All posts by David

Growing up with a father who was a high school football coach, I was around sports my entire life. Even to this day, at the age of 55, I'm a professional physique competitor. So, as you can read from my blog, I see the world as one big sports arena that teaches us all lessons on life. Enjoy, because today, your life will change.
Inspiration

Don’t quit when the ball rolls between your legs

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, March 8, 2016

Several years ago, my son Dylan and I were watching a Little League Baseball game. His team was to play the winner on the following day.

Well, the game was in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs and the score tied. The batter hit the ball into right field and the outfielder let the ball roll between his legs.

When the outfielder turned to retrieve the ball, he was only half jogging because, in his mind, the game was over because of his mistake.

Dylan and I looked at each other in shock because it was obvious the outfielder should have at least given some effort. He not only gave up on himself but on the team and everyone in the stands.

Now, I know that’s a harsh statement since he’s only a kid, and it happens to every baseball player.

But here’s the lesson in life that I explained to Dylan.

Just like in sports, there will be times in life where you’ll let the ball roll between your legs. You’ll want to give up and walk away because it’s easier than sucking it up and fighting your way back in the game.

The one thing we can all do — is quit. But, what truly separates winners from losers is the will to never give up.

We are not going to win every game. We will have failed relationships, experience the death of a loved one and face unemployment. Believe me, I’ve experienced all three.

Yes, I wanted to curl up, give up and hope everything would just fade away. But, I had many long talks with myself in the mirror challenging my character. I had the responsibility of being a single parent, and there’s more at stake than my selfishness.

There are many of you currently dealing with these challenging life experiences. Look, take a few deep breathes and allow internal wounds to heal.

Take these situations and make it strengthen your life.

So come on, don’t half jog, and start sprinting to the ball because you’re going to make the winning throw in this game of life.

Inspiration

Be the hero in your movie

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, March 1, 2016

So, I’m writing my first screen play based on a true story from my soccer coaching experience. As I’m finishing the story line, it made me realize, as we go through life, we are all writing our own movie.

Now, think about that for a moment. Each one of our lives is a “true story” movie. But the best part is, we get to write our own script.

We all experience conflicts, self-doubt, tragedy and defeats, but we also feel the emotions of rewards, victory, conquering and self-confidence.

As of today, your storyline is based on all those experiences. I hope everyone is living a fairy-tale life, but there is the reality of being human.

You can’t change past decisions — good or bad. You might be out of shape, excessively overweight, made poor income choices, in a bad relationship along with destructive habits.

The good news is your story is still under construction. How do you want your movie to end?

Go through your day like a movie camera is following you around capturing all your kindness, good deeds, hard work and determination.

Think of all your actions, posture, mannerisms and facial expressions projected onto a movie screen. How would this change your daily life? How much more would you accomplish? How many more goals would be achieved? And most importantly, how much better would you treat people?

Right now, you should start hearing the “Rocky” movie theme song playing in your head. You should be feeling the excitement in your body and soul knowing that your life is changing at this moment.

It’s time to take on the enemy and self-demons and be the hero in your movie. The battle has started and you’re fighting to conquer all that crosses your path. Nothing can stop you from accomplishing your goals, your destiny, and the life you’re meant to have.

Today your movie script has taken a new direction in which you’re smashing defeat.

We should all ride into the sunset knowing we’ve done our best, done good will and left this world a much better place.

Fitness

Formula helps coaches reach kids

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, February 23, 2016

We all love to hear compliments from others. It typically inspires and motivates us to elevate ourselves with the tasks at hand.

Recently, a parent friend of mine named Scott volunteered to coach youth sports. Scott was asking my advice for a method to get kids to listen and be encouraged to learn the skills he was teaching.

Each year, there are a lot of new parent volunteer coaches and maybe this article might be of help. Also, parents just know I use this same technique on my own kids to get them to complete chores and other responsibilities.

The formula I’ve put together is as follows: compliment — explain problem or skill needed — solution — encouragement.

Let’s take youth soccer for our example. Little Bobby keeps kicking the ball with the front tip of his cleats, which is very common among beginners. I’ve been trying to teach him, but he’s not correcting the mistake.

