StrongLifts.com Turns 1 Year Old: Lessons I Learned

May 1st, 2008 by Mehdi Tags: StrongLifts.com

New to StrongLifts.com?

Here are a few posts the other readers recommend you check out.

StrongLifts.com went online May 1st 2007. Within 12 months it became one of the biggest blogs on the Internet: 13.000 subscribers, +500k monthly page views, 200k monthly visitors and ranking top 40k in Alexa.

How Did I Do It? Where there’s a will, there’s a way. Life somehow brings you what you need to get what you want, if you REALLY want it. Here are some unorganized thoughts I had this week with the blog turning 1 year old.

Read. Knowledge is power when applied. Stop watching TV & read everything you come across: copywriting, marketing, psychology, business, spirituality, strength training, nutrition, …

Just Start. You don’t need to know everything to get started. You’ll learn more by doing than by reading. Don’t fear making errors, just do it. “Rejection is better than regret” - Pook.

Confidence. I’m in one of the most competitive niches, English is not my primary language and I procrastinate a lot. If I can do it with all the “limitations” I face, you can do it too. Don’t be a crab. You can achieve anything if you work hard. “Your only limitation is the one that you set up in your own mind” - Napoleon Hill

Leads. It always comes down to generating AND converting leads.

Love the Game. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Keep playing.

The Big Picture. Keep it in mind. Remove what holds you back.

Critiques. Some people won’t like you & what you’re doing. You can’t change them. Learn to deal with it.

Sacrifice. There’s no something for nothing and you can’t get everything in life.

Set Goals. For everything. Big & mini-goals. Aim high. Review goals constantly.

Give. Building experience is more important than a paycheck.

Money. Change to regain freedom. To set your own rules. To do something you like. Don’t change for the money. “Those who work for money alone, and who receive for their pay nothing but money, are always underpaid” - Napoleon Hill

Purpose. You have one. Find it.

The Crabs. Ignore them. “Who said it could not be done? And what great victories has he to his credit which qualify him to judge others accurately?” - Napoleon Hill

Desire. You can get whatever you want, get out of whatever situation if you REALLY want it. The only real thing that stands between your present situation and where you want to be is YOU. You decide what happens to you. NO-ONE ELSE. They know NOTHING.

Burn Your Bridges. “When Julius Caesar landed his army in England, he was determined to take no chances of possible retreat. He wanted to show his men that their invasion meant victory or death. He burned all his ships before their eyes.”

What Is. Life has its own way to push you in another direction and teaching you lessons the hard way. When looking back years later, you know everything happened for the best. “That every event is the right one. Look closely and you’ll see. Not just the right one overall, but right. As if someone had weighed it out with scales.” –Marcus Aurelius.

Thanks. Thanks to all of you for subscribing, stumbling articles, recommending the blog, linking to articles, for helping out, … It’s been a great year. THANKS.

Tired of the way you look? You want to build muscle & lose fat while getting stronger? Click here to download my 52 pages 100% FREE eBook.

Articles You Might Also Like:

StrongLifts.com Update

39 Responses to “StrongLifts.com Turns 1 Year Old: Lessons I Learned”

on 01 May 2008 at 5:11 pm1bigwhat62

Happy Bday!
on 01 May 2008 at 5:35 pm2Nadim

I agree to everything in that list completely and fully.

One reason probably being because I’m learning those exact points in my own life right now. Am also starting a business of my own, also had to burn bridges (read: dependancies), reading more non-fiction than I’ve ever done and soaking up as many, varied experiences as possible to name but a few.

And it’s the best time of my life.

And somehow StrongLifts and strength training was right there at the start, a catalyst.

