Can't Help Falling in Love With You- Sophia Wilson

Heart Will Go On - Rehearsal, Sophia Wilson

Let it Go - Sophia Wilson

Is business ownership for you? A message about Entrepreneurship from HBB's owner, Gina Wilson

Entrepreneurship: 5 things you should know if you decide to fly solo

According to Gallup, unhappy workers worldwide outnumber happy workers 2 to 1. The world over, employees too often dread Mondays and count the hours and minutes when they can be "free" and go home. And this is not just true for low income workers. Despite security, retirement plans, and reliable, decent salaries, many people yearn to be part of that entrepreneurial club who make their own hours and control their own lives - even on Mondays.
But is entrepreneurship really for you? If it were so easy wouldn't everyone do it? Well, truth is we're all different, and working for yourself is definitely not for everyone, but if you have the itch to take the plunge, check out these 5 points first.
1. Know yourself. All cliche jokes aside, Shakespeare had this one right. You'd be surprised that when presented with questions designed to promote self reflection, how many folks have no definable sense of self. So what does all of this philosophical mumbo jumbo have to do with the nuts and bolts of opening up my own widget shop you might ask. The answer is EVERYTHING. When deciding to leave the security of your employer's nest to work for your self, you know you are taking a financial risk. So, when trying to decide where to focus your endeavors, (i.e. do I open the widget shop, the Coffee Bean franchise, or do I design and sell T shirts on the strand in Catalina), add serious soul searching into your due diligence. Being your own boss can be fun - after all you call the shots, make your own decisions, create your own hours - but it's the hardest job you'll ever love, or not. Starting your own business takes serious time and serious work, people, so you'd best love it. Chances are if you love it, your enthusiasm will spill over and your customers will love it too. If you are monetizing your passion, there is also less chance of burn out when you realize that your secure 40 hours per week schedule just doubled in required man hours.
2. Check your fear at the door. If someone told you to walk across a 2inch beam bridging a seriously deep canyon without a safety net, few of us would jump at the chance. But if the offer included the fact that on the other side, waiting for you, were stacks of cash and a key to doors labeled "Financial Freedom", "Time Independence", "Philanthropic Freedom to Help Others", "Fun and Satisfying Challenges" and "Living the Life of Your Dreams", you just might be inclined to take the risk. Does this mean that your heart wouldn't beat faster than hummingbird wings as you took that first step away from the safety of solid ground? Of course not. You'd still be terrified! But you'd have so much incentive that, with the proper mindset, you might just find yourself strongly propelled forward despite the known risks. Remember, courage is not a lack of fear, but it's action in spite of fear. Deciding to break with your traditional corporate position for a chance at gaining total control of your life, time, and finances, is analogous. It's a total risk of falling into the abyss, but with courage, appropriate and adequate planning, and definite forward action, so much lies ahead. So recognize your normal, healthy apprehension, but don't wear it like a smothering cloak lest you be paralyzed into inactivity.
3. Know your "why". Number 1 above, knowing yourself, is about knowing your "what." What do you enjoy, what makes you tick, what are you good at, etc. But this is not enough. You also need to know your "why." What does this mean? It means stepping out of the forest and looking at the broader landscape of your life. (Yes, more philosophical "mumbo jumbo" for you to chew on.) It means understanding, or at least wanting to understand, the  purpose of your existence. It means taking the time to ask yourself what mark you want to leave on this world when your train reaches the last stop on the line. So, again you might wonder, what does this have to do with opening my widget shop? Inasmuch as your widget shop's success correlates to the time you will spend planning, designing, starting and operating it, and inasmuch as your time equals your life, I'd say it's pretty important. When you decide to check your fear at the door and step out onto that beam, you are risking everything, so shouldn't there be a greater vision than just paying your bills? I'm not saying here that everyone feels called to save the world so to speak, however part of the human condition is recognizing the awesome and unique characteristics which make us human in the first place. And self reflection, hope and aspirations are some of those qualities. If you're going to risk it all, risk it for your genuine "why."
4. Build your team. Make no mistake about it, many people who decide to take the entrepreneurial path and "fly solo" often stay solo for quite awhile. So when I say "build your team" it doesn't mean necessarily that you have to start your business with a full staff. On the contrary, staff or not, you will find that as the business owner you will wear more hats than ever before. I used to literally make myself laugh out loud when I first started my last company. I'd have to switch between product development, marketing, shipping, and IT several times a day, and when one of the kids would spill something on my inventory or, God forbid, throw up on the office floor, I'd have to call in the sanitation engineering department. I'm sure you can guess who that was. So, why do I say "build your team"? Because the truth of the matter is that you can do it all, (well, sort of), but you can't do it all well. And if you think you can't afford to hire anyone or to outsource anything, you better take a hard look at every single task you do throughout the day and see which ones are making you money. You need to focus on doing what you do best and on what actually brings in your most revenue. By not spending your precious hours doing what you do best, you are actually losing money. So do what only you can do, and learn to delegate the rest - whether it be to an employee, an independent contractor, a partner, an intern, or maybe just a willing family member. A couple of hats are enough for anyone. While as a business owner you will always have to oversee, focus and do what you do best - and do it well.
5. Smell the roses. Ok, so you've finally stepped off the ledge. You have a vision, and a concrete plan for transforming it into reality. You're taking a risk, but it's a calculated one. You've checked your fear at the door and are boldly prepared to work harder than you've ever worked before in exchange for the chance to reap abundant rewards. You are motivated by the promising future which might be yours, and you are fully aware of the fact that you must oversee everything as the owner. You also realize, however, that you are still human and the number of hours in a day are limited, so you'll need your team. So what is left? Smell the roses. (That's right, another cliche.) When you're in the midst of getting your baby off the ground  it's easy to feel overwhelmed at times, to get lost in the minutia, buried in the work, (yes, it's still work), or to become discouraged from mere exhaustion. At those times, take a moment, in fact take several, to pause, reflect, and remember why you made this choice in the first place. Breathe in the freedom of being able to take that coffee break when you choose, not when it's scheduled, or the freedom to work at night after the kids are in bed so that you might carve some time for yourself in the morning. The point is, you chose this lifestyle for a reason, and while you'll need total dedication to make a go of it, remind yourself to enjoy the perks along the way. Don't burn out before you've reached your goals.
So with all of this in mind, is entrepreneurship for you? Only you can answer that. There are no right or wrong answers. But take it from one gripping that two inch beam with both feet, it's just as hard to go back as it is to move forward, so keep your eyes forward and your feet moving.

