Last Thursday, when I’m watching my son’s baseball practice, another parent had an unusual t-shirt on.

Surrounded by green and orange graphics, it read, “Haters Welcome.”

“What’s your shirt say,” I asked while smiling.

“It says ‘Haters Welcome’ – I liked to wear it when I was coaching because when we had haters, I knew we were on the right track.”

The next day, I stopped in a sporting goods store, looking for the t-shirt this man was wearing. Although I wasn’t able to find the exact same shirt, I found something that was even better.

In big, bold letters it read,

“IF YOU HAVE HATERS YOU’RE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT.”

Amen, I thought, while taking it to the cashier.

Now, I realize a fair amount of people don’t understand why someone would enjoy wearing a t-shirt that says, in effect, “I love haters.”

But successful people readily understand you cannot get where you want to go in life if you’re addicted to the approval of others. To be successful, you must be independent of the good and bad opinions of others. To completely fit in with the masses, to attempt to garner the approval of 100 percent of everyone, is to commit emotional suicide.

You cannot get everyone to like you, no matter how hard you try. At the same time, you cannot get everyone to hate you, no matter how much you may deserve their wrath.

So, why not be true to yourself. Why not be who you are and see who sticks around. Chances are excellent that those who stay around are the only REAL friends you’ll ever have.

One of the chief hallmarks of a successful human being is his skill at letting criticism roll of his back. If you receive feedback that is helpful, you’d be ignorant to ignore it completely or tune it out. But if the feedback isn’t real feedback, but rather a personal attack, then you are better off with a thick black face.

Having a wall of emotional protection around yourself is a good idea. No one truly succeeds without this wall – and t-shirts that proclaim “I love haters” are wonderful because they remind you and the world that your mission in life is NOT to please everyone. It cannot be done.

Being IMMUNE to the criticism of others, though, is the second step. It’s not the first.

The first step is to stop criticizing yourself. Stop brow-beating yourself, putting yourself down, telling yourself you can’t. If you’re against YOU, it’s hard for others to be for you.

But when you’re on your own side, you’re not concerned whether or not everyone likes you. You like you – and that’s the most important “liker” of them all.

Ironically, when you’re true to yourself, when you no longer concern yourself with how many people like or dislike you, that’s when you not only perform, act and work at your best – it’s when more people than ever jump on the band wagon and want to be around you.

Yep, you’ll still have haters, but you’ll have a lot more REAL people around you; people who are happy to see your success instead of being jealous of it.

So yeah, “Haters Welcome.”

See yourself smiling and enjoying another’s hate – and watch how the stress, angst and frustration of NOT wanting anyone to dislike you gets flushed down the drain.

What a way to live.

Sure, go ahead and picture others liking you as well – but before you do so, make sure you like yourself.

Best,

Matt Furey

P.S. Hey, wait a minute: Within the next couple days I’m going to announce a new product – something that will give you power over haters, as well as anything you think is blocking you from the life you really want to live. Stay tuned.

This morning I received a text message from Andy, a long-time customer who was passing through the area. He invited me for breakfast and made it clear he would be paying for it. I realize his invitation alone should go without saying, but you’d be surprised…

Anyway, we met at 9:30 and spent an hour eating and talking, during which time the 50+ years young man told me how he used to weigh 248 pounds and now he’s close to 210, and he gave Combat Conditioning the credit.

After breakfast I received an email from a former MLB player who teaches and coaches elite boys how to play the game.

In his email he talked about the importance of strength and speed for the sport of baseball (but he could be talking about ANY sport).

I wholeheartedly agreed with the coach’s premise: the game will leave you behind if you don’t get faster and stronger.

Far too many young athletes think that the mastery of a sport ONLY requires mastery of the techniques of the sport. But they couldn’t be MORE WRONG.

Speed can annihilate an opponent. Velocity will too. And if you’re stronger than the average bear, it’ll show up when you hit the ball a country mile.

I know many former football, basketball and baseball players who never made it to the next level because they weren’t fast enough or strong enough.

One of my friends, who played pro football in Europe, said if he would have run a 4.8 40-yard dash instead of a 4.9, he’d have made the NFL.

Last year I spoke to a young man who was released from a minor league team. He was trying to find another team and was working out next to me. I asked, “What was your time in the 60?” [Note: in baseball you’re not timed in the 40.]

His reply: “I don’t know. I think 6.9 or something. And you know (long sigh), I just don’t understand what the big deal is with that drill. I think it’s lame.”

Perhaps he does, but the scouts and coaches who are putting their moohlah on the line, DO think it matters. It IS a big deal to them.

Contrast this man’s answer with that of another friend, who was a 1st round pick, played 15 years in the MLB and has a World Series ring to show for it.

Same question: “What was your time in the 60?”

Answer: “6.1 – (followed by big sigh of delight) and you know, that’s why I went in the first round. If you’re fast, some teams will sign you just for that.”

Now, the coach who wrote the email I read this morning, he also went in the first round. He ran a 6.5 60-yard dash, and he played catcher. That’s unheard of speed for that position. He also wears a World Series ring.

So the guy who didn’t make it doesn’t understand why speed is so important. He thought it was all about hitting and fielding and throwing.

Not hardly.

Speed matters. And so does strength.

I’ll discuss strength and the way I believe in getting it in another issue – but for now, suffice to say I don’t believe you do it in the weight room.

Speed, on the other hand, can be had in many, many ways.

But the fastest way I know of to get speed is also the fastest way to burn fat.

And I cover it in great detail in my course, The Fastest Way Humanly Possible to Burn Fat.

The course was not created with young athletes in mind as the focus was on burning fat fast.

But it works just the same.

Whether for fat loss and muscle gain – or to get faster for your chosen sport, this system will get you there.

Right now.

This program is definitely way under-priced – and when you look at the bonuses you receive for making your decision now, you’ll truly be stunned.

Get on the fast track, my friend, and start burning fat like you did when your hormones were raging and your metabolism was boiling over.

Best,

Matt Furey

I’ve been thinking about something that’s pretty cool and doesn’t happen very often for most of us.

What is it?

Well, I turn 50 in May.

Think of it. Turning 50 on the 5th month of the year. As well as the 5th day.

It boggles the mind.

So I’ve been thinking about having an “Energy Seminar” around that time – not to celebrate my birthday, but to teach you everything I can about ENERGY – the positives, the negatives – the things you need to know to live life to the full.

This seminar will cover details on psycho-physical exercises that expand your field and help you get stronger, smarter and healthier. It will cover nutrition and relaxation techniques for better sleep and stress-free living.

It will also cover the unseen dangers permeating our environment, and what you can do to protect yourself from them. These dangers include a growing concern about EMF, or electro-magnetic frequencies and their effects on your health, mind, etc. If you use an i-phone or any other so-called “smart” device, you really better attend this event to find out more.

This seminar will be unlike anything you’ve ever attended before – a Furey trademark. And it will also give you the tools you need to improve your life in ways you cannot yet imagine.

More information will be available soon – and if you like this idea and have any requests on things you’d like to see covered, please let me know.

In the interim, make sure you take me up on my 75% off special on the Zero Resistance Living System – and all the bonuses that go with it.

Having gone through this course before the seminar will help you between now and then – and make more of what I’m teaching immediately accessible.

Best,

Matt Furey