical Perfection in Strength & HONOR!