Sophia: One "SHINING STAR" in Gina's World

OK, maybe it's shameless bragging, but it's time for this Mom to talk about one of her daily inspirations-- my daughter. I know this doesn't have all that much to do with "FITNESS & FASHION", but this is "GINA'S WORLD" after all, and in my world I can't NOT post about my nearly 13 year old Sophia, who, for those of you who get it, was actually born 30.

Now bear with me cuz this isn't entirely a "Sophia Commercial"-- it's actually on point in many ways. As I watch my daughter mature, I'm impressed by both her resilience as well as her work ethic and perseverance. This determined over achiever can sometimes be a perfectionist - which can be endearingly annoying- but there's a raw "Go Get It" spirit to her which frankly I admire.

I've seen it over and over; she's not afraid to fail, and failure doesn't break her. In fact, it motivates her! And this is the motivational tidbit I wanted to share with you today.

Sophia's my child and in her I see many of the same talents I was blessed with: intellect, agility, theatrical ability. But Soph has what I honestly didn't -- a certain FEARLESSNESS. She auditions or tries out for something, be it cheerleading, student council, or a theatrical part, and when she doesn't make it, she comes back even more determined, rather than hindered. This is no small feat. Even for adults, the confidence shaker of rejection can, if allowed, create lifelong obstacles. I'm sure rejection stings for my daughter too, but she feeds on the sting and lets it propel her forward with new resolve. It doesn't break her. It doesn't even slow her.

