While finishing up my training the other day, a young boy approached me and said, “Strong! You’re strong! I want to be strong like you!”
This left me absolutely speechless. This little boy couldn’t have been more than six or seven years old. I had no idea what to say. I stammered out a thank you and slurred, “You can be strong, too.” He smiled and gave me a fist bump before walking into my gym’s kid area for his youth MMA class.
This might seem completely unremarkable to some people. I don’t know. I will readily admit that I’m young—only 23—and I don’t have any children of my own. Hearing that little boy tell me that I was strong left me dumbstruck, and it triggered a rush of memories and self-analysis that left me in a daze for a few minutes.
You never know who is watching you while you train. You never know who you’re impressing, who you’re inspiring, or who you’re instilling with a desire to be stronger. You might have your training partners in the gym, but what about the people in the audience at your last powerlifting meet? What about the teenager in line behind you at the gas station who wishes he was as big as you? What about the family members who wish they had your drive and passion for training but would never share that with you? What about the young man who reads your website and wants to be big and strong? You never truly know the number of people you’re reaching and affecting.
You never know at any given time when there is someone, somewhere who considers you a role model. You never know when someone is admiring your efforts and dedication.
I remember being that little boy once. I remember being at the gym daycare while my mother was working out. I remember seeing men, men who looked big and strong, and wanting to be like them some day. I remember being both frightened and enthralled with the weights they were lifting, and how strong they seemed to be.
I remember when I was fifteen years old and a girl teased me for being skinny. I remember being intimidated by the bigger lifters in the gym who could put up so much more weight than me. I remember racking up injuries and walking with a cane and feeling so damn weak.
I remember getting under the bar for the first time and how my legs ached for days afterward. I remember psyching myself up for a deadlift with three plates on each side for the first time. I remember the first time a girl told me that I was a “big guy” after two years of lifting, and how it had all been worth it. I remember the first time I worked out with one of my younger cousins in the gym and how thankful he was that I was willing to help him.
After that little boy’s comment, I remembered all the times that I had felt weak. I remembered all the times that I had wished I was stronger. All the training, all the plates, all the effort— it will never be enough. I will never ever feel strong enough. I will spend my entire life needing to be strong(er).
But for that one little boy, I was strong. And I think for the first time ever in my life, even if only for a moment, I believed it, too.
PDF 
Alexander Cortes is a personal trainer who started heavy lifting four years ago to rebuild his body after severely injuring his back and tearing a hamstring during ballet training (yes, you read that right). After using a cane for a year, he decided to make a change and become strong(er). His passion lies in heavy, old school training that builds muscle and power, and his background in dance gives him a unique perspective on how and why we train. He can be contacted at 
Awesome article man. Great perspective. I’d love to read more of your stuff on your blog but … it seems that the address in your bio leads to a host monster site.
Keep up the great work dude!
That’s what it’s all about !!!
Wow…one of the best things I’ve ever read on this site. Really puts things into perspective.
You’re right. You never know who you’ll touch or how you may impact their life. I had a similar moment a couple of years ago. I used to coach youth hockey and really enjoyed working with the kids (notsomuch the parents!). I had one kid in particular that I coached for a couple of years. He wasn’t very good. He was a true handful, especially when off his ADHD meds. He could be fairly disruptive and violent on those days. I had to have a special plan to deal with him in a positive fashion. He really tried my patience on most days, but he was a pretty good kid at heart, so I kept after him. I knew he didn’t have the best home life, but really didn’t know the details until just a couple of years ago.
