Table Of ContentLIVE LIFE
AGGRESSIVELY!
What Self Help Gurus Should Be Telling You
MIKE MAHLER
Live Life Aggressively!
Copyright © 2011 by Mahlers Aggressive Strength LLC
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission
of the author.
A Mahlers Aggressive Strength LLC Book/May 2011
All rights reserved
Cover photo courtesy of Ayame Hollings
www.orangekettlebellclub.com
Back cover courtesy of David Griffin
www.davidgriffinphotography.com
Front and back cover design work by Kyle Provost
Editing by Teresa Blazy and Alex Goetzfried
Final editing and proofreading by Sarina Derksen
ISBN 978-0-578-08475-6
This book is dedicated to my good friend Jim Tirey as well as the
great men and women that serve and have served in the United
States Armed Forces. Thanks for everything you do for us.
Jim was a constant source of support when I first decided to pursue a
career in fitness. Jim also served in the military for most of his life
and represents everything that is great about the wonderful men and
women that serve in the armed forces. Jim passed away a few years
ago and his presence is missed but will never be forgotten.
This book is also dedicated to everyone that has improved the life of
another being.
FOREWORD
By Steve Cotter
Dont be fooled by the title. Live Life Aggressively! What Self-help
Gurus Should Be Telling You by Mike Mahler is not a book advocat-
ing violence or aggression toward people. Rather it is a call-to-action,
an invitation for you, the reader to stand up and take account of
your own life and your actions.
This book is not group hug. It is more like a bucket of ice-cold
water tossed on you while you slumber in your warm, comfy habits.
There is a saying that the truth hurts and unlike the self-help
gurus which proliferate the talk shows and books shelves, Mahler
challenges you to take an honest look at yourself, at your strengths
and weaknesses, your successes and failures, and reminds you that if
you do the hard work of self-reflection, you will come out happier
and more fulfilled, because you will see yourself as you really are,
warts and all. Armed with this self-realization, you can begin your
journey in earnest, to a more fulfilling and actualized state of being.
In his tell-it-like-it-is style of communicating, Mahler lays out a
brutally transparent formula for success and contentment. Rather
than fill you with grandiose affirmations and feel-good self-dialogue,
he strips off the gloves and tells you WHY you are losing the good
fight by lying to yourself about who your really are. You may not
realize it, but Mahler is your friend, and Live Life Aggressively is the
heart-to-heart dialogue that all but your true friends are unable and
unwilling to give you.
Precisely because the author does not try to be your buddy, and
because he is not influenced by if you like him or not, he can speak
straight to you and in this over-hyped, over-promised and under-
delivered media-driven environment we live in, straight talk is a rare
commodity indeed.
As an industry leader in my profession, I travel all around the
world and have met many if not most of the industry gurus
hawking their methods and philosophies. The majority of these
salesmen do not practice what they preach. I get asked to endorse
products and programs all the time. More and more I say thanks but
no thanks, because I know that a lot of the things being sold are
rehashed garbage. When Mike Mahler invited me to write a forward
for this book, I said of course. The reason is because the man does
what he says he is going to do, he practices what he preaches and he
leads from the front. I respect the man and there is a reason why he
commands sold-out audiences wherever he lectures. What he shares
with you in this book is what he has learned through living - no
gimmicks, no fluff, and no empty promises. Just straight talk from a
straight man, literally and figuratively.
Whether you are a pacifist or a hawk, a carnivore or a vegan, a
scholar or a warrior - as you read through this exceptional book of
wisdom you will appreciate the importance of taking charge of your
life and Live Life Aggressively!
Steve Cotter, Founder and Director of IKFF,
International Kettlebell and Fitness Federation, www.ikff.com
CONTENTS
Introduction by Ken Blackburn .................................................................... 1
It is Time to Live Life Aggressively .............................................................. 3
SECTION ONE:
What Self-help Gurus Should Be Telling You.................................... 9
Why You Must Optimize Your Hormones ............................................ 10
Is Having a Positive Attitude Overrated? ............................................. 25
The Necessity of Negative Thinking ....................................................... 31
The Danger of Always Accommodating ................................................. 37
Dont Rely on Your Illusory Memory .................................................... 40
Networking Myths! It is More Than Who You Know ........................... 45
Dont Ever Get Involved With Network Marketing Companies ............ 49
Why Your Need for Praise is Holding You Back ................................... 55
Are We Becoming a Nation of Orthorexics? .......................................... 59
Are You Prepared to Actually Take Advice? ......................................... 63
Being Attached to Results is Holding You Back .................................... 68
Doing What You Love is Hard Work ..................................................... 77
Your Flawed Decision Making Process Is Why You Fail ...................... 84
Addiction to Constant Entertainment Makes Success Impossible ......... 93
Are You a Research Addict or An Action Addict? ................................ 97
SECTION TWO:
The Importance of Taking Self Inventory ...................................... 100
Do You Have the Courage To Evolve? ................................................. 101
The Real Battle Is Within ..................................................................... 115
We Are Great At Kidding Ourselves ................................................... 122
The High Price of Ownership ............................................................... 126
Eleven Reasons Why We Make Mistakes and
Why We Keep Making Them ........................................................... 130
Fear Is the Ultimate Manipulation Method ......................................... 143
Are You Capable of Evil? Yes You Are ................................................ 148
Embrace Compassion Fully or Be Destroyed By Anger ....................... 157
SECTION THREE:
Happiness And Success ..................................................................... 166
The Necessity of Exceptional Thinking ................................................ 167
Use Pressure to Be Successful .............................................................. 171
Being a Great Teacher Is Not Easy ....................................................... 176
Jealousy is a Wasted Emotion ............................................................... 180
Being Risk Adverse Makes You Success Adverse ................................ 184
Will You Let a Knife Prevent You From Conquering Your Goal?... 190
Is Experience Overrated? ..................................................................... 194
I Never Saved Anything for the Swim Back ......................................... 199
Waiting For Permission Is a Sure Fire Way To Fail ............................ 202
The Timing Is Never Perfect ................................................................ 205
Is Happiness Determined By Our Genetics? ....................................... 209
Is Happiness Determined By Our Genetics? Part Two ....................... 218
Stop Complaining and Take Charge of Your Life ................................. 223
What Are You Prepared To Do Now? .................................................. 228
References ................................................................................................. 235
Aggressive Strength Recommended Reading List .................................... 239
Editing Credits ......................................................................................... 249