Happy birthday.
on 01 May 2008 at 5:54 pm3Odd Christer

Happy birthday!
on 01 May 2008 at 5:58 pm4Jonharris40

Congrats Mehdi. You have helped loads of people become a better version of themselves. Thank you.
on 01 May 2008 at 6:14 pm5Scottymouth

Congrats Mehdi. I am about to celebrate one year on my move to a new life - my recent tragedies were easier to deal with because of your motivation. Thanks and here’s to another great year!
on 01 May 2008 at 6:33 pm6Beppe

Congratulations for the amazing results, Mehdi! You give not only a great training program, but also an example to follow in life.
on 01 May 2008 at 6:46 pm7Dan

Hey Mehdi!
Thanks for another great post as usual. It seemed to come at just the right time as I have been studying and contemplating starting a blog for the past year, and finally feel ready to take the plunge.
Some of the best advice I think that you consistently give:
1. Read
2. Never give up
3. Desire
4. Plan
You have truly been an inspiration to myself and many others, having conquered so many obstacles on the way to your dreams. Keep it up, and here’s to an even better year #2!
on 01 May 2008 at 6:59 pm8Andrew is getting fit

Mehdi, you’ve been an inspiration. Well done.
on 01 May 2008 at 7:26 pm9Andrew

Congratulations Mehdi,

With hard work and dedication comes great success. I’m glad you’ve found success in something which you enjoy.

I look forward to many more of your great posts!

Best Wishes,

Andrew
on 01 May 2008 at 8:10 pm10Mike

Wow, I would never have thought English wasn’t your primary language!
on 01 May 2008 at 9:00 pm11kevinfar

Congrats Mehdi on Stronglifts’ one year anniversary
on 01 May 2008 at 9:22 pm12David

good work Medhi, keep it up!
on 01 May 2008 at 9:29 pm13Mike

Congratulations! Well, you deserved every bit of success you got with this blog. The advice you give on this blog is priceless and I will continue to be an avid reader for (hopefully) many years to come!
on 01 May 2008 at 9:33 pm14Rob

Congratulations Mehdi. The content & success of this site is inspirational, and I hope that its second year brings an even better future.
on 01 May 2008 at 9:34 pm15Jari

100 %

I hope to see you in a —- I SHALL see you in a year to toast a glass of champagne with a man who has already realised my dream, my goal, my life.

I shall meet you at the top, soon!

Thank you for confirming my thoughts.
Napoleon Hill was right.
http://www.naphill.org/
on 01 May 2008 at 9:35 pm16Tenacious

Straight up this is one of the best posts ever. I love your mindstate Medhi. This post is real inspiring , I just finished one of napoleon hills books and there great reads. Keep doing what your doing man. Mad respect.
on 01 May 2008 at 9:35 pm17KRo

Happy Birthday. With many more to come!!!!!
on 01 May 2008 at 10:23 pm18Daniel

Congratulations! Kick ass, take names!
on 01 May 2008 at 11:17 pm19Anthony

Congratulations Mehdi. I’ve been recommending you for eight months now to anyone asking me questions about training, fitness, strength, diet and general life guidelines. From friends to taxi drivers that pick me up with a gear bag in my hand at 11pm asking was I going out that night.
Keep going!
on 02 May 2008 at 12:53 am20Valentin

Congrats Mehdi!

also for hitting 13k subs. today instead of your predicted 12k

Thanks and keep going!
on 02 May 2008 at 1:04 am21Jake

Keep up the good work!
on 02 May 2008 at 1:41 am22Joshua

Congrats!

You have a better grasp on the English language than most native speakers.

“Purpose. You have one. Find it.”- so simply phrased, yet so powerful. Thanks!
on 02 May 2008 at 4:10 am23Young athlete

Great website I’m a bit of an addict now. I love it though has changed my life opened my eye’s to new opportunities.

By the way your English is probably as good as mine if not better so no worries
on 02 May 2008 at 6:33 am24Wayner

Mehdi,

Congras on Stronglifts 1 yrs anniverisry!! I have been to many sites, including the paid ones, and Stronglifts, by far, provides the best information. Your articles are straight to the point, no nonsense, and give us natural (non-drugs) people a fighting chance.

