Advanced Training: The Advanced Training Interview

"How many walkers have you killed?

How many people have you killed?

Why?" - Rick Grimes, The Walking Dead

The questions you read above may be part of the greatest oral interview process in the history of the world.
Both the answers you give, and how you give them, can paint a great picture of the type of person you really are.

For those of you who have not watched The Walking Dead, I am embarrassed for you. You clearly spend your free time watching Keeping Up With The Kardashians and cannot be trusted as a contributing member of society. Please immediately stop reading this blog and go get the latest copy of US weekly. It is definitely more up to your speed.

After having some deep "life" conversations with members of our program, I believe that Advanced Training needs a similar interview process.

Not only would it help me get a better feel for who is attempting to join the group, it may give them a better feel for what they are getting into.

All to often, people interview for jobs without really knowing what the job entails. They get the job, start doing work, and 6 months later realize they hate it.

In my world, it often means people join the program, love the workouts, but soon realize they cannot commit full time to our schedule and our lifestyle.

I immediately start thinking they are "soft" and they start thinking I am some sort of a tyrant.

All of this could be avoided with the right interview process.

With that, here are some of the interview questions I am thinking of asking all new members of Advanced Training.

1. How many times have you bench pressed this week? Why?

If the answer is zero, they are either soft or injured. (One could argue that they are on a legitimate deload week, but if they were that advanced, they probably wouldn't be coming to me for help.)

If the answer is > 1, they are either a meathead or they are using varying techniques to optimize their form and motor function. In my world, most people are simply meatheads.

2. What is your favorite type of bicep exercise?

Worst Answer ... "Barbell Curls" (or any other exercise that has the word "curl" in it)

Acceptable Answer ... "Chin-Ups"

Best Answer ... "I don't do biceps."

A guy that doesn't "do biceps" isn't a narcissist and would fit in very well with our program. I am not saying that developing your biceps is bad, I am just saying that actively doing so makes you someone I do not want to be around.

3. What are the top three things in your life?

If training (a.k.a. your health) is not one of the three, we will certainly have problems.

For me, here are my top 3.

1. Faith

2. Health

3. Family

Let the outrage begin!!!

To the "family" people who will call me selfish ...

Who is really more selfish ... the guy who keeps himself healthy so he can be physically appealing to his wife and have the energy to play with his kids ... or the guy who drowns his sorrows in comfort foods and booze, all the while paving the way for an early departure from this earth?

Many of you probably realized that "career" didn't even make it into my top 3.

For me, being healthy is a major enabler to my career.

It helps me get to work every day.

It helps me to remain energetic and to bring energy to the people around me (which in turns makes them more productive).

And most importantly, it helps remove the stress that would otherwise cloud my mind and stop my creativity.

Having said that, I do not recommend putting your career ahead of your own health.

For those of you focusing on your "studies" ...

It wouldn't be a blog if I didn't make some reference to my illustrious education.

Yes, I did go to Columbia University ... currently ranked #9 in the world. (Not the United States, the world).

And yes, I did get 2 degrees from said illustrious institution ... one from Columbia College and one from Columbia's School of Engineering and Applied Science.

But no, I would not say that your "studies" are more important than your health. In fact, I would tell you almost the same thing I told the career oriented people ... health is an enabler to your studies.

As a sidebar, I would like to formally state that I do not agree with school gyms being closed during finals week. There is no better way to relieve the stress from exams than to spend 45 minutes in the gym moving weight.

To the people that are closing the gyms, I hope you realize that the students will simply find another way to relieve their stress. Unfortunately, those other ways are usually unhealthy.

4. Do you think any of these are acceptable reasons to miss a training session?

(If the answer is "Yes" to any of these, you shouldn't sign up for Advanced Training).

Your birthday
Your friend's birthday
Your wedding (I lifted on my wedding day)
To attend a sporting event (that you are not coaching or playing in)
To watch a sporting event
Being tired
Being stressed
Being sore
Having a hang-over
Having a cold
Being in jail (do jail house squats!!!)
Going on vacation (every decent hotel has a "fitness center")
Drafting your fantasy team
Going to a party / club / pub / day glow

In the past 15 years, I have only "missed" 2 scheduled training sessions.

One was because I had unexpected oral surgery and couldn't talk. There was no way I could effectively coach without being able to speak.

The other was because I was violently ill. In my own defense, I set my alarm at 3AM to make an official go / no-go decision on a 5AM session. I didn't want my guys to be driving to the gym only to get a text that I was sick and had to cancel.

As yet another side bar, I have frequently gotten that same type of text many-o-time from guys I have trained. They amazingly get "sick" about 30 minutes before our session. Being hyper-vigilant for softness, I immediately assume they want to stay toasty warm in their bed or they have a massive hangover from the night before.