When I say “Superman,” I’m not referring to the guy in the red cape.

I’m referring to one of my best friends, Larsan Korvili—who has been, and always will be, my role model. He was like Superman to me, and many others, because he seemed invincible.

Larsan passed away during the summer of 2010. Yet, here I am in 2020, still applying a lesson I learned from him to every workout, obstacle, and hardship life has thrown at me.

I’d like to share this lesson with you.

The first time I worked out with Larsan, I was fourteen years old. Although I’d began working out a few years prior, I was a rookie and hadn’t pushed my limits yet (unbeknownst to me). Meanwhile, Larsan was a monster in the gym. He had strength well beyond his years.

We began with a basic warm-up, then quickly dove into a series of supersets, drop sets, and static holds that would leave the fittest among us questioning their true capabilities. After a burnout that left me struggling to get the bar off my chest, I made the mistake of complaining.

My confidence was shot; I was exhausted, and apparently had enough of what he was putting me through. As I continued to whine and groan, he turned to me and said, “Pain is weakness being released from the body.”

I know what you’re thinking—that cliché is the lesson? But hear me out:

As he explained to me then, we can’t have the narrow mindset that pain is without upside. We must go through a “pain period” to achieve meaningful goals. In that case, the purpose of our pain was getting stronger. Not to mention…

The amount of “pain” you’re willing to go through now has a direct correlation potential “strength” in the future.

What I learned from Larsan, not only that day, but the entire time I was fortunate enough to have him in my life, is that this applies to every hurdle life throws at us.

Your “pain” can be:

• Studying more to get into your dream college
• Doing things that aren’t asked of you at work
• Showing up early, or staying after, practice
• Working overtime to make a few extra bucks
• Dedicating yourself to your life’s passionate

While your “strength” can be:

• Receiving a life-changing acceptance letter
• Getting a well-deserved, huge promotion
• Being named to the starting lineup
• Surprising your kids with a vacation
• Starting a new business or career

Larsan taught me nothing is served to us on a platter, but if we’re willing to bust our asses to get something, nothing is stopping us, besides dedication and the will to succeed.

And I couldn’t be more grateful for that.

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Larsan and I on my first day of high school in 2008

I wrote more about what I learned from Larsan in my short time with him HERE.