You keep me motivated and confident about my muscle building goals and after reading about your career change, you give hope of changing my boring career path.

Carry on with the awesome work!
on 02 May 2008 at 7:22 am25Greg

Wow! A year went by this quick! Hehe, that’s amazing. Congrats Mehdi, you’ve done a damn good job on this site. I just got back into working out after sitting out for a bit (cause of a few issues) and now working the StrongLifts program, so far so good!

Cheers, and let’s hope for another great year =D
on 02 May 2008 at 1:00 pm26Ashwin

Congratulations! Have an even better second year.
@Joshua: You said it about simple and powerful phrasing!
on 02 May 2008 at 1:46 pm27Le

Congrats on the work done on this site! =]

By the way, if your feeling sick, would you still workout?
Or let your body recover from it first?
on 02 May 2008 at 5:19 pm28Mehdi

@Nadim
Good luck with the business. The 1st year is rough, hang on, it gets easier.

@Scottymouth
Thanks. The last tip was for you, thought about you while writing this.

@Anthony
Thanks, great stuff. You were one of the first readers, great to still see you around.

@Le
Go to the gym and see how you feel. Unless you got the flu, working out is no problem if you eat well and get your mind over it.

Thanks all for the kind words!
on 02 May 2008 at 7:05 pm29abe

Right on about Reading….so awsome.
to be a good lifter, you definently have to know your stuff…
I’m an accademic, so I feverishly read….economics, astronomy, physics, political science, etc….it’s all good….and most of all, for the lifters out there….strength training and nutrition.
on 03 May 2008 at 2:11 am30Shoebox

Thanks to you too sir.

If there is one thing I’m glad I’m reminded of by this community you helped build it’s to just ‘do’. In pretty much every aspect of life it’s better to do do something, even if that thing is to fail spectacularly only to get up and try again, than it is to do nothing and wonder ‘What if?’

Keep doing what you love.
on 03 May 2008 at 5:21 am31mackanno

Congrats Mehdi! and thanks for creating a great community. The feeling many of us have while either reading or sharing in the logs and other discussions is of great camaraderie, that and the philosophy in the site make it a great one.
on 03 May 2008 at 9:10 am32Mel

I’m a big fan. I came across your website four months ago and I’ve been telling all my friends to visit your site! Very straightforward no-nonsense topics and writing style! More power to you!
on 03 May 2008 at 2:23 pm33Steph

Hi Mehdi, love your site - I’ve been training 28 years and still find your and advice inspirational. Was just wondering… (regarding procrastination) have you ever taken a Myers - Briggs test? Are you and INTP? Cheers and good luck Steph
on 03 May 2008 at 2:46 pm34Mehdi

@Steph
I’m an ENTJ. Just to clarify the procrastination: I do get things done, I just don’t get them done as I fast as I would like to.
on 04 May 2008 at 6:25 am35hemram4u

Great site Mehdi. Keep it going!! I just got luck to hit your site we few weeks ago. I haven’t finished reading all your posts yet. I am at page 19
on 09 May 2008 at 12:46 am36Paul Rogers

Mehdi, congratulations. Yours is indeed a remarkable achievement.
on 09 May 2008 at 5:40 am37thenonhacker

Congrats Mehdi!

Don’t forget!

Wife. She provides support for the challenges faced, and cooks nutritious food for a healthy lunch after a workout.
on 12 May 2008 at 9:27 am38James

I’m inspired by (and jealous of!) what you’ve managed to do.

Turning your passion into something profitable (for both yourself and your customers) is a dream that I’m chasing at the moment…
on 26 May 2008 at 9:58 am39rohit

Congrats!

Remember what Fonzie was like? Cool. That's how we're gonna be -- cool. If you're not, I'll delete your stuff.
Ask your question in the Forum if the post is older than 7 days.