I talked to a good friend of mine this afternoon. His name is Joe and I've known him for almost 30 years. He came to us as a clumsy 13 year old with giant feet who wanted to learn the martial arts. None of us ever thought that he would turn out to be a special athlete, but boy were we ever wrong.

During the years that followed we came to know Joe as the most determined hard working young man that we had ever met. What he was lacking in physical skills he more than made up for with spirit and determination. Over time he became a very good Black Belt and a very good instructor. The most amazing part of Joe's athletic career was still before him. During the past 15 years he has also become a top notch marathon runner and triathlete.

I had the good fortune of going to see one of his triathlons and was amazed at the determination and all out effort that he displays. He told me that he has run a half marathon on one day and driven 500 miles to run a half marathon the following day. He's a dedicated, motivated individual.

So why do I tell you Joe's story?. It's because I believe that everyone can do more than they think they can. Everyone can be better, stronger, and healthier then they think that they can be. You don't have to be a superstar or a high caliber athlete to take good care of yourself and strive to improve.

All of you should be proud of what you've done in this program. You've stuck to something and felt that you are improving and getting better. It's a good feeling isn't it? I also tell you Joe's story because I want you to know that I make it a point to befriend and learn from people who can offer value to myself and to my program. As you continue to work on being a healthier, stronger you, you will continue to expose yourself to the many years of knowledge and motivation that I provide for my students. Next week I will talk to you about how you can further your learning and growth and how we can continue on this fun and exciting path.

Continue to expect big things of yourself and keep on keeping on Remember how you eat an elephant. One bite at a time. Be patient and be persistent.

Fred Nicklaus

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