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Showing posts from August, 2026

Why do some guys hurt themselves with kettlebells…? (How to Avoid)

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Most guys don't get hurt with kettlebells because kettlebells are dangerous. They get hurt for the same reasons people get hurt with barbells, dumbbells, running, bodyweight training, or any other exercise method. Poor technique. Poor programming. Weak core stability. Existing injuries. Rushing the process. In this video, I break down the most common causes of kettlebell-related injuries and, more importantly, the 3 principles you can use to avoid them. We'll cover: Why elbow, shoulder, hip, and back issues often develop The technique mistakes that commonly lead to overuse injuries Why "YouTube University" can only take you so far How core stability affects strength, power, and injury prevention The hidden role asymmetries play in chronic pain Why patience may be the most important training skill after 40 If your goal is to get stronger, move better, stay injury-free, and keep training for years instead of weeks, this video is for you. Resources Mentioned In This Vide...

When to Move Up in Weight / Kettlebell Size So You Don’t Plateau?

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Get a Kettlebell Training Plan That Produces Results Below: 🔗 https://chasingstrength.com/which-kettlebell-workout-program-is-right-for-me/ If your kettlebell results have stalled… this video is for you. One of the biggest mistakes men over 40 make is either: staying with a kettlebell that’s too light for too long, or jumping up in weight too early and wrecking their progress. In this video, I break down EXACTLY when you should move up in kettlebell size so you keep getting stronger, building muscle, and improving conditioning without plateauing. We cover: How to know if you’re “under-belled” Why there is NO universal “ideal” rep target The importance of tracking total reps per session How often to re-test your RM (5RM, 10RM, etc.) Why your training background and muscle fiber type matter The biggest reasons men stop progressing How to tell if your program is actually working I also walk through a real question from a customer running THE GIANT and explain how I’d personally evaluate ...

“How do you train nowadays Geoff”?

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Most men over 40 don’t need MORE random workouts. They need a system. That’s why when people ask how I train nowadays, the answer surprises them a little. I don’t train for exhaustion. I don’t chase soreness. And I don’t try to “win” every workout. I train for: • Maximum strength • Power • Conditioning • Restoration In that order. Because if your joints feel terrible, your hips are locked up, your shoulders ache, and your lower back is barking at you… None of the rest matters. That’s why restoration work always stays running in the background for me. It’s the foundation everything else is built on. From there? I focus heavily on: ✔ Double Kettlebell Clean + Presses ✔ Snatches for power ✔ Ring Dips ✔ Chin Ups / Pull Ups ✔ Lunges ✔ Core work And I train just hard enough to keep progressing without beating myself into the ground. That’s the part many guys miss. After 40, training smarter almost always beats training harder. You need enough intensity to drive adaptation… But enough control...

Kettlebells are only good for ______.(REALLY??)

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Swings.  https://salutis.kartra.com/page/SWING-HARD-2 Snatches.  https://cart.chasingstrength.com/ksk2 Clean + Jerks (Push Presses). https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-rmf-2022-full-aging/ Most people completely misunderstand kettlebells. They think they’re only good for: • Cardio • Conditioning • “Functional fitness” • MetCons • Corrective exercise Or they think serious strength training ONLY comes from barbells. But here’s the truth: A kettlebell is just a tool. And when it’s programmed properly, it can help you build: ✔ Strength ✔ Muscle ✔ Explosive power ✔ Conditioning ✔ Power-endurance ✔ Athleticism ✔ Better joint-friendly performance after 40 In this video, I break down: • Why kettlebells humble strong barbell lifters • Why kettlebell ballistics are incredible for power training • How to train power WITHOUT destroying your joints • Why men over 40 should prioritize power training • The difference between grinds vs. ballistics • How to improve conditioning and VO2 ...

