Becoming 'famous'

In light of the fact that all of us who compete are, for want of a better phrase, 'on stage' and thus in the limelight it can come as a shock when many don't wanna become famous.

I've just come off the phone from speaking to a TV company who are looking to contact the winner of last years 'Britain's Strongest Schoolboy' competition, Kye Thomas. Following his win proud relations put his name forward to the local paper and he ended up with a feature and photo. Laurence Shahlaei, like Kye training in our Whey Consortium gym, has had the same. I asked and they agreed that they will pay his expenses if he's able to go and take part in a show.

But I am also aware of many who struggle to be able to afford to compete, be that travelling or literally entry fees. Often the same guys will happily work on the door of a night club until the wee hours or better have a good normal job but turn their noses up at TV and the like. While it's obviously true that not all are suited (ugly SOB's with faces for radio LOL) nor that all will make buckets of cash (face 'doesn't fit' as it were) many could make themselves a few quid on the side line.

I've put an article together in the past which inferred that even just wearing a sponsors t-shirt (if the TV people let it pass) while doing their bit to camera means said sponsorship has been repaid in full. It means that renewals are a formality and so on. Sure some are big shy lumps but it's easy to fake bravado and put on a smile and say 'I am glad to cut this ribbon and open this supermarket' or be seen holding babies at school fetes (free food) and the like.

You add loads of fans, locals love it and occasionally you get paid which is a bonus. Indeed this weekend I'm getting expenses + for doing a 45 minute act at a local charity gig. As I train most days for longer and for sweet FA I'm effectively getting paid to work out but have people cheer me while doing so. Do I love it... mwah?? Of course ha ha but again even the shy have bills to pay, as do I, and it's for doing what you do anyway. Read that last line again. You lift weights and now, for a little while, someone wants to pay you. So smile (fake it if need be), eat all their food and drinks, take the coin and make a name for yourselves. Remember to be nice and you'll get invited to do other stuff. It might be one time, it might be for one summer or it might be a career. Who knows but take a chance and seize the advantage.