This fierceness has paid off, and that's inspirational. Now my soon to be 8th grader will go into the final year of middle school a varsity cheerleader, Secretary of her Junior Honor Society, a skilled dancer, and a singer who is ready to take on American Idol and the world!

Motivational Lesson: You have one life; LIVE IT. Time wasted is never recovered, and it is never tomorrow. It is always NOW. So, Carpe Diem, friends. Now, GO GET IT!

For your listening pleasure: Here's what power sounds like and why the Idol audition age should be lowered to 13! ;-)

It's YOU versus YOU. It was never about them anyway

It's a fairly typical (though blatantly prejudicial) assumption that bodybuilding is a not a true sport in that there is no competition based on definable and measurable athletic skills, but rather that it is a muscle ridden beauty contest of sorts where a group of obsessed, narcissistic self worshipers gather together to praise themselves and each other and compare bodies. I have, for years, heard these comments in a wide variety of circles: among both the educated and uneducated, old and young, males and females. The criticism might be crude, or reasonably compelling depending on the critic, but the content is virtually the same.

While I have always been active, athletic, and, if not in the gym then in a dance studio, I have pretty much ignored these comments. Still, I never really appreciated the degree to which such false simplifications misrepresent the spirit of bodybuilding and strength training in general. Not until I attended the Jay Cutler Desert Classic recenty at the Palms in Las Vegas.

HBB Fitness and Fashion was proud to bring our Hardbody Bling jewelry and HBB Hot Fit Clothes to the event, and had the privilege of our booth being placed right next to Jay Cutler's booth. Excellent real estate.

Directly behind our booth was a monitor so we could watch the competition while exhibiting. It was while watching some of the competitors on stage that I really had an Aha moment thanks largely to friend and HBB rep, Michelle MacDonald. In a sea of beautiful bodies, it was quite obvious when not so perfect individuals took to the stage, proudly strutting their not so perfect stuff. At one such moment Michelle just said quite nonchalantly, "You never know what people have been through. She might have lost 100 pounds, or may have just beaten cancer. You just don't know. For her, she may look and feel terrific and is just proud to be able to show what she's accomplished." WOW!

What a truly insightful, compassionate and positive perspective! (And this, by the way, is partly why I train with this cool lady and recommend her to you!) But those words just say so much. Not just about bodybuilding, but about the human spirit.

Strength training doesn't just strengthen your body, it pushes your spirit, your determination, your perseverance, and your self discipline. It tests your desire to challenge yourself, to follow through on your goals, and to work through and overcome adversity. It is a contest of YOU vs YOU, to be better than you were the day before, to take yourself to new heights of strength and endurance, and while doing so to stumble upon that Aha moment of your own when you really see what you are made of. Strength training can do for your body what prayer and meditation do for your soul; it can allow you to face your weaknesses head on, work through them, conquer them, and sore to heights unheard of as you work to maximize all of the potential you were born with. It's much more than just trying to look good in a bikini.

As I reflected on this, I thought about how unkind (and  generally wrong) some of the bodybuilding criticism is. Like in any organization, it is not a monolithic subgroup. I'm sure there are the share of shallow egomaniacs, but this is not the majority, and it has not been my experience. As Michelle rightly pointed out, this community is made up of all sorts of people- all with different stories and motivations.

Training at its best is about YOU vs YOU, on a path that is between you and your higher power. It's not about anybody else. And maybe that's why this all reminded me so much of something Mother Teresa of Calcutta said that's worth sharing. So I'll close this entry with her words.

MEMORIES MATTER! Running for Dad and so many others...

Memories Matter. They make you who you are. They represent your life: your loves, your losses, your accomplishments, your joys, your sorrows, your relationships. How can you think of yourself outside this context? If your mind were wiped clean like an erased slate, who would you be? With no knowledge of who you love, no knowledge of what you know, no knowledge of where you come from, where you are, or where you're going... who are you? Would you even know? And if you didn't, how would that make you feel? Isolated? Afraid? Confused? Lost? Probably all of these. Can you even begin to imagine what it's like to forget not just those around you, but to forget your very self?

