My 70-something-year-old father did stand-up comedy, for the first time, on a stage in New York City.

Not only was it very funny, but there were many teachable moments.

In the audience there were something like 1,200 attendees from Brown University, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania, and Yale University.

My dad, George Arangio, was the 2018 Ivy Football Association (IFA) Honoree for Cornell University.

He was on that Midtown Manhattan stage, in January 2019, accepting the award and making everybody laugh with his one-liners.

I predict a second career in entertainment.

It was great fun and 🎥 they made a little movie about it.

Definitely worth watching.

In this picture, Dad is surrounded by so many beautiful women... my wife, mom, sisters, and sister-in-law.

It was impactful listening to my mom talk about the sacrifices they both made for me and my siblings.

How Dad worked long hours at three different hospitals.

Healing his patients.

Providing for his family.

Mom was caring for four young children while my dad was in the operating room, fixing broken bones, torn ligaments, and worse.

Never heard either one of them complain about the challenges of balancing work, family, and other grownup responsibilities.

Was it easy?

Of course not.

But they are both incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have vocations helping people get healthy.

(Mom is a retired nurse.)

Both are also thankful for four healthy kids.

As a kid, I remember Dad getting phone calls, from the hospital, in the middle of the night. Somebody was in a motorcycle crash and need to be stitched back together again.

He would do surgery, all night long, and then see new patients in the office the next day.

Mom always holding down the fort while Dad was away.

No complaints.

So it was fitting when he asked my mom to stand up, and accept the "Arangio Family Lifetime Achievement Award" for her equally impressive dedication to our family.

Mom has true grit, just like Dad.

The whole event was a testament to the power of teamwork, taking action, and being consistent.

A great lesson for everyone.

How to Lead By Example

Here are a few thoughts on how you can live what you teach and walk the talk.

And it starts with mindset.

See, I believe that you’re the architect of your past, present, and future.

You can get where you want to go, personally and professionally, by embracing the following ideas.

It starts with change.

If you change your beliefs about what you are capable of having, doing, and being…

…then you’ll change your path.

If you truly believe that you can have the body that you want and you decide that you will have it, well, you’ve just overcome the biggest obstacles blocking your success.

Decide what your "Ideal Body" looks like.

Get clear about who you want to help.

What you want to be known for.

What you will provide for others.

You’re capable of having a more profound impact than you have probably ever imagined on the lives of others and on your own.

In order to reach your true potential, you focus on being the best version of yourself.

Not some watered down version of someone else.

You’ve got to be authentic.

Every great leader, every world-class entrepreneur, everyone who has done really great things has been an original.

And so are you.

See, if you believe in yourself and you commit to being the best version of you, then things get simpler.

And "keeping it simple" is the next part of the plan.

See, if you know where you want to go, then you can do FEWER things.

And you can do them better.

Then, it just comes down to producing the outcomes you want.

Taking responsibility for unlocking the greatness inside of you.

This uncomplicated formula for success this year is my wish for you.

By the way, here are some kind words from a happy client athlete who's doing the work.

Leading by example, especially in challenging times, is probably one of the best-kept secrets for long-term success.

No one saw 2020 coming.

Almost over night, it was either adapt or perish.

My successful clients quickly adapted with virtual fitness-and-nutrition coaching. 

They demonstrated great attitudes and performed on-demand workouts anywhere they had an internet connection.

Unfortunately far too many over-40 men and women used the pandemic to double down on their unhealthy habits and gain "quarantine weight."

Are you ready for what’s coming next?

Imagine surviving the viral pandemic only to be steamrolled in the future because you weren’t ready for the next inevitable shift.

Choose to Lead

There are so many things to be thankful for.

But I'm not going to lie, there are obvious challenges.

My clients are providing excellent feedback and seem to be settling into a new normal.

If I only had a phone, a laptop, and my own bodyweight, this is precisely what I'd do to start getting leaner, stronger, and happier.

Good news is you already have EVERYTHING you need.

And I'm guiding you every step of the way.

My humble advice is to take advantage of this opportunity to lead by example and stay strong.

You see, so many people are strong.

But many use their strength in the wrong way.

They will use it to pull people down.

But not you.

You will use it to lift people up. To build and not destroy.

And you will prosper in the future in so many ways.

You have a decision to make.

How will you use your strength? Hopefully to lead.

Your future will be bright.

I really believe that, if you do these TWO things, you can get there:

1. Understand what you’re capable of accomplishing, to the point that you’re willing to go "all in" on being the best version of yourself.
2. Pursue your ideal body with focus and passion.

You just have to do fewer things better, so much so that you eventually become your leanest and strongest ever.

And you have to embrace that the only way you can create the body you desire (and the life you want) is to take responsibility for producing it - each and every day.

You’re Not Alone

I’m here with you to help, coach and guide you if and when you need it.

Sometimes the journey to getting lean and strong can be a lonely place; however, when I tell you I’m on your team, I mean it.

So let’s look forward to the year ahead.

Let’s use the excitement that comes with fresh goals to give us some momentum out of the gate.

After that, let’s embrace this "formula" to keep us moving forward until we each get where we aspire to go.

To your success,

Coach Joe

Joseph Arangio helps 40+ men and women get leaner, stronger, and happier. He's delivered over 100,000 transformation programs to satisfied clients around the globe. If you want to lose weight from home, with the best online personal trainer, or you want to visit the best personal trainer in the Lehigh Valley, you can take a free 14-day trial.