I start off telling Bobby how impressed I am with his speed and how he is one of the fastest players on the team. But, if you would start kicking the ball on the proper placement of your cleats, then I could move you into a position to score points.

As long as you keep kicking with the front part of cleats, I’ll have to keep you in a defensive position. Bobby, you’re an amazing player and we are lucky to have you on our team. I know you can do this. Now, give me a high-five and show me what you’ve got.

I guarantee Bobby feels great about himself and starts doing his best to kick properly.

For all you youth soccer coaches, here’s a little trick that helps kids to kick properly.

I would put white medicine tape on the contact areas of cleats, so when they get dirty, the kids know the kicks were correct.

Now, when it comes to disciplining our kids, I’m sure most of us learned old-school methods from our parents, if you know what I mean. But, try my formula. It has worked very well for me to which my kids have learned to stay responsible.

Fitness, Inspiration

Take action and change your life

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Typically we all have areas in our lives that need improving. We can make a choice to take action or no action. Whatever the results become, it’s from your decision.

I often hear from people complaining about being overweight, being in bad relationships and disliking their jobs. My first question is, “what steps have you taken to change it?

Sometimes we have to create a new chapter in our lives. This can be scary because it takes us out of our comfort zone and requires time and perseverance.

A few years back, there was a young man named Clay who had built his body into an impressive specimen. Clay was not happy with his current occupation and wanted to break into the fitness environment to become a personal trainer.

I introduced Clay to a gym owner who gave him an opportunity to chase his dreams. Clay started out very inspiring and was building a strong cliental. But once Clay became comfortable with his new lifestyle and income, he started slacking and taking time off. I even paid him to train my kids, but each week we didn’t know if Clay would show up or not.

Clay came to me depressed because he was losing business, and most of his clients started using other trainers.

I explained to Clay that when you’re chasing dreams, starting a business or improving areas of life, that it requires full focus and dedication. People are investing their hard-earned money and time in you. You have to be accountable at their request, not on your time.

Clay experienced that taking action changed his life, but his non-action led to failure and depression.

So, what area in your life needs improvements? Are you whining and complaining or taking action?

Trust your instincts and gut feelings. Put a plan in place and step out of your comfort zone. Taking the first step builds confidence to take another. Before you know it, you’ll be running to the end zone to score a touchdown on life.

I’m doing it. You can do it. We can all take action and create an amazing journey together.

Inspiration

Encourage kids to dream big

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Remember when we were kids with dreams of becoming movie stars, rock stars and professional athletes? But as we became older, the real world came crumbling down and our dreams faded away.

Why does that have to happen? Why can’t we live out the biggest dreams imaginable? Someone is doing it. Why not us?

When my son Dylan was 10 years old, he played Little League Baseball. After one of his amazing performances, the coach gave him the game ball. My dad, his grandpa, had Dylan autograph the ball and told him to practice signing baseballs because one day he’ll be a famous player.

That moment actually impacted me. I thought it was a great idea because Dylan dreamed of one day becoming a professional athlete. His biggest desire is to play in the NBA, for basketball is his passion.

When Dylan was in seventh grade and a star player for his school’s basketball team, he had a teacher who was the biggest LSU fan. Dylan happened to win an LSU basketball at the amusement park in Kemah. I had him autograph the ball, put the date on it and give to his teacher. I told him that one day you’ll be famous and that ball will be her treasure.

Dylan is now 17 years old and still has dreams of being involved in the NBA. I explained to him to keep those dreams because it will happen if you put in the work.

I let him know, LeBron James is a historian of the game. He knows the history and stats of all past players who paved the way to present day NBA.

Larry Bird was known to be at the basketball arena three hours before each game to practice all his shots.

Erik Spoelstra, the Miami Heat’s head coach, started out as a nobody breaking down the opponent’s film before Pat Riley gave him the break of a lifetime. As we all know, Spoelstra went on to coach in four NBA championships and won two of them.

Now it’s your turn to be a parent, and your children are having those same big dreams. Are you encouraging and supporting them? All kids want to make their parents proud, so embrace these special moments. Even if they don’t become NBA players, they’ll succeed in the game of life.