Sick and tired of starting over from injury? Do this…

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Get rid of your issues with “The Sore Joint Solution” here: https://go.chasingstrength.com/sore-joint-solution-e/ If you’re sick and tired of constantly starting over because of aches, pains, and injuries… This video is for you. Most men over 40 don’t stop training because they lose motivation. They stop because something starts hurting: • Knees • Lower back • Shoulders • Hips • Elbows And eventually they get trapped in the same frustrating cycle: Train hard → get hurt → rest → restart → repeat. I know because I lived it. By 2006, I was in so much pain I had trouble sitting down and standing back up off the toilet because BOTH knees hurt so badly. At various points I had: • Lower back nerve compression • Torn hip labrums • Chronic sciatic pain • SI joint issues • Tight hip flexors and piriformis problems • Arthritis and cartilage damage And over several years, my wife and I spent roughly $25,000 trying to solve those issues. So in this video, I break down the 5 strategies that finally ...

How many sets / reps are “ENOUGH”...?

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https://chasingstrength.com/which-kettlebell-workout-program-is-right-for-me/ If you’re not sure which program works best for your goals, head over here and see which one is the best one for you now. How many sets and reps are actually “enough” to build strength, muscle, or conditioning? 3x10? 5x5? More volume? More intensity? A lot of men over 40 start asking those questions the moment they move away from rigid “cookie cutter” programs and start learning how to autoregulate their training. And honestly? That uncertainty can feel uncomfortable at first. Because suddenly there are no guardrails. In this video, I break down 3 practical ways to figure out how much work is ACTUALLY enough for your goals: • Prilepin’s Table and what Soviet Olympic lifters discovered about optimal reps • The rep ranges I’ve used for the last 20+ years for strength, muscle, and conditioning • Why your training journal may be the most important programming tool you own I also cover: • Why “excellent reps” matt...

BEST Stress-Relieving Kettlebell Workouts… (My favorites)

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For Rookies: 2-Hand Swing, 1-Hand Swing, Hand-2-Hand Swing Here’s a great program if you’re in this category. https://salutis.kartra.com/page/SWING-HARD-2 For Intermediates: Single or Double Clean + Push Press Snatch Here’s a great program if you’re in this category. https://cart.chasingstrength.com/ksk2 For Advanced: Double Clean + Jerk Here’s a great program if you’re in this category. https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-rmf-2022/ Most men over 40 deal with stress the same way. Cold beer. Couch. Something mindless on TV. And look — I get it. But here’s the truth no one wants to admit: That stuff delays stress. It doesn’t kill it. What actually changes your state — chemically, neurologically, hormonally — is explosive training. Especially power-based kettlebell work. In this video, I break down: • Why kettlebell ballistics are some of the best stress-relieving workouts you can do • Why exercises like kettlebell snatches feel almost “therapeutic” • What explosive lifting does to ...

Nagging tightness on one side Here’s why and how to fix it…

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Rebuild your lateral chains and get rid of those lopsided aches here. https://salutis.kartra.com/page/systematic-core-training Nagging tightness on one side that never goes away? It’s probably NOT a mobility problem. Most men over 40 think they need more stretching, more foam rolling, or more “recovery work.” But if that tightness keeps coming back, it’s not the muscle. It’s a deeper issue. In this video, I’ll show you: • Why one-sided tightness keeps coming back • The real reason your lower back, hip, or shoulder feels “off” • How strength and stability imbalances create chronic tightness • Simple tests to identify the problem in your own body • The step-by-step way to fix it (without guessing) Because here’s the truth: If you don’t fix this, it doesn’t just stay annoying. It turns into injury. And for men over 40, that’s where progress stalls, workouts get frustrating, and things start breaking down. The good news? There’s a clear way to fix it. It starts by rebuilding your body the ...

The “AP” Strength Secret for faster workout “GAINZ”...?

