UEC 60 Day Challenge

What I Learned in 60 Days

UEC GOLD WALL – THOSE THAT COMPLETED 10+ LAPS IN THE CHALLENGE challenges to help us grow individually as well as in our business. The Challenge By: Scott Krone would culminate with a three day camp First Steps How It Began in California. There would be both an extreme physical challenge and life When I told my wife what I had signed Three months ago, I attended the annual lessons we could apply to our business. up for she took it in stride. Keep in Ignite Conference. One of the key note The Challenge began January 1, and we mind, this was not my first crazy speakers was a truly unique individual. completed the three-day Camp on adventure. Shortly after graduating He began his career as a white rapper in March 5th. This truly unique person is from college, my roommate and I the 80’s and parlayed that into a private Jesse Itzler . decided we would do one new thing jet company called Marquis Jet. After each year. The purpose – to challenge selling Marquis Jet to Warren Buffett, he us, to have fun, to experience new was also involved with the development adventures, and to grow. of Zico Coconut Water and its Through the years, the list grew to acquisition by Coke. include playing hockey with the greatest He recently wrote a book, “Living with a hockey player ever - Wayne Gretzky, Seal”, which inspired the leaders of the swimming with sharks, dog sledding in conference. They were so taken by his Canada, back packing in Denali, driving a passion, they invited him to the Indy car, sky diving, getting a black belt, conference to share his story. To make a or climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Some I crazy story short, the author was so have done by myself, and others I have mesmerized by the work ethic and been blessed to do them with my dedication of a particular Navy Seal he roommate. Some adventures are long hired “Seal” to come live with him and term bucket lists, others have been spur personally train him for 30 days. The of the moment decisions. UEC was one I book consists of the life lessons he had not planned or anticipated. It would obtained during his training and living be different from my past experiences. with Seal. Because not only would it challenge me physically, but also professionally. At the end of the presentation, he Figure 1 Scott with Jesse after completing the invited the audience to participate in a My wife also pointed out one very Challenge important fact – I probably needed a pair 60 day Ultimate Entrepreneur Challenge (UEC) consisting of both physical and life of running shoes. Jesse met Seal while training for a 100 mile Ultra Marathon, UEC 60 DAY CHALLENGE | 2

so running was definitely in my near perspective on their approach to life, Business Talks future. The last time I ran was almost 13 and what made them successful. years prior when my roommate and I The weekly talks were also equally decided to race (who is kidding A week into the program, my wife challenging. The themes included: themselves), run a Half Marathon. We decided to join me in the crazy exercises under indexing, pushing ourselves both hated running when we signed up I was doing at 5.30 am. She quickly through mental barriers, having for it, and not much had changed in 13 caught up with the burpees or the confidence in our dreams and how to years. I completed the Half and didn’t number of times she could complete the overcome doubt. In some cases we were run another day. Don’t get me wrong, I jumping jacks/sit ups/push ups/lunges introduced to new and “crazy” diets. love exercising, activities and sports. I circuit. It became a routine for us to The goal and purpose was to push us just hate running. prepare for the next morning endeavor. beyond our comfort level both mentally and physically. We may not agree with Remember, the Challenge began So, I made my way to the local running all the concepts or perspectives January 1. There were many days where shoe store, and told the sales person introduced, however the exposure it was necessary to begin the day by there were 3 rules he had to know to forced us to evaluate a new point of unburying the house from the 12” – 15” help me: 1. I hate running. 