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 My wife also pointed out one very invited the audience to participate in a Challenge 60 day Ultimate Entrepreneur Challenge important fact – I probably needed a pair (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.