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Are you over 40 and struggling to see muscle gains in the gym despite working hard? You're not alone, and the truth might surprise you! In this video, we'll expose a common misconception about building muscle and reveal the real 'secret' to faster, more effective gains. It's not about working harder, but smarter, using principles discovered by unlikely pioneers decades ago. Discover: 0:00 - The “AP” Strength Secret (Most Guys Miss This) 0:43 - The Question Every Lifter Asks 2:00 - The Real Strength Formula (Soviet Discovery) 2:53 - The Real Problem: Inconsistency 3:46 - What Is Autoregulation? (Simple Explanation) 4:25 - High Energy vs Low Energy Days (What to Do) 5:10 - Why This Leads to Faster Results 5:49 - How Do You Create Load Variability? 6:49 - How to Apply This to Your Training If you've been working out for years and feel like you've hit a plateau, this video offers a fresh perspective based on proven methods. Stop wasting your effort and start m...

HARD Workouts…?

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Combine Cuban Programming + Double Kettlebell Complexes For Faster Results Here: https://cart.chasingstrength.com/hard3b Are you a man over 40 looking to maximize your strength and build muscle without injury? Many make a common mistake: training too hard, all the time. But there's a time and a place for intense workouts, and knowing when to push can transform your results. In this video, we reveal the biggest workout mistake men over 40 often make and how to avoid it. We'll also dive into one of the most effective and challenging workouts you can do for strength and hypertrophy: Double Kettlebell Complexes. Learn how to properly execute double kettlebell cleans and presses for maximum benefit and discover why these complexes are a game-changer for older lifters who want to build a resilient, powerful physique. TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 HARD Workouts…? (The Real Problem) 0:24 When HARD Training Actually Makes Sense 0:41 The HARDEST Workouts You Can Do 0:55 Example Complex (Why It’s Bru...

What do you think about adding a Squat to the Clean and Press?

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Use this for “just” Clean + Presses that you can add some Squats on to the end. https://salutis.kartra.com/page/oggiant Use this to train both equally for strength. https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-maximorum-e/ And if you want a conditioning challenge that will also peel off some body fat and add some muscle in the same training cycle? Pick one of these. https://cart.chasingstrength.com/hard3b Whether you're looking to maximize your strength, improve technique, or simply understand the best practices for kettlebell training, this discussion will provide valuable insights. 0:00 Introduction: The Kettlebell Clean & Press Squat Question 0:18 WHY would you even add a squat? 1:17 5 reasons NOT to add a squat 3:00 BUT… what if you want to do it? 3:10 6 smarter ways to program it 6:24 Stop training randomly Don't forget to like this video, subscribe for more kettlebell training tips, and leave your thoughts in the comments below! What's your take on the kettlebell cl...

Soviet Scientists Found the Best Time to Train - But There's a Catch For Guys Over 40

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🔗 https://chasingstrength.com/which-kettlebell-workout-program-is-right-for-me/ Is there actually a best time of day to train if you want better results? Soviet Olympic lifting coaches thought so. They tracked performance, strength output, and recovery—and came to a very clear conclusion about when you should train. But here’s the problem… That “optimal” time doesn’t work for most men over 40. In this video, I break down: What the Soviets discovered about peak strength times What I’ve personally tested over 30+ years of training Why your schedule matters more than “perfect timing” How to structure your training day for consistency (not burnout) Because at this stage of life, the goal isn’t just better workouts… It’s showing up consistently enough to actually see results. ⏱️ WHAT YOU’LL LEARN The two “peak performance” windows identified by Soviet research Why mornings, lunch, and evenings all have different training advantages The biggest mistake guys over 40 make when trying to “opti...

The Most IMPORTANT Free Training Tool for Men over 40…?

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Here’s a challenging training program for setting PRs that uses RPE. 🔗 https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-maximorum-e/ Most men over 40 don’t have a motivation problem. They have a measurement problem. They’re following percentages that don’t match the body they brought into the gym that day. And then they wonder why: Their lifts stall Their joints start barking And their progress disappears Here’s the truth: The program on paper doesn’t know how you slept. It doesn’t know your stress levels. It doesn’t know how beat up you feel. It just says: 80% 85% 90% And after 40… that stops working. Because the gap between a good day and a bad day gets wider. That’s where most guys get stuck. They keep forcing weights that don’t match reality And slowly grind themselves into plateaus or injuries This is why I use RPE. Not because it’s trendy. Because it works. RPE adjusts the load to the lifter Instead of forcing the lifter to match the load So instead of guessing… You train with the righ...