2. Based view. We were faced with the question, of snow, or bundle up as the temps upon 1, I had done an incredibly stupid “Why do we believe what we do?”, and approached 0. On one particular snowy thing. I signed up for a 60 day challenge “Why do we do the things we choose to day after clearing the snow for 45 which will mandate I run, and 3. See do?” Ultimately, we all face choices in minutes, we began our assigned 52 Rule #1. our lives, and we either consciously or minute run. I was very glad for my subconsciously choose how to respond Yes, the sales person had the most Gortex shoes. What I most recall about to those choices. Jesse and his guests bewildered look on his face. I already that morning was how absolutely quiet challenged us to explore new options knew the question on his mind, “Based and beautiful it was immediately after and methods for facing adversity. A upon Rule #1 and #3, why in the world the snow fall. There were a few local common theme was “Embrace the did he sign up for the Challenge?” I neighbors who were completely Suck”. assured him, I would most likely not run astonished to see my wife and I running again after 60 days. As it was already down the middle of the street, as they Very early on, Jesse shared with us that December, he suggested I buy a pair of had either been recently driven on or when facing adversity, he relies upon a Gortex running shoes to keep my feet plowed. On the warmer days, our mantra. He developed it to sharpen and warm and dry during the next 2 months. Rhodesian Ridgeback quickly learned to refine his focus in preparation for facing I quickly agreed. join us on our runs. On the days of our the challenge. He suggested we come non-running exercises, he would join us up with our own mantra during the 60 Day 1 in the basement while we did our 200 days. When tasks became difficult to jumping jacks followed by 50 burpees, focus, we should refine our focus and The Challenge began on January 1, with broad jumps, squats, push ups etc, rely upon our own mantra. Mine a series of tests for us: How Many looking at us with this stupid look on his became “Try not to Suck”. Knowing a Burpees we could do in 10 Minutes, How face apparently thinking, “What in the serious challenge was on my near Far we could run in 35 Minutes. Each world are these knuckle heads doing.” horizon at the end of the program camp, subsequent day the exercises grew in the mantra became a focus during my intensity and duration. Just as Seal had At the beginning of the program, we training. I certainly didn’t want to be the done with Jesse, the training began by were given three categories we could one collecting the dust off the track going hard to build our base. I ran more choose from based upon our current from everyone else’s shoes. that first week then I had in past 13 condition level. Based upon Rule 1-3, I years. Nothing had changed, I still hated chose Silver, as Gold was for people who running. run regularly or have done marathons etc. We soon realized we could do the However, each Tuesday Jesse hosted a physical exercises of the Gold, but stuck call with a special guest to share their to the Silver for the running. After a incredible experience with our group. month, I had lost 4 pounds, and could The guests ranged from his wife, Sarah see my body composition beginning to Blakley founder of Spanx, Colin O’Brady change. I could also actually begin to 2 time World Record Holder for the see improvements in my running as well. fastest to complete Explorer Grand Slam Our lazy Ridgeback began to whine and the Seven Summits, Kristen Race when we did not run. President of Mindful Life, and Lance Figure 2 Scott's training climbing Camelback in PHX Armstrong. Each brought a unique UEC 60 DAY CHALLENGE | 3

As the program moved along, the have some life time priority. I also have challenges, as well as the weekly calls Global Entry for Pre-TSA so I can avoid grew in intensity. For instance, Kristen lines. I know how to get around airports LA Race, founder of a Mindful Life, brought fairly well. Thursday I left for camp. I to light the amount of stress we carry in actually arrived at the airport 50 minutes When I arrived in LA, I had the great our daily lives from being intensely before the flight. I had already parked opportunity of having dinner with my connected to the world on a minute by the car, checked in, checked one bag, sister and her family. The first thing minute basis. Each task becomes an and got through TSA in a breeze. I sent they said to me was, “Hope you brought urgent call to our brain to complete the an email, and then went to the your Chicago winter clothes, it is the task as if it is an emergency. As a result, bathroom (there was a line in the coldest we have had in loooonnng time, our brain gradually loses its creativity bathroom). When I got to gate 10 and it is suppose to rain all weekend”. and productivity. Other special guests minutes before the flight, the airline had My first thought – “Perfect, Bring it On”. helped me learn how they faced their given my ticket away despite me own challenges which lead to their own checking in, checking a bag, and having Camp Day 1 successes. priority. True to the weather predictions, LA was The physical challenge preparation Flights from the East coast were already 40 and raining as we drove to camp. ended with an 80 minute run. Thirty being cancelled due to weather. I was There were even predictions of snow in minutes into the run, my calf elected to one