Anyone who watched Barbell Shrugged with the original cast (Mike Bledsoe, Doug Larson, Chris Moore and CTP behind the camera) must have a favorite host. No doubt that was part of the success of the show, personalities that were so different, but complemented each other to create something better than expected.

My favorite original Shrugger is the late Chris Moore, who also had his own podcast, the Barbell Buddha. Chris was a great storyteller and I loved the way he thought about things, so I listened to his solo podcast religiously. When he passed away unexpectedly, I felt like I had lost a friend.

On one of his podcast episodes, Chris was talking about his struggles in trying to keep his corporate job while developing Barbell Shrugged and Barbell Buddha. Chris said that Doug told him to burn the boats. Without any path to return he would have to be successful. This helped Chris realize that if you want to make a big change, sooner or later you need to make a leap of faith.

That “Burn the boats” episode stuck in my mind when, after 19 years as an auditor, I decided to leave auditing and go into the fitness industry by opening a gym in London. As I was working through the final year of my contract at a bank, I realized one night that I was avoiding the decision to resign. Although more time at the bank would help me financially, I wondered whether I was afraid to make the leap. Why spend more time and energy on something that was no longer my passion?

I remembered the sage advice Chris got from Doug and decided it was time for me to burn the boats. I resigned the next day and felt such relief that I was sure I made the right decision. More than 4 years later, I am more certain than ever that I am on the right path.

Spoiler alert, London real estate did not cooperate with my plans to open a gym. My great friend Alan and I searched high and low for a suitable location and submitted bids on 4 properties. We had an offer accepted on 1 property, but the noise mitigation requirements blew our budget out of the water and we had to withdraw. We never recovered and had to pursue other options to make a living.

Nonetheless, all was not lost. During my year off, I experienced several amazing things:

• Traveled to Thailand for 3 weeks for a 10-day beach holiday with Trish followed by my second week-long Ido Portal Movement Camp.
• Trained more than I had ever trained before to see what I could accomplish. Initially as a student of Ido Portal online coaching and later at the “Church of Handstand” in Belsize Park under coach Sainaa. Sainaa is an amazing coach and one of the few reasons I did not want to leave London.
• Found Applied Movement Neurology (AMN), received treatments from Dave Fleming and began studying to become an AMN practitioner, which is now my biggest passion.

Have you ever really needed a change and had a burn the boats moment?