The "Forgotten" Strength Method?

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Kettlebell MAXIMORUM: https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-maximorum-e/ Exercises: Double Clean + Press, Double Front Squat, Single Snatch 4 days a week 20–30 minutes per day 12 weeks long (2x 6-week cycles) ‘THE GIANT X’: https://salutis.kartra.com/page/giant-x Exercises: Double Clean + Press, Double Clean + Push Press, See-Saw Press 3 days a week 20–30 minutes a day 3 programs – 8 weeks each ‘THE GIANT’: https://salutis.kartra.com/page/oWP219 Exercises: Double Clean + Press, Single Clean + Press 3 days a week 20–30 minutes a day 5 programs – 4 weeks each The King-Sized Killer: https://cart.chasingstrength.com/ksk2 Exercises: Single Snatch 3 days a week 20 minutes per day 3 programs – varying durations: 1.0 (9 weeks), 2.0 (9 weeks), 3.0 (4 weeks) If you're over 40 and not getting stronger… this is why. And it’s not your effort. You’re using a method that worked when you were 16… and expecting it to work the same way now. It won’t. Most men are still training like this: 3x...

RULE #5 - The One That Separates The Men Who Keep Training From The Men Who Can't

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🔗 https://salutis.kartra.com/page/strong-ts If you're over 40 and your training keeps breaking down… this is why. And it’s not your motivation. You’re not inconsistent. You’re training on top of broken technique. And you don’t even see it. Because once your body gets efficient… it stops giving you feedback. So you keep pushing: Heavier weight More reps More effort Until something finally breaks. This video shows you: • Why “good form” isn’t enough after 40 • The technique illusion (and why you can’t feel it) • How injuries actually build over time • Why lighter weight + perfect reps = more strength • The rule that determines whether you keep training… or keep restarting Because this isn’t about discipline. It’s about whether your training can survive your life. Stay Strong, Geoff Neupert.

Rule #4 for Men Over 40 You’re Doing This Wrong — and It’s Costing You A Lot of Your ‘GAINZ’

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🔗 https://salutis.kartra.com/page/oWP219 Most guys over 40 blame their training when results stall. It's not your training — it's what happens after.  After just one night of poor sleep, muscle protein synthesis drops 18%. Cortisol spikes 21%. Testosterone tanks 24%. Your workouts aren't the problem. Your overnight recovery is. In this video, I break down Rule #4 for men over 40 — why 7+ hours of sleep isn't a lifestyle tip. It's the mechanism by which training actually works. Here's what's happening when you shortchange your sleep: — The Blueprints Never Get Read. Anabolic resistance kicks in. Your body can't process the signal your training sent — so it doesn't build anything. — The Demolition Crew Shows Up. Sleep deprivation doesn't just stall muscle growth. It accelerates breakdown. You're not just standing still — you're going backwards. — Testosterone Gets Mugged Every Night. After 40, your testosterone is already trending down. Po...

Rule #3 for men over 40 (Stop your set when THIS happens – most guys never do)

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🔗 https://cart.chasingstrength.com/strong4 Most guys over 40 are grinding their reps into the ground — and wondering why they're not getting stronger. Here's Rule #3: Stop your set the moment your rep speed slows down. Not at failure. Not when it "gets hard." The instant the first rep slows — you rack it, park it, and walk away. Sounds soft. It's the opposite. When your rep speed drops, your fast-twitch muscle fibers — the ones responsible for strength, power, and the physique you actually want — have already hit their limit. Every rep after that? You're training your slow-twitch fibers, reinforcing poor movement patterns, and hammering your HPA axis. Over time, you're literally converting your fast-twitch fibers into slow-twitch ones. The science calls it MHC IIX downregulation. I call it getting weaker on purpose. This is what separates training by SIGNAL from training by suffering. If you're a man over 40 who's serious about building real stre...