Well, this is how those with dementia feel all the time. These beautiful souls with all of their personalities, experieces, loves and opinions are lost not just to those around them, but they are lost to themselves.

Alzheimer's is the 6th leading cause of death currently; these numbers are probably low, however, because so many deaths from Alzheimer's are not recorded as such because there is no autopsy. It is the only cause of death in the top ten causes for which there is no cure, no prevention, and very little treatment. The only cause in the top ten where the number of those affected is GROWING - rapidly- not shrinking, despite medical advances in so many other areas. It is 100% fatal.

Here it is: My grandmother died from Alzheimer's. My father died from Alzheimer's. I do not want to die from Alzheimer's. I do not want my girls to die from Alzheimer's. In fact, I work for a day when nobody will ever again die from Alzheimer's.

On March 8th I will run the Big5K as part of the LA Marathon, and I am running it as a "Memory Walk" for the Alzheimer's Association California Southland chapter. This run starts and ends at Dodger Stadium. This wonderful, and grossly underfunded charity, desperately needs financial support to provide services for affected patients and their families, to raise awareness through education, and to fund research into cures and preventions.

You can make a difference by going to my page and supporting me in the run. Every dollar of your donation is much needed and well used. If you are unable to donate, then lend support by sharing the message and raising awareness. With statistics as they are, in 20 years we will all know someone touched by this disease if we do not change course. 

Awareness starts with just one story. I have one; you may too. If so, I'd like to hear it. If not, I'd encourage you to read mine, and to take action to fight the fight for those who can't.

Thanks!

Gina 
Support Me in my Run: https://act.alz.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=tr_generaleventpc2_container&pc2_page=center&fr_id=4640

Buy My Book: Donald's Story: One Family's Journey Through the Tangled Darkness of Alzheimer's  http://bookstore.authorhouse.com/Products/SKU-000467538/DONALDS-STORY.aspx

Morena Enterprises is growing and hitting the air waves!

What an incredibly busy first half of the year we've had! My fitness line, Hardbody Bling, now has a booming wholesale fashion sister: Morena Designer Collections (MDC)! At www.morenadesignercollections.com Retailers will find hot, new fashion jewelry at incredible wholesale prices. Minimum orders are just $100.

But the biggest news to date is that I've been working with some fantastic clients, the Kody Brown family, for several months... and that work is about to go public. Very public! Beautiful jewelry designs, can be found at www.mysisterwifescloset.com. And be sure to tune into TLC's hit TV show, Sister Wives, tonight at 9:00 pm to see the beginning of our business relationship and friendship.

 This whole season will feature the Brown's new business, MySisterwifes Closet, in which I have been privileged to manufacture for them, helping them bring to life the artistry and unique pieces they have been creating. If you watch faithfully, you'll not only see the story of how and why products were created, but will also get some sneak peeks of me in action with the Browns. Should be fun!

Another great piece of this growing puzzle is that another character from this season, certified personal trainer Sean Huddleston, is now training me along with the Browns. Sean, owner of Lifespeed Fitness, is a new face for HBB, and can be seen on www.hardbodybling.com as well as in my new ads in Muscular Development, on newstands in late August.

Busy, busy busy... just the way I like it! You've only got one life to live, so live it! Now, go make it a great day.. :-)

Gina                    With Celebrity Onset Producer, Tony Rowley and Sean Huddleston

Another Spring: Time to Transform!

Well, we did it. We all survived another winter. The sun is still shining, and California didn't fall into the ocean. Damn those Mayans for giving us a scare!

But 2013 is moving by at record pace; are you where you want to be? Time to take account of your life! Remember, personal goals and life planning are not reserved for New Year's resolutions, or at least they shouldn't be.

As we all come out of hibernation, ask yourselves this:  Where am I personally on my life's journey? Where am I professionally? When's the last time I took account of my life and lived purposefully, setting goals and creating a plan of attack to reach them? Or do I ignore this type of self reflection because I'm afraid of what I might see.

