Rule # 1 - Don't Count On It

My first piece of advice: Don't count on it. Very, very few are lucky enough to have the genetics to go all the way. Unless you have a natural X-shaped body with wide shoulders and narrow hips, you should definitely keep your day job.

That is not to say you can't make drastic improvements, but if you want to reach a point where you win enough competitions and endorsement contracts to make a living, you need more than a "great" body. You need it to be "Perfect." A good reality check is to stand in front of the mirror and look up a bodybuilding magazine.

Flip to the coverage of an event and take a good look at, say number 7 or 8. Hit the same poses as that guy and compare the picture in the magazine and what you see in the mirror.

Click Image To Enlarge.
Compare Yourself With Pictures
In The Muscle Mags.

The guy in the magazine isn't a top name and probably has to struggle to pay the bills. You have to beat him with good margin to succeed.

It is important that you're realistic about this. Just like it's naïve to pack your bags and head for Hollywood in the hope that some producer will "discover" you when you're walking down the street and make you the next Tom Cruise, it is naïve to bet everything on a pro career.

Even if you have excellent genetics and think that you have an honest chance of breaking into the pro ranks, at least keep educating yourself as you go. Let's say you move to Venice, Calif, get a small apartment close to Gold's Gym and start pounding away, giving it your best shot.

RELATED ARTICLE

Making The Choice To Start Competing! Have you thought about competing? Do you want to spend 12 grueling weeks working your a$$ off while taking in fewer calories than you burn? If you answered yes, this article is for you ... [ Click here to learn more. ]

Rule # 2 - Training & Eating

Chances are you'll have to take a part-time job to pay the bills between the training and the eating, but you should still have plenty of spare time. This is where you have to be smart. Instead of wasting your time hanging out on the beach, enroll in a distance-learning program and boost your credentials.

There are many classes being offered online (I'll be completing my Web Publishing degree by spring next year, without having set foot in a class room!), so there really is no excuse to not get a backup plan for you. Let's face it - a failed bodybuilder without a college degree doesn't have much to fall back on, except a career as a mover or a bouncer.

Rule # 3 - Enter Contests

Another thing you want to consider when making a serious run for the pro ranks is that experience counts. Enroll in small, local contests to get a feel for how the game is played! You will need many competition preparations just to figure out how your body will react to dieting and the stress associated with the competition itself. Posing is another area where experience is priceless.

Click Image To Enlarge.
Enter Some Contests And See
How The Game Is Played.

No matter how many times you rehearse your routine in front of the mirror at home, you'll need to be on stage to truly know how it is. Last but not least, you'll have to learn to master the less glamorous details, such as getting the right posing trunks, shaving your body (!), tanning evenly (white armpits is a classic novice mistake) and oiling yourself up.

RELATED ARTICLE

Posing Guides! Learn about posing the best way possible, watch a video and learn! Mark Tilden is one of the best posers in the state and will help you win your next competition! [ Click here to learn more. ]

Rule # 4 - Evaluate

With a few local competitions under your belt, it's time for you to re-evaluate your goal. Did you win? Did you finish dead last? Did people cheer when you hit a most muscular, or did they laugh and throw things at you? If it's the latter, you should definitely keep your day job and forget the pro ranks.

WHAT'S YOUR GOAL?

Choose Your Goal Below. Choose A Goal Lose Fat Build Muscle Contest Prep Cortisol Blocker Energy Immune System Joint Health Prevent Aging Sexual Health Skin Care Sleep Aides Tanning More Goals... Is Your Goal Not Listed? Click Below To Learn More About Goal Setting. [ Goal Setting ]

And even if you won, you'll have to ask yourself if it's really what you want to do for a living. If you chose to go for it, you'll have to take it all the way with all it entails, so you better be prepared mentally if you are to succeed.

Rule # 5 - Get Noted

Now, if you have the genetics, you have done well in the local competitions, and you are prepared to do all it takes to become a pro, you have another struggle to face: How do you make a name for yourself, so that you get the all-important face time you need to get the callouts in the serious competitions? Connections, connections, connections.

RELATED ARTICLE

Guide To Fame & Fortune! I'm proud to announce I will be writing a monthly column on Bodybuilding.com and will present issues about entering into the fitness and entertainment industry. Learn more here ... [ Click here to learn more. ]

Schmooze. Get noted (in a positive way). But most important of all, you'll have to let your physique speak for itself.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it's hard. Only a small handful of people get a pro card each year, and most of THEM never rise to fame and glory. If you honestly believe you can make it, by all means, give it a shot. But, for your own sake:

Get a solid education to fall back on, no matter how optimistic you are! Do not compromise your health. It's just not worth it!

Thanks,

mattdanielsson@hotmail.com

Visitor Reviews Of This Article!
Read Visitor Reviews - Write Your Own Review

Back To Matt Danielsson's Main Page

Back To The Articles Main Page.

Related Articles
An Interview With Carolina Panthers Center Jeff Mitchell.
An Interview With Alexis Ellis.
An Interview With Track Superstar Ato Boldon.