Rule #2 Stop Training To Failure If You're Over 40 (Here's What The Science Says)

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"No pain, no gain." You've heard it your whole training life. Maybe you believe it. I did too – until the science finally caught up with what my body was already telling me. Four separate meta-analyses. Hundreds of studies. All arriving at the same conclusion: Training to failure produces no additional strength or muscle gains compared to stopping short of failure – as long as total volume is matched. Zero extra gains. But the cost? That's a different story. For men over 40, grinding to failure every set isn't discipline. It's self-sabotage: ❌ Neuromuscular fatigue that bleeds into your next workout ❌ Suppressed testosterone and IGF-1 – spiked cortisol ❌ Excess oxidative stress degrading your mitochondria ❌ Impaired insulin sensitivity (hello, fat storage) ❌ Accelerated path to overtraining syndrome ❌ Technique breakdown and injury risk – the one you can't train around The fix isn't complicated. Leave 1–3 reps in the bank. Stop when your technique star...

Rule #1 for Men Over 40 Who Train with Kettlebells (this one can end your training forever)

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🔗 The Sore Joint Solution:  https://go.chasingstrength.com/sore-joint-solution-e/ No pain, no gain" almost ended my training career. Not because I was weak - because I was ignoring what my body was actually telling me. Here's what nobody talks about: sharp, pinchy, or throbbing joint pain isn't a willpower test. It's your nervous system shutting down the muscles around that joint - a process called Arthrogenic Muscle Inhibition (AMI). You're not getting stronger. You're getting weaker, and you're one bad rep away from a serious injury. Rule #1 is simple: never push through sharp pain, and never force a range of motion your body won't give you freely. In this video I break down: - The difference between good muscular discomfort and dangerous joint pain - What AMI actually does to your strength and why "training through it" backfires - Why forcing range of motion overrides your body's protective mechanisms - How training within your availa...

Why Your Workouts Keep Falling Apart After 40

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👉 https://chasingstrength.com/which-kettlebell-workout-program-is-right-for-me/ Most men over 40 don’t have a discipline problem. They don’t have a motivation problem either. But their workouts still fall apart. Week after week. Start → stop → restart. And eventually, they start blaming themselves. In this video, I’ll show you why that keeps happening… and why it’s almost never your fault. The truth is: Most workout programs are not designed for real life. They’re built for perfect weeks. Perfect schedules. Perfect recovery. But after 40, life doesn’t work like that. Careers. Families. Stress. Inconsistent sleep. And when a program ignores those realities, it eventually breaks down. Not because you failed. But because the program was never built to survive your life in the first place. In this video, you’ll learn: • Why consistency isn’t about willpower • The real reason workouts fall apart after 40 • How most programs quietly set you up to fail • What actually makes a program sustain...

The #1 Kettlebell Exercise For Men Over 40…?

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🔗 “THE GIANT” https://chasingstrength.com/kettlebells/giant/ Why the kettlebell clean and press is the #1 exercise for men over 40 who want to build muscle, burn fat, and feel athletic again - backed by 24 years of kettlebell coaching and the science to prove it. In this video, I break down 10 reasons the kettlebell clean + press beats every other kettlebell exercise for guys our age - including why it's better than the snatch or jerk if you've got desk-damaged shoulders, a stiff t-spine, or a cranky lower back. You'll learn: ✅ Why the clean + press works MORE muscle through a GREATER range of motion than almost any other KB exercise ✅ How it burns fat by creating massive energy demand ✅ Why the rack position alone builds your core better than planks ✅ How it restores shoulder health instead of wrecking it ✅ The hormonal response (testosterone + growth hormone) that drives muscle growth ✅ Why it improves insulin sensitivity and helps your body handle carbs ✅ The kettlebell...