Well, my friends, time has a way of marching on with or without your active participation. If life is just something happening to you, and not something you are making happen, then you are not living purposefully; you're just an observer. Time to transform.

WANNA MAKE SOME MONEY?

ATTENTION Retailers, gym owners, sales reps, entrepreneurs and unemployed gym rats! Now's a great chance to make some money with HBB's original fitness jewelry. For 1 week only we've reduced your buy-in for wholesale pricing by 50% Go to www.hardbodybling.com 

For this week only, ending next Friday, you can buy any jewelry product on the HBB website at 50% off with a buy-in of just $200! That's right, so long as you spend 200$, you'll be getting $400 worth of jewelry! 

This is a great way of getting your feet wet as a retailer of our product.
If you wish to take advantage of this fantastic, limited time savings, simply go to www.hardbodybling.com , spend at least $400, enter COUPON CODE PROMO50 and that 400 will turn into 200 as your ticket will be adjusted by an incredible 50% savings! 

This is the best time to get your wholesale product and start making money with this product! HURRY and SHOP because this promotion won't last!Time to get ready for busy holiday shopping season.
SHOP NOW at www.hardbodybling.com 

What Our Customers Are Saying!

"HardBody Bling has stylish jewelry at its best.
I only order from them because the quality of their product is exceptional. It has yet to tarnish, and I wear it in the pool, shower and
the GYM! I get many compliments on my dumbbell necklace that coincide with my body. When asked where they can get one, I tell them at
HardBody Bling. Don't waste your time searching the internet for cheap jewelry. You'll find HardBody Bling to be cost effective for every wallet."

Thanks Vicky! Lookin good!
To see more about Victoria be sure to check out http://www.the-meatlocker.com/

HBB Loves Entrepreneurs!

Hi HBB Friends, 

In the spirit of maximizing your human potential, take a look at Ali's 

story. 

We at HBB love her! 

 Take a LOOK:

Years ago, entrepreneur mentor Ali Brown decided to sell her 
first little e-book. Humble as it was, she still remembers being 
so nervous about posting it for sale online that she thought her 
heart would beat out of her chest! 
 
But her fears quickly dissipated when she saw *order after order* 
stack up in her email inbox, while she was out at the gym. And 
many of you know the rest... Ali grew that great little income 
stream of an extra few hundred dollars a month into what is today 
a multimillion-dollar business. 
 
Right now, women and men of all ages, businesses, and backgrounds 
are *making money online with info-publishing* (also called 
"information marketing" or "info-products"). 
 
Every day, revenues are generated with *every topic under the 
sun*-raw food recipes, meeting your mate, losing weight, 
financial planning, talking with angels, interior decorating... you 
name it. 
 
And while Ali's talked about this topic for years and taught it 
as part of her more extensive courses, she's NEVER dedicated a 
special report to simply creating information products that SELL, 
let alone a FREE report! Until now... 
 
Introducing... 
 
"Info-Publishing Secrets: Cash-In on What You Already Know!" 
 
In this instant PDF download, Ali has teamed up with "The 
InfoProduct Guy" James Roche to show you how to get started with 
information products, what's selling best these days, what's NOT 
working these days, and more. 
 
If you've been struggling to *generate revenues online with 
info-publishing*--or you're ready to get IN on this new revenue 
stream--you're going to love this information-rich report. 

WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO LOSE? Download your free copy here now: 
https://alibrown.infusionsoft.com/go/infopub/GinaWilson/ 
 
Gina Wilson

HBB Executive Director  
 

Wellness Means Business

HBB is committed to the concept of whole person wellness and strength. Such strength is empowering and motivating. One of our favorite leaders who puts this philosophy into practice daily is Ali Brown. For all you ladies out there, I challenge you to take a listen and see if this lady doesn't motivate you to reach for the stars!  Click on the link and listen to Ali today! It's free, so why not. See if you too don't get hooked...

