You Need Friends Who Expect More Of You

I started my career at one of the "Big 8" Accounting firms back in the late 80's.

To get hired by one of these firms, you needed a high GPA, demonstrated leadership abilities, and an ability to communicate.

You also needed to pass the CPA exam (19.5 hours over 2.5 days on paper with no calculators).

The expectations were high. Long hours, travel, the ability to learn quickly on the job. And you needed to be able to interact with C suite clients (as a 22 year old)!

These were global firms that delivered audit, tax and consulting services.

You were surrounded by the best of the best. The people I worked with went on to run companies, start businesses, become wealthy and in general, excel at whatever they chose to do.

This is common in successful businesses.

But a big success factor that isn't often talked about are expectations and how they drive performance.

The ability to rise to expectations and regularly exceed them is a common trait amongst high performing Men.

Think about a successful sports team. Highly trained. Hard working, Talented. That's a big part of the results they produce.

But every high level team can say this.

Expectations are what drives champions to the championship level.

Expectations from ownership, the front office, the coaching staff, the players, the fans, and themselves.

As a high performing Man over 50, you've experienced this in your career and maybe you still are today.But something happens once you pass the 50 year mark. You are no longer climbing the ladder. You are at the top of the ladder.

Or you are retired and you are no longer surrounded by other high performers.

No one is setting expectations for you. In fact, it has been a decade or more since you were regularly trying to exceed anyone's expectations.

Including your own.

Once you leave a high performing culture, it becomes challenging to continue performing at a high level.

And the people who you spend time with have also lowered their expectations of themselves. It's common to hear comments like these:

"We are getting old."

"You don't need to do that anymore."

"Slow down and enjoy yourself."

And no one can escape the reality of this quote:

“You are the average of the top 5 people you spend the most time with.” –Jim Rohn

Your health, fitness, and physical condition are all negatively impacted by this.

Instead of striving to be the best, you are settling and comparing yourself to the other guys you see regularly. "Well, at least I'm not as bad as Dick."

Or, you ignore your health and keep score on things like homes, cars, assets, etc.

The key is to find a group of Men who have also decided they need higher expectations of themselves.

A band of brothers, a tribe, an "iron sharpens iron" group of Men.

A group of Men who set standards for themselves and raise those standards over time.

They show up every day knowing they will report their performance to the group. They are accountable to each other.

Yes, you need to operate 99% of the time on your own with your expectations of yourself driving your behaviors and actions.

But being part of a group of Men who are on a similar journey as you is the X factor, the 1% that makes all the difference.

It pushes and pulls you towards objectives that "normal" men aren't even thinking about.

You share experiences, best practices, what works, new learnings. You make introductions to others, they make them for you, and your network of Men who are focused on being the best grows.

Instead of starting with a Google search to improve your health you start by asking a small group of Men who are already doing what you want to do.

Some guys can do some of this on their own. They are more lone wolf types. I've talked to quite a few of them.

When we go a bit deeper into the details, they realize there is another level or two they are not tapping into. Some "holes" in their game include no knowledge of age management, peptides, hormone optimization, regenerative medicine, avoiding or delaying joint replacement, mobility and flexibility. These are topics we discuss, all based on first hand experience by our members.

No matter where you are on the health continuum, you'll get better results by working with a group of like-minded Men focused on improving performance.

Ask yourself this question: do you have a group of Men who you interact with regularly who are making you better?

If you do, congratulations. Keep sharpening that iron!

If not, read on.

If you are a man over 50, complete this form and I'll follow up with you in 24 hours. Our program delivers the structure, accountability, community and results Men over 50 need to become Harder to Kill.

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