53 Years Old, 30+ Years of Coaching & Training - Here's What Actually Works For Men Over 40

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🔗 “Rebuilt After 40”  https://go.chasingstrength.com/rebuilt-after-40/ I'm 53. No cardio. Resting heart rate in the 40s. Here's why your fitness routine is wrong. Most men over 40 train backwards — slow bodybuilding reps, endless cardio, or no real plan. The research (Mayo Clinic Proceedings, 4,000 adults, 10+ years) shows that POWER — not cardio, not even strength alone — is the #1 predictor of whether you live or die in the next decade. In this video, I break down my RSP Framework (Restoration → Strength → Power), show you exactly what my training week looks like at 53, and explain why simple always beats complex after 40. 0:00 – Proof: 53, no cardio, resting HR in the 40s 0:50 – Why your routine is backwards 3:00 – The RSP Framework explained 5:20 – The Mayo Clinic power study (6x death risk) 6:40 – What my actual training week looks like 8:20 – Why simple beats complex 9:20 – Client proof 10:05 – Your next step Stay strong, Geoff Neupert.

Heavy Kettlebells After 40? I'm 53 and Here's Why I'll Never Stop

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🔗 The Sore Joint Solution: https://go.chasingstrength.com/sore-joint-solution-e/ Heavy kettlebells aren't destroying your joints. How you USE them is. After 30+ years of kettlebell training - including 25 years of knee pain and two torn hip labrums - I learned the hard way that the problem isn't the weight. It's the foundation underneath it. In this video I break down the 3 mistakes that cause joint damage from kettlebells, and the framework to fix them. 0:00 – How I destroyed my own joints 3:00 – Mistake #1: Pushing through joint pain 4:20 – Mistake #2: Lost stability (it's not flexibility) 6:04 – Mistake #3: Technique drift you can't see 7:15 – The "Earn the Right" framework

The #1 Reason Men Over 40 Can't Lose Belly Fat (It's Not Just Diet)

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🔗 “Kettlebell Burn 2.0”: https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-burn-sa4/ The #1 reason men over 40 can't lose belly fat – and it's NOT your diet. After 30+ years of coaching men over 40, I can tell you: Belly fat is a hormonal problem, not a food problem. Your visceral fat is acting like a rogue gland - spiking cortisol, tanking testosterone and growth hormone, and creating a self-feeding fat storage loop that dieting alone can’t fix. In this video, I break down the 3-lever system that actually breaks the cycle - backed by research and proven with real client results. What you'll learn: 0:00 – Why diets don't fix belly fat after 40 0:30 – Belly fat as a "rogue gland" (the science) 2:00 – The cortisol trap: why your workouts make it worse 3:30 – The 3-Lever Fix (heavy lifting, protein, sleep) 5:30 – Client results: 5 real transformations 8:00 – Your action plan starting Monday Stay Strong, Geoff Neupert.

“Incidental Cardio” from Kettlebell Training

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Dr. Raymond’s “Perfect Program” for “Incidental Cardio” https://go.chasingstrength.com/kettlebell-maximorum-e/ I recently flew home from Miami after teaching with my friend Karen Smith,  StrongFirst Certified Master Instructor, at our day-and-a-half “Late For Your Own Funeral Anti-Aging Strength Lab.”  We all had a blast. Attendees came from all over – New York, California, Canada, and places in between. It was so cool to place faces with email addresses.  The only problem was the weather. A massive winter storm blanketed much of the middle and eastern US.  And if you were hit by the snow and ice, you know. My first flight was delayed for 3.5 hours because the plane came from New York, which was hit pretty badly with snow and ice. At one point, I had 10 minutes to make a deadline and get from one point in the airport to another. So, I had to do the UNTHINKABLE. I had to RUN. 😂 For a whole 6 or 7 minutes.  Now, if you’ve read my newsletter or watched these vide...