I've screwed up. Often, and for most of my career.

I confused and misled the very people I set out to help. I told them that steady state cardio is inefficient 1 year after I said to "work in the heart rate zone" to burn more fat. I told them to do 3 sets of 12, then 4 sets of 8, then 5 sets of 5. I even timed their breaks with a stop watch to make sure they didn't rest 1s over 1:30. I bought into every fitness program and trend and sold my clients on it. They trusted me with their time, money, and health and I screwed up.

I tried to come out with the next best thing. To be different. I thought my programs needed to be profound. My supplement protocols were supposed to work magic. I thought I needed to "show off" to clients by exposing on them all of my knowledge. Yet I never had success. My clients got adequate results -- which isn't good enough.

Then something changed. I brought it back to basics and simplified my training and my diet recommendations. I started to critically analyze new protocols before inserting them into programs. My focus shifted to removing stress from my clients lives instead of adding it. I'm not screwing up anymore. My clients are making better progress than ever before.

Everybody in our industry seems to be trying to find the next best thing. A new piece of equipment, a new stretch, a new protocol or a new supplement that's somehow better. I urge you to think critically. What you'll find is that the "next best thing" usually pales in comparison to using what you already have to greater effect.