TODAY is Day 2 of entrepreneur mentor and ABC's "Secret 
Millionaire" Ali Brown's FREE 3-day virtual event: 
"The Feminine Edge." Ali will be sharing some of her best 
strategies for SUCCESS alongside 13 brilliant luminary women. 
It's not too late to join this powerful series! Sign up free 
here. 
https://alibrown.infusionsoft.com/go/feminineedge/GinaWilson/ 

"RUNNING STRONG" Makes its Debut!!

Hey all you Runners! Our brand new collection "RUNNING STRONG" (TM) is debuting a line of weight plate RUNNING STRONG sterling pendants for your Stylish Motivation! Available in black, metallic blue, and hot pink lacquer, and in 5K, 10K, 13.1 and 26.2 styles. All original HBB designs hand fabricated right here in the USA. Check out the first pieces on eBay now!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160826462431

And check back on www.hardbodybling.com soon for more in this exciting new running collection!

The Power of Woman

Looking at this awesome photo of one of our satisfied HBB customers, Victoria Lodise, gave me a great sense of satisfaction! Victoria received her beautiful sterling barbell pendant for Mother's Day, which means, what?? Yes, this beautiful, outrageously fit woman manages to care for herself AND a child or children! She is strong AND nurturing. At HBB, we love that!

Isn't it strange that not that long ago women weren't supposed to be strong, or have opinions, or lead companies, or govern or even vote. Attempts to do so were met with ridicule, derision and often aggression. We've come a long way since then, but the young women of today could use the reminders that they are unique, powerful, capable individuals who deserve respect.

Fitness of body, and development of mind and soul, are part of whole person wellness which leads to true satisfaction. Our daughters need to know that living a rich, vital life means seizing the day in all areas: but health and wellness must be primary, for without these you lack the energy and strength - and consequently the desire - to pursue the other areas. When you make the time to work out, don't you just feel better?

A male friend who let his fitness lapse years ago recently said to me, "I'm gonna do it again. I'm gonna get big!!" But what I wanted to tell him is that fitness is a LIFESTYLE, not an isolated EVENT. Of course, if you're a competitive bodybuilder you want to build muscle and "Get big"... but what my friend should really want is to "get strong", "get fit", "get healthy"! Cuz that's how you "GET LIFE!"

So, here's to you, Victoria! One stylishly motivated, fit, strong woman! Hoo ya!

Appreciating the Moment

Ok, so there's a cliche saying that life's what happens while you're busy making other plans. Simply put, this means that life is now. It's never tomorrow or yesterday. It's always the present moment. And while striving for a better tomorrow is part of living a purposeful life, it defeats the purpose if we're so stressed over tomorrow that we miss today.

How does this philosophy relate to your fitness goals? Well, I think it just helps to keep a balanced perspective: Goals for improvement? Yes! Dreams for a better tomorrow? Absolutely! But don't forget to give yourself that pat on the back for all you have achieved yesterday and today. And don't forget to look at what is RIGHT with today--not just what is wrong with it-- and stop and breathe in the moment with full gratitude and joy. Without this, you aren't really living..are you?

POWER WORD of the DAY: NOW

POWER QUOTE of the DAY: “If the only prayer you said your whole life was ‘thank you’ that would suffice.” Meister Eckhart

A good read no matter what your background or religion.

Food Fit for a...? Factory??

Ok, my FIT FRIENDS, I'm usually quite the positive one, but this evening I have a bit of a gripe...so sit yourself down!

 As the child of a wholesale produce distributor, I grew up not with Mom buying fruits and vegetables at the store, but with Dad bringing home lugs of produce direct from the farms. It was FRESH, WHOLESOME, and, best of all, IT TASTED GOOD! And I don't mean good like that term is used today, but I mean REALLY, REALLY GOOD! A Tomato tasted like a Tomato, not like some mealy cardboard that could, perhaps, in fact be a pear if you ate it blindfolded. If it weren't for texture, I'm not sure I could distinguish one food type for another today half the time. And what's with that big white thing in the middle of the ginormous strawberries that may be big and red and last forever on the shelf, but leave your taste buds questioning if you've developed a sinus infection because there's NO fragrance at all, so no wonder there's no taste!! WHY IS THIS? Kids today don't even know what good food is. Not their fault! They haven't tried it! And why, pray tell? GMOs!

