If this email was forwarded to you, click the subscribe button for weekly Takeaways to help you become a Better Human.
Episode 109 of the Better Human Project features the inspiring Hunter MacWaters.
A fellow Virginian, Hunter has gone from “not involved” in an industry to working alongside the best in the biz. within a span of under 2 years!
We talk about how he’s made this happen in the full interview. [LINK HERE]
My biggest takeaways from our chat are below.
Make Spiritual Health a Priority
We talk a lot about physical and mental wellbeing in this newsletter, but really don’t delve into the spiritual side of the conversation as much.
Without making this a theological discussion, I’ll say that I view - and value - a spiritual practice just like a movement practice.
Notice I said movement practice, not “exercise” or “lift weights”.
The phrase “movement practice” is a modality-agnostic approach to physical wellbeing.
I don’t care if you mountain bike, road run, lift weights, stand-up paddleboard, or do Pilates.
SIDE NOTE: I consider the TYPES of lifting (Strongman, bodybuilding, powerlifting, CrossFit, etc) to be analogous to the denominations of the Christian church (Catholic, methodist, baptist, etc)
Point is: I just care that you have a regular movement practice that serves you.
I believe the same thing about spiritual wellbeing & spiritual practices.
Jewish, Christian, Buddhist, Taoist, etc, etc…
HOW you do it matters less than the fact THAT you do it.
To each their own.
Like I said, I just care that one HAS a spiritual practice.
Humans are spiritual beings. Get in touch with, and nurture that shit! ;)
Networking & Making Your Dreams A Reality
Back is 2012, a guy named 7-Figure Sam was giving a speech at an event I attended.
What he said made a huge impression on me.
“Relationship capital is our most valuable capital.”
For a guy who could barely afford the cost of the gas and hotel to get to that event, that statement wasn’t was I was expecting.
Especially from a dude who’s claim to fame was making 7-figures a year in the fitness industry.
Maybe that’s why it stood out.
Maybe that’s why I remember it to this day.
Or maybe, it’s because he was right.
Reminds me of a lesson my Dad used to teach me.
It’s not (just) WHAT you know, but WHO you know.
Dad is/was a very good salesman, and he knew the value of relationships.
Networking is a skill - an extremely undervalued skill.
2 years ago, Hunter had never hunted out west and didn’t know anyone in the industry.
Today, he hunts with - and films - some of the industry’s biggest names.
How does a guy like Hunter go from outside the game, to rubbing elbows with future Hall-Of-Famers?
Simple. He knows how to network.
People skills For The Win.
Want to hear more details of how he did it? LISTEN to the full interview ;) (this is just the takeaways!)
—> Want some TIPS to level up your network(ing)?
Master the outreach
“outreach” includes emails, sliding into DMs, etc. Done right, this can lead to all kinds of new relationships. Done wrong, and you’ll be deleted like a spam message. Make it personal, have a purpose/call to action, but keep it short. Limit yourself to no more than 5 sentences.
Use the 3rd party principle: get an intro whenever possible. Even if it means waiting months or years. People are more likely to respond favorably if you’re introduced to them by someone they already know, like, and trust.
The more you network, the easier this becomes. It’s a self-perpetuating thing.
Lead with value.
Everybody wants something from them. Stand out by giving them something, enhancing their life, or making their life better in some way. Solve a problem for them.
Be a friend, not a fan. (The moment you ask for a photo or autograph, you get lumped into the “fan” category.)
The Strong Person Asks For Help
In our conversation, Hunter shared some details of his past substance abuse and addition.
He’s sober now, and he’s committed to being the best father and husband he can be.
But there were times in his past where he wasn’t honest with himself, his wife, or others. Addiction is powerful (it’s not just substances) and it can cause us to make all sorts of choices that are not aligned with our long-term goals and values.
The deeper into this cycle we get, the more we need help.
It’s OK to ask for help.
Admitting that we need help, or asking for help is NOT A SIGN OF WEAKNESS.
It takes a STRONG person to admit that they need help.
It takes a STRONG person to ask for help.
Is a Dream A Lie If It Don’t Come True?
Or is it something worse?
I have to give credit where credit is due. Those two lines are credit to The Boss’s amazing songwriting.
“Is a dream a lie if it don’t come true
Or is it something worse?” - Bruce Springsteen, The River
In our chat, Hunter quoted a Biblical scripture that made me think of those Springsteen lyrics.
For those of you who don’t study The Boss like I do, the Catholic religion is inextricably tethered to his upbringing and his songwriting is heavily influenced by it.
Religion aside, the heart of these ponderings is something that I keep seeing over and over again. (I heard it again this morning as Nine Inch Nails explored it in their song Terrible Lie.)
And I’m sure there are countless other examples, because…
It is a deep, existential, nearly universal, question that humans have undoubtedly been asking since the dawn of our existence: Am I living up to the person I am supposed to be?
Well, are you?
If you feel as though you’re not, I have good news for you.
Awareness creates choice.
What are you going to do with this awareness?
Your move.
TUNE IN for the full episode:
Pursue Progress,
Munsey