Sergeant Tony's Blog

“ARE YOU FAILING ENOUGH?
If you can’t be great, be a total screw up. But never, ever be good enough.”

These words got my attention and began an article written by Gil Schwartz.

I used to tell my kids, my Marines, and the players I coached that “good enough, never is.” My Dad used to tell me that anything worth doing, was worth doing right. I’ll bet your parents said the same thing, didn’t they?

What if everyone you encountered today believed that their job mattered and that YOU mattered. What if everyone you met today did everything they did, as the New Testament says, “as unto the Lord.”

On a recent trip to Disney World for the Ironman Triathlon 70.3, I was reminded again about what the service industry should look like. Everyone who works there treats you like you’re the most important person at the park. They go the second and third and fourth mile. They make sure that you’re happy and satisfied.

Awesome!

You’d be hard pressed to find many companies in Memphis that operate that way. (Been to a fast food joint lately?)

I continue to be amazed by companies that do it right, from the top to the very lowest entry level position. Isn’t it great to do business with a company that gets it?

Enterprise Rental Car seems to get it. I’ve always been treated with courtesy and respect by Enterprise employees.

A few years ago I was flying back to Tokyo alone and felt like poo poo. It was just a bad cold, but I really felt horrible. One of the flight attendants noticed that I looked yucky. For the whole flight, she took special care of me, even giving me her home remedy of warm cognac, honey, and some secret ingredient. When I got back to Japan, I wrote a letter to the airline acknowledging the flight attendant’s care and concern. A few weeks later I got a letter from the flight attendant. Her superiors had forwarded her a copy of the letter I’d written and she’d been commended by the airline for her outstanding service to me. She wrote me to say thank you!

Why should excellence, courtesy, and going the second mile be the exception and not the rule?

What if we all decided to extend ourselves just a little extra today? What if, no matter what we’re doing, we do it right? What if we respond with a smile and a kind word.

(No, I’m not going to start doing that at Boot Camp! You’ll still get the same ol abuse as always!)

What if we all pay a good deed forward.

Go all in!
“Be ye kind, one to another.”
Think big!
Go long!
Be excellent.
In Boot Camp lingo, “go all the way down, and all the way up!”

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NEWSLETTER FOR YOUR FRIENDS
If you’ve got a friend or family member who’d benefit from getting these gems of wisdom, send me their names and email address(es) and I’ll add them to this newsletter distribution list. They’ll receive these words of wisdom, but with no pressure to join or buy anything. Sometimes your out-of-shape-friends just need a little info and a little time to nudge them onto the road to good health and fitness. Plus if they DO join us, you’ll get a FREE month of BOOT CAMP!

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TRIATHLON BIKE FOR SALE
I’ve got a used Trek tri-bike for sale. It’s a small-ish frame bike and would be ideal for a woman under 5′7″ or a man under 5′8″. This is an awesome bike and in great condition, aerodynamic and fast. It had a $2,000 price tag when it was new a few years ago. The reason I’m selling it for a fraction of that price is mainly because I’m 5′10″ and the bike is just a bit too small for me. You can see a picture of the bike on the blog page of our website: http://www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/index.php

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INDEPENDENCE DAY — JULY 4 SCHEDULE
We’ll have just ONE workout on July 4. Join me at 0700 (7AM) next Wednesday! Come one, come all! We’ll have a brief moment of Independence Day observation, followed by a hybrid workout (bring dumbbells AND your running shoes), and then breakfast on me at Perkins! That’s right, I’m inviting you to breakfast AGAIN!

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PAYING THE PIED PIPER
Heretofore (don’t you just love that word!?) paying for Boot Camp was with cash or check. It still is!

If you pay with cash, you’re asked to put said cash in an envelope with your name and the months that you’re paying for on the outside of the envelope.

If you pay by check, you’re also asked to write on the check, in the memo section, the months you’re paying for. This way both of us know what’s what.

Starting the week after July 4th, you’ll have another payment option! You’ll be able to pay online using PayPal. With PayPal you can pay by credit card, PayPal account, or bank transfer. It’s simple and easier than mountain climbers! More details to follow!

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WHITEWATER RAFTING!
It’s that time! On August 11th, you could be a part of the mighty BOOT CAMP FLOAT going down the famous Ocoee River, near Chattanooga! This is part of our BOOT CAMP ANNIVERSARY MONTH CELEBRATION!

We’ll be going down the same river that was used for the Olympic Kayaking event during the Atlanta Summer Olympics!

Make plans to attend!

Boot Camper’s friends and family are also welcome. Minimum age is 12 years old by August 11. The cost is less than $100 per person for the all day rafting. The price includes all gear, equipment, lunch, and the river guide. Learn more by going to www.ocoee-outdoors.com

I’ll be taking sign-ups beginning next week. Space is limited! A $50 non-refundable deposit will be needed to secure your spot on the river!

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TRIATHLON TRAINING THIS SATURDAY
Saturday morning, June 30 at 0800 at the U of M.

Bring your bike and helmet, along with your running shoes!

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RUN THE FIRECRACKER 5K
July 3rd at 7 PM at The Racquet Club. This is a fun and FLAT race with a great post-race party. This year Evans Culpeper, son of our former active duty Boot Camper,

Malise Culpeper, is being honored this year! Evans is a patient at St. Jude. I know that Malise and Byron would be encouraged by your running or walking this year!

Get more details here: http://www.firecracker5k.com/

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TONY, DO I OWE YOU MONEY?
You can check your reenlistment status on the blog: www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com/blog/

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If you’ve been doing Boot Camp for a while you might not know that new Boot Campers get an email from me after they send me their info. The email has a variety of FYI items, including this little gem that everyone will benefit from knowing about.

“USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP is a Marine Corps style fitness program. We do not apologize for that! It’s who we are! We use the term “BOOT CAMP” because of our strong and personal connection to REAL boot camp, Marine Corps Boot Camp! We’re very proud of the fact that our roots go back to 1775 and the founding of The Corps. It sets us apart from other “boot camp” programs that aren’t connected to any branch of our military.

We also have customs and traditions that are taken directly from life in The Corps. For example, when we do pushups, you’ll hear everyone sound off with a loud patriotic

“MARINE CORPS!” Sound off with them!

When we bring the workouts to an end, members will stand respectfully, if not at the position of attention, when the group is called to “ATTTEN-HUUHH!” (Attention!) And then ALL Boot Campers will respond with a LOUD and ENTHUSIASTIC “AYE, AYE SIR!” when the group is dismissed.

These are some of the little reminders of our history, traditions, and customs that you’ll enjoy adopting as your own!”

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HATS & VISORS
If you’d be interested in a BOOT CAMP hat or visor for workouts and running, let me know ASAP! The white hats would cost about $25 and the white visors would be about $20. Email me right NOW and let me know what you’d be interested in! Do it! Do it NOW!

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THE 0645 CLASS HAS RETURNED FOR THE SUMMER!!!
The 0645, 0830, and 5:45 PM classes follow a Monday/Wednesday/Friday “WEIGHT DAY,” and Tu/Thu “CARDIO DAY” workout schedule.

The 0830 class will continue for July! You’re welcome, Jean!

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BLOG!
You can subscribe to this blog at no charge and get an email update whenever I post a new entry.

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“The opposite of being great is not being terrible, it’s being mediocre.”
— Gil Schwartz

To your continued good health and fitness!!

Sergeant Tony

Sergeant Major Tony Ludlow
USMC Fitness BOOT CAMP, Commanding
4888 Southern Cove
Memphis, TN 38117
901-644-0145
www.usmcfitnessbootcamp.com
http://shaklee.net/tonyludlow/main