Yes, friends, you no longer eat the fresh, unadulterated gifts of the universe and its maker. Nope. Instead, we dine daily on the science experiments of sterile factories trying with all their might to maximize profits with increased shelf life and fattened up cattle that produce more milk than they were ever intended to.

So, what's the repercussions for us consumers?

Are we healthier for it all? Do we enjoy our food more? Let's just say, this stuff can't be good for you! And it doesn't taste all that great either!

Have we improved on Mother Nature? HARDLY! .... Being fit means being your best, inside and out. I can't see where these lab-created versions of food "fit" into the picture. My mother's been crying foul on this for years..to her credit. But I revisited the info, thanks to my good friend, Waltzing Mathilda.

So, Mathilda, whenever you're ready, the train for Oregon is at the station...Either that, or we could try breaking out the time warp machine...

http://www.naturalnews.com/035734_GMOs_foods_dangers.html

POWER WORD of the DAY: NATURAL

POWER QUOTE of the DAY:

I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.

E. B. White

CHECK US OUT!

Good Morning Fitness Peeps,

Please check out our current adverts running in this month's FLEX and MUSCLE MAG Magazines on sale now!

As always, thank you for following, and have a Strong and Healthy day!

SPRING SALE IS HERE!!

HBB's Spring Sale is here and lasts through May 31st! Right now, buy ANY 2 ITEMS in the store and receive 33% OFF your entire order. Plus when your order totals $99 or more, you get FREE Standard Shipping -- ALWAYS! Check out the Women's, Men's and Kids' sections for a peek at the AWESOME sports watches for Spring, and check back frequently to see the new styles we'll be showcasing which are currently under production!

So, why not indulge on that perfect Easter or Passover gift? Or just treat yourself to some Stylish Motivation!

http://www.hardbodybling.com/category_s/1827.htm?searching=Y&sort=13&cat=1827&show=10&page=2

Have a Strong and Healthy Day!!

POWER WORD of the DAY: ENJOY

QUOTE of the DAY:  Enjoy Every Moment Life Brings You!

Who is Friedric Muller??

As HBB prepares something very special for the NPC Emerald Cup this year, it takes me back to days of previous NPC expo participations. Back to when my gracious friend, Debbie Dobbins, was still alive and at the top of her game. To the days when HBB, then M&G Manufacturing, created special charms and rings for the likes of then IFBB pro, Flex Wheeler. (Ok, I'm dating myself now.) It feels good to be back... and it made me start wondering...

Where exactly did the modern fitness craze emerge and how did it develop? Ok, admittedly, this must be the History major in me, but I just had to probe a bit. And in doing so, I stumbled upon an historical figure, perhaps well known to some, but previously not to me I dare say. I'm talking about one Friedric Muller? Ok, I can hear you now... Who is this guy? Or better yet, WHO CARES? (For those of you who DO know, bravo!)

Well if you are a bodybuilder, or into strength training and figure sculpting at any level, you might know him better as Eugene Sandow... or not. Eugene, fitness peeps, is considered the father of bodybuilding as we know it today.While he started out in Europe as a professional strongman, Sandow exercised his mind as well as his body. He is credited with starting the first bodybuilding magazine, Physical Culture, and with developing some of the first bodybuilding equipment. For Sandow, strength alone was not important; aesthetic symmetry was also valued in the tradition of the ancient Greeks. Our friend, Eugene's, legacy endures with his image represented on the Mr. Olympia statuette.

So there you have it. An interesting and important human being who left his mark on the fitness world over a hundred years ago. He had a passion, and he made a difference.

What will bloggers say about you, or me, a hundred years from now??

 QUOTE OF THE DAY:  Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.
                                                        Steve Jobbs


POWER WORD OF THE DAY: INNOVATE!