Our children are the future and a product from our parenting.

Inspiration

Determination can knock down barriers

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, February 2, 2016

In 1995, I was the boys head soccer coach at La Marque High School. At that time, there had never been any girls teams.

Well, there was this one pesky little freshman girl named Mandi Tapia who kept bugging me to be in my boys soccer class. She even refused to go to her assigned P.E. class and argued with the counselors.

Eventually I sat Mandi down and explained that she could be in my class and join in all the training, but she would not be able to play this year. Instead she could be a manager and a ball chaser.

At first I tried to modify the workouts to be easier for a female. Mandi rejected the modifications and worked at the same pace as the boys. To my surprise, she applied more effort and determination with impressive skills than some of the other guys.

The following season, Mandi recruited two other young ladies named Kelly O’Dell and Selene Valdez to join the soccer class.

I was also a football coach during the 1990s state championship run under Alan Weddell. My soccer offseason program mimicked the same intensity we put those football players through.

If these young ladies want to compete against young men, they would need to prove their physical and mental toughness. Yet again, they stood the test with Mandi becoming one of the leaders.

Well, that season all three girls made the boys JV team and were the only females to play boys soccer in the entire district. Sometimes it was quite humorous to see opponents’ boys getting frustrated with girls scoring and slide tackling them.

These ladies taught me and their male counterparts that when you hit the field, there’s no boys and girls, just a bunch of determined athletes.

Because of their efforts and through Mandi’s leadership, these girls and I petitioned the school and added the first-ever La Marque girls soccer team in 1997.

Recently Mandi and I had an opportunity to talk and reflect back on those special years. Mandi told me her experience in my soccer program was influential in her becoming the successful woman she is.

But what I want Mandi Tapia to know is that once pesky little freshman girl influenced the way I’m raising my daughter.

Inspiration

What’s your 10-year plan?

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, January 26, 2016 

We’ve all made the statement, “if I could go back 10 years, I would do things differently.”

Wouldn’t we all exercise more and change diet choices? Stop abusing alcohol or prescription drugs? Get out of a bad relationship earlier? Pursue a different career path? Plus any other bad choices according to current situation.

Well guess what? Another 10 years are going to pass and you’ll be asking the same questions.

Mentally fast-forward your life 10 years. What, where and how do you want to vision your life?

Why not start making those positive and better choices now? Re-evaluate your entire adult life and start mending those bad decisions.

Personally, nothing is more important than your health. If you need professional help, then seek it now. There are countless paths of diet and exercise programs to help start a healthier lifestyle. If you need common sense ideas and inspiration then go to my blog davidtepera.com.

Maybe it’s time to eliminate the negative people in your life. If your friends are making bad choices, then more than likely, so are you.

If you’re unhappy with current occupation then start the planning process to a dream career. Why not? It’s your life and you deserve it.

Listen, nothing is holding you back — but you. We know success doesn’t happen quickly, but even the journey is remarkable.

I want to be a full-time writer and motivational speaker. I’m not there yet, but my journey has started and it’s brought amazing people into my life.

Don’t get down on yourself where you are today. Take a good look in the mirror and stare at that beautiful person looking back. Fall in love with that person because they’ll be with you forever.

Call me a crazy old man, but I actually look in the mirror every morning and give myself a pep talk. I’ve given up worrying about wrinkles and bald spots because it’s time to conquer the day.

Now go kick start your new 10-year plan, so when you reflect back, you can say, “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Fitness, Inspiration

Reach new levels with a good wingman

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Having a strong wingman will help elevate your skill set. In my day, it was Scottie Pippin with Michael Jordan and John Stockton with Karl Malone. One of today’s most known wingmen is Klay Thompson with Stephen Curry.

Arguably these particular wingmen would be superstars on mediocre teams. But without them, how well would their teams had done?

So, who’s your wingman? I’m sure you have one and might not be utilizing them.

Do you have a spouse, business partner, co-workers or a training partner?

There’s truly not a more important wingman than your spouse. You’ve planned to spend the rest of your life together and will need support and strength in every aspect and adventure in life.