of 10 people who had gotten the mountains where we staying – tighten and knot on me. Prior to the bumped. The most frustrating part was Canyon Creek Camp (a wonderful camp run, my wife suggested I run smaller the gate agent said I had to be there 10 that also gives kids from Watts an loops in case the “dog” couldn’t make minutes before the flight departure opportunity to escape the challenges of the full 80 minutes. I instead chose to time. I showed her my phone clock and inner city LA). It was hysterical listening run straight up the Lake Michigan coast. it was 10 minutes before the scheduled to the San Diego, Phoenix, and Houston Only one way out, and one way back. departing time. That is when she told people complain about the rain and cold. Like Cortes burning his ships upon me they gave my seat away. I was livid. For me it was warmer than running in arriving in the New World, I too was only 12” of snow or black ice. going to have one path back. It forced However, I took it more in stride than I Shortly after checking in to the bunk me to complete the task despite my calf. normally would. After standing in the rooms I would share with 11 other I focused on “Try Not To Suck” and customer service line for 50 minutes (a campers, we got a preview of our completed the last 10 minutes to the killer for me), I was able to get on a flight adventures. Tougher Mudder was half way point, before turning around. 2 hours later. Still on track! I retained to create a course for us based Despite my wife’s concerns, the “dog” immediately went to the gate, and sat in upon our past 60 days of training. We had no trouble with the 80 minutes – the the front row for the next 1 ½ to insure had military crawls, a lunges section of only under indexing the dog does is they didn’t bump me again. Only so the course, carrying 30 pounds of sand in when it is 80 degrees and sunny. He many challenges I was willing to a loop, running through rows of tires, went back to his normal routine of undertake just to get to camp. burpees, and an very steep vertical hill sleeping all day. I, on the other hand, on each loop. Each loop was 1.25 miles. still had my normal family commitments Bronze had to complete 3 laps, Silver 7, the balance of the day. and Gold 10. However, the number of Lessons Along the Way laps was not the goal. Time was. We had to run, move, crawl or limp for 4 It was interesting that during the 60 hours straight. The goal was how many days, the quantity and intensity of the laps we could do in 4 hours. A challenges our company faced, and I motivational tool during the 60 days personally faced, seemed to increased. was, “30 minutes…you can do anything However, as I began to focus on the for 30 minutes.” It had a way of putting lessons I have taken away from the talks it into perspective and getting your mind by Sarah, Jesse, Colin or Kristen, I found to focus beyond the current situation. myself addressing and resolving the However, big difference between 30 matters with greater speed and less minutes and 240 minutes. effort. The epitome of the challenges came the day I left for camp. That evening we were blessed to have Frank Shamrock and Mark Rampolla My family knows I don’t like wasting speak to us. Frank Shamrock was a four time waiting at the airport. I have time undefeated UFC World Champion, accumulated enough flying status to Figure 3 Scott with Frank Shamrock and has sold multiple businesses for 8 UEC 60 DAY CHALLENGE | 4

figures. What was amazing to hear what Day 2 – Challenge Day the challenge was maintaining the 24 he went through to reach his minute pace per lap. accomplishments. He grew up in an By 6.30 I was ready for the Challenge. abusive home, and learned as a teenager There was only 1 problem - it didn’t start Sure enough, the clock started, and if he committed a felony he would be till 9.00 am. Waiting, tends to create people took off. I started with the removed from that situation. So at 18, anxiousness, which can lead to anxiety. “Gold” group even though I knew there he committed 20 felonies and was The first big test of the day: relaxing, were serious runners in that group, and I thrown in jail. During his time in prison, enjoying the day, enjoying the moment. was not one of them. Iron Man type he realized he needed to dramatically Sure it was 40 degrees and rainy, but runners. “Stick to your Pace.” Seemed change his life. He took a manila folder, hadn’t I trained in 10 degrees with snow! like everyone was passing me. “Stick to and wrote every bad thing about himself 40 was like going to the beach compared your Pace”. First obstacle – military on one side, and on other wrote all the to 10 degrees. crawl. Second obstacle – 20 lunges. things he intended to become. The Third – carry 30 lb sand bag around a contents of the folder would be how he At 9.00 we began. When I ran my half