I was at a restaurant having lunch and heard “HEY COACH!”. I hadn’t coached in years, so I didn’t realize the young man, now in his early 20′s, was talking to me. He ran up to me and said “Hey Coach, it’s “Johnny”. He was with a pretty girl about his age and said “Hey ‘Jane’, this is the coach I told you about”. He went on to say that he really wanted to thank me for being “such a good coach”. They joined me and he more or less explained how horrible his childhood was. His parents were divorcing and kept kidnapping him from each other with numerous police interventions and some violence and a few charges levied against each. Both had alcohol and drug issues (THAT I already knew). He said he had thought of killing himself. But he didn’t because he loved coming to hockey so much and how I treated him like all the other kids. He was in now college, doing well, seemed to have a decent head on his shoulders and a plan for life. Thinking that I may have helped him reach that point from such a dark place still chokes me up. I never knew.
It may not have anything to do with being strong(er). But we are role models, whether we realize it or not. And we all have a chance to positively impact the lives of those around us, even if we don’t realize it at the time!
Great article man! You just never know who you can influence from day to day and even if it seems you are just training alone or with a partner, there’s always that chance you are inspiring someone to push harder, and drive further.
That was written to perfection. Being a role model is a great responsibility, as a parent, I make sure I provide good examples for my daughter, not only in nutrition and exercise but in core values as well.
^ That is good sh*t.
Very good read!
I am 23 years old myself and undoubtedly a so-called skinny basterd. I consider myself to be fairly weak and I am striving to get strong(er). But every now and then one should look back at all he has achieved so far and give himself some credit. I applaud all people getting strong(er) all over the world.
Just like Scott, one of the best articles I’ve ever read on this site. That’s the meat of it. Being an example. I have twin boys and they just want to be like their Dad. Keep paying attention. Thanks for the article.
By the way. You just influenced all of us.
+1 to Jethro’s comment.
Great article Alexander! loved it!
By far this is the most inspirational and overall one of the best articles that I have read on EliteFTS for awhile. Great story that most can relate to in at least one way. Awesome job sir, thank you.
Fellow “weak” guy here. One day when I am “strong enough” I will strive to be strong(er). The cycle will never end. In my mind one can never be “strong enough”. I don’t think anyone on this site has ever or will ever mutter the words ” yeah, I think I’m strong enough”. A young(er) guy in my gym today said he wanted to be as strong as me one day and I was caught off guard and i replied I’m weak. Great read!!!!
I tried to look up his website and the address was dead. I loved the article and I would love to see what he has to say about how dance affected his lifting. I really think that would be interesting.
Awesome article
Awesome man. Weird to think we are for some the role models we used to have
Thank you so much guys, knowing you can relate to the experience is amazing to me
Im currently reworking my website, and I apologize for it being down right now
man this was a huge inspiration to me because I have had a very same experience as you. I remember being called skiny then being the smallest guy in the gym, then getting pumped about pulling 315, then finally getting called big. This artcle gave me hope about what will happen after even more hard work in the gym. Thank you.
Its true. By no means do I consider myself “strong”, and I am always working towards better goals. However, whenever I hear an compliment or observation from someone about being “big” or find out I impressed another lifter or am being asked for advice on certain lifts, it really takes me by surprise, because to those people, I am already what I want to be.
Great article. Just echoing what everyone else has said, it’s pretty cool to think we may now be the role models that we used to look up to. Even though we will never be “strong enough” and will always strive to be strong(er) I think that makes us even more valuable as role models. I think it’s a valuable lesson to kids that no matter how good, or how strong you may become, you should never become complacent and should always strive to be better. Once you think you’re “strong enough” you stop trying to become strong(er). Whether it’s lifting, sports, academics, etc., don’t just try to be good enough, but always strive for the (er). Smart(er), strong(er), fast(er)…..
wow great article! one of the best I have read on EliteFTS
Love the perspective, its something I can relate to, both in been weak (I DL’ed a whole 30kg in times past! ) and wanting to get stronger. Even the part about been called strong because I just think of myself as weak.
great article
Amen.
I have had a few experiences similar to what some of the others above have had as well as yourself and it inpsires me to know that you have some of the same feelings that I have and I want you to know that you inspired me to try even harder to push myself even harder and even more to watch how I conduct myself period.Thank you very much.