How about your business partner? Do you both have a common goal of wealth with integrity? Are you sharing the same investment of capital and work ethic?

I once had a business partner in a medical equipment company that required us to meet at patients’ homes after their surgery to set them up on rehab machines. The timing was critical to ease patients’ pain.

My partner started slacking and would go to the gym or take long dinners before helping. I gave him a fair sum of money and eliminated his name from the business. My reputation was on the line.

Choosing the right training partner is critical in order to obtain fitness goals. It doesn’t matter what challenges you faced during the day, when you step into the gym, it’s game on with exciting encouragement.

A good training partner will not let you fail because each session should make you better, stronger and faster.

If your wingman becomes undependable and gives regular excuses, then it’s adios amigos. Let them hang out with other lazy people while you sculpt a swimsuit body.

So now, what character traits does your wingman have? Don’t forget, you’re someone’s wingman, too. Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate your life and step up your game and those around you.

Let’s make this life journey together and be everyone’s wingman.

Inspiration

Climb your own mountain to reach victory

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, January 12, 2016

We are all placed on this earth with a destiny completely in our own hands.

It doesn’t matter what type of financial environment or neighborhood you grew up in. Your adult status quo is from personal choices, which includes health, employment and relationships.

I’ve had many conversations with people encouraging them to climb their own mountains. You must create the drive and desire to better your life through hard work and determination. Keeping this consistency will build a strong foundation as you climb the mountain of life.

We all know lazy people who make excuses of why they’re out of shape or unemployed. These people would rather hang out at the bottom of other people’s mountains hoping a pebble or boulder of opportunity will fall in their lap.

Climbing your own mountain builds confidence and is most rewarding because of the sweat, tears and hours of hard work. The ultimate triumph is all yours.

Typically, we’re all great at starting a better diet, exercise program, job search or personal goals. But, staying with it is the most difficult.

Inevitably, you’ll encounter a roadblock, get knocked down or tumble backward.

You’ll have to make a decision to either take another path or pad-up, put your helmet on and bust through head first.

Look, we’ve all made bad decisions in life and probably more to follow. I’m not one to cast stones because my mountain has had some mudslides. I’ve learned to use mistakes as part of the learning process and keep pressing forward.

Sometimes other people want to trip you up because your success trumps their excuses. Kick them off your mountain and keep climbing. Each step will bring more successful and wiser people in your life.

As of today, it doesn’t matter your age or current status. It’s time to throw away excuses, make a commitment to yourself, start climbing your own mountain and have a fulfilling, incredible life.

Inspiration

Don’t look defeated, show determination

By DAVID TEPERA | Posted: Tuesday, January 5, 2016

Recently I attended my daughter’s volleyball tournament, and a few of the teams were more highly skilled than others.

During the tournament, Daylyn’s team played one of the higher-skilled teams. And quickly, the other team was dominating on the scoreboard.

Most of the girls, including Daylyn, were hanging their heads and had the look of defeat even though the game was only half way over. And yes, of course, they got slaughtered.

After the game, Daylyn told me she was embarrassed and disappointed with her and the team’s performance.

I told her, you will always face stronger opponents in everything you compete in, but don’t let them see you’re mentally defeated. Instead, show your opponents and teammates the look of determination.

Show everyone that you might be getting beat on the scoreboard, but you’re still going to out-hustle everyone on the court and give your very best.

Now, think about it. We all face challenging situations in our everyday lives. Sometimes, we feel like we’re getting beat up and want to drop our heads and give up. This will only make us feel more disappointed in ourselves.

Don’t let your opponents or situations know they are defeating you. Learn to create a game face with grit, determination and fight your way back into the game of life.

Just know, Daylyn was in that game situation again, but she had the look of a warrior and battled to the end.

If a 15-year-old athlete can learn life lessons, so can you.

Now, go look in the mirror, make the scariest game face imaginable, and tell yourself that no one will defeat you again. Take a mental picture and next time you’re feeling defeated, pull out that game face and win the day.

From this day forward, defeated is no longer a part of me. This world will only see determination.