loop. Fourth – high step through tires. got from one to the other. What a marathon with 25,000 other people (yes Fifth – 10 burpees. Sixth – the Hill. Over radical transformation and incredible it was my half marathon that others got the course of 10 laps it worked out to hurdles to overcome. to run with me), I got caught up in the 2,700’ vertical climb. Each lap was 1.25 crowd, and went out too fast. So this miles. Crossed the line first lap in 20 Mark Rampolla is the creator of Zico time, I recalled my Mantra for climbing minutes. “Stick to your Pace.” Second Coconut Water. Not only did he create a Kilimanjaro. Polle Polle Polle – Slow, lap 21 minutes. Third lap 23 minutes. product, he created a whole new brand. Slow, Slow. Each day on the climb, we Our longest training run was 80 minutes. The probability of success in creating a always left camp first. Our small group Four laps in, I had equaled that. 40% new beverage product is stupid, of three – my wife, a 26 year old airline done. 60% to go. ridiculously low. They faced incredible pilot from Ireland, and me. There were 8 challenges - creating the product, or 9 other groups on the route with us. During the run, I noticed patterns branding, distribution, identifying your They all quickly passed us, and we were emerging. I would pass someone. They market, FDA, etc etc. It literally took always the last ones into camp at night. would pass me. At certain stages, I Zico 10 years of challenges before they The other groups struggled through the would see familiar faces. Early on a had significant success. It was amazing night as their bodies failed to acclimate woman with an orange shirt passed me to hear the fortitude Mark maintained to the elevation from going too fast. at a good pace. 5 minutes later, I passed during the development years. Since However, we acclimated very well. Our her – quietly pleased with my “Stick to the web explosion, our society expects guide would say to me each morning, your Pace” mantra. Another 5 minutes instant success. Zico literally overcame “You don’t sleep like a baby, you sleep later, she passed me again. Another 5 Pepsi cutting off their entire supply like a dead man.” I took that as a minutes later, I passed her. I nicknamed chain of coconuts and the FDA shutting compliment. The night we left for the her “Frogger”. As I passed her, I said, down their whole operation over a paper summit, we left first. Sure enough, “Hey, Frogger – your turn, keep the work matter unrelated to their business. every group passed us. Polle, Polle, pace.” Shortly later, Frogger named me Significant challenges. Polle. During 3.00 am – 5.00 am we Chicago. On the course, nicknames would take 2 steps forward and slide developed rapidly. Jeremiah was a Bull Both talks were perfect preparation for back 1. I would literally hold my wife Dog, Estaben, NC, Obi Wan (aka Ben), or the next day, as well as, the capstone to between my ski poles. 2 steps forward simply their bib number, “Way to go 9 the mental aspect of the program. and 1 slide back. By 8.00 am, we 4!”. Race organizers scattered reached the summit having passed every throughout the course offered words of First night of camp was brutal. My body group. With this mindset, my Mantra for encouragement, drinks or food for us. clock was 2 hours ahead. 12 guys in one the Challenge became, “Stick to your They were awesome. We were all in this room - lots of noise. The guy next to me Pace”. together. even had an anti-snoring machine. The noise from the machine made it sound Between 5.30 am and 9.00 am on the That “together” factor is what made the like I was on a cruise ship. Granted, I am morning of the Challenge, I worked the Challenge unique verse a race, we all used to snoring. My Ridgeback snores math backwards. Even though I had began encouraging and rooting for one during the day, and all through the trained for Silver, and never ran for 4 another. There was a lady who was night, but the combination of the tight hours straight, I had exercised for 18 recently in a motorcycle accident with a bunks, anticipation for the next day, my hours on our climb up Kilimanjaro. My punctured lung fighting through the bio clock set for 5.30 am cst, and the final test before becoming a Black Belt in course. NC and Obi Wan were battling cruise vessel next to me was too much. Jujutsu was 3 hours straight. I felt I could through 14 and 15 laps. It was inspiring do this for 4 hours, the question was the and motivational to see how everyone pace. My goal became GOLD. For me was facing head on their own challenges, and defeating their own self- UEC 60 DAY CHALLENGE | 5

imposed limits. At Lap 7, I had The other types of challenges are those challenges and be more successful in accomplished the Silver, and was still on life throws at us. They could be work how I can approach life. Success is not my pace. By Lap 7, I knew I was going to challenges, family changes, school always about dollars. Way too often in complete 10. The Challenge actually challenges, or even challenges with our society we avoid talking about our became easier. Not necessarily from a friends, or even a motor cycle accident. failures out of fear of being labeled one. physical perspective. My left calf We don’t seek them out, sometimes it The common theme among each cramped on Lap 2, others had cramps, seems they seek us out. Either way we speaker was how they had failed, but sore knees, or other ailments. It truly have a choice, to back down or face the more importantly how they overcame pushed everyone on the course. What challenge. We all make decisions on a those failures. It wasn’t always a became easier was the mental games in daily basis whether or not it is worth our monetary success. It was also my head. After 2 hours, we were time or energy to face those challenges. emotional, physical, and mental officially on the “Back 9 of the course”, Perhaps more times than not, we don’t successes. Frank Shamrock completely or 3 hours into it, “Only 25% left”. As in make the best decision in life because turning around his life as a person. Colin physics, the most energy is getting an we feel that challenge is too hard to O’Brady learning how to walk let alone object in motion. Once in motion, accomplish – asking out the person who run again. Kristen Race learning how to inertia keeps it on its path. Same in life, you really like, applying for the job you better manage stress. Jesse learning the hardest part is first facing the really want, taking the job you really how grow and develop as a business challenge. Once you are in it, or have want, having that tough conversation entrepreneur and artist. Everyone has a accomplished it, how often do we look with a sibling or spouse. It appears to be story full of failures and successes. How back and say, “That was a lot easier than easier, safer to avoid rather than we let those failures or success define us I thought it would be.” confront the challenge. determines who we become. Do we let those failures hurt us, or push us? Do we Don’t get me wrong, after Lap 9 I knew Ian Cron and Suzanne Stabile recently let those wins define us, or motivate us the 10th would be my last. I had kept my wrote a book titled, “The Road Back to th to push further? Both have their good pace. However, the last lap was You”. It describes a system that 4 points as well as their bad points. The different. I made a point of thanking century monks developed to better goal is to take the best from both our each volunteer who had support me/us understand themselves and others. failures as well as our successes. throughout the Challenge. Gratitude They came up with 9 personality types. was the greatest emotion I was The concept is God created us uniquely experiencing. I was grateful for the as individuals. A part of that opportunity to learn and grow, for my development is how we address friends who did the challenge alongside challenges in our development years. me, for the others who went on this We learn to hide those areas of our lives crazy journey who pushed me, for Jesse where we feel vulnerable. Our efforts to and all his work during the Challenge, for cover up those feelings define our Than, Paul, JD, Konrad and their great personality. So, the more healthy we team for facilitating the event, and Jeff are, the less we hide our vulnerability Robinson the owner of Canyon Creek and the closer we are to how God Camp and his wonderful staff. How created us. The less healthy we are, the often do we get a chance to do crazy, more we protect our vulnerabilities and fun, growth/development activities? put up defensive walls. The 9 traits can be described as Perfectionist, Helper, Lessons Learned Performer, Romantic, Investigator, Loyalist, Enthusiast, Challenger, and The thing I learned the most during the Peacemaker. For me this Challenge 60 days was this– there are two types of helped me see both the healthy and challenges we face in life. Ones we unhealthy responses I have within my create on our own, and the ones life own personality traits. It demonstrated Figure 4 Scott with Than Merrill creates for us. I, with Jesse’s help, how I can better face the hurdles life created this challenge in my life. It was throws my way. Instead of getting something I didn’t necessarily seek out, worked up, or avoiding that matter, it but when presented, I clearly jumped all has given me a new perspective for in. I embraced it. I was able to do each facing new challenges I need to face in daily challenge during the full 60 days. order to continue to grow, as well as Surprisingly, most people in the group those that come my way. did as well. I was grateful for the gift I received learning how I can better manage trials,