When my oldest son was growing up as a young athlete and later as a world-class professional strongman, one of our mottos was “Bigger, Faster, Stronger.”  It’s not something we said all the time, or put on the walls as a motivational cliche, but it was a core philosophy for my family.  I taught my sons to work hard, to push themselves every day to do their absolute best, to grow personally and professionally, to live out the values of integrity and loyalty, and to leave a legacy that would live on long after they left this world.

I’m proud to see that my three sons have been living their lives with honor and with these values as foundations to all they do.  My oldest son, Jesse Marunde, became a world class Professional Strongman, and came in second in the World’s Strongman Contest in Chengdu, China about 4 years ago.  He became very popular in Europe, and would often sign autographs for one or two hours at events.  I remember so clearly as he and I were working out in the gym I built for him in our garage when he was young:  He said to me, “Dad, I know what I want to be in life.”  I asked him what that was, because we had been talking since the day he was a teenager about what he would do with his life.  He said, “I want to be the strongest man in the world.”  Without a doubt in my own heart, I looked him straight in the eyes and said, “I believe you can do it Jesse.”

Jesse went on to nearly accomplish that goal before he suddenly died of a heart attack while working out in the gym in Sequim.  He lived life “Bigger, Faster, and Stronger” in all he did.  He was passionate and intensely focused.  He also left a legacy.  At Jesse’s funeral an elderly man in his 80’s told me that Jesse saved his grandson’s life.  His grandson had been involved in drugs and was at a very confused place in his life, and Jesse had taken him under his wing and began training him in the gym.  As a strength trainer, Jesse was a dictator, but what came through to his students was a heart that cared.  He challenged this young man to not just get stronger in the gym, but to create a whole new lifestyle of success based on values and hard work.  As the old man shared this with me, it was hard not to be emotional.

My other two sons are living out the same values and integrity in their lives, and I can say I’m a proud father.

Meanwhile I continue to build out my real estate business and the incredible relationships I have with my clients and friends, and my personal motto is “Bigger, Faster, Stronger.”  I apply this to my business, but I also exercise regularly.  As I run down the road jogging and measuring my distance and speed with my GPS enabled cell phone, I often reflect on the good memories I have of my son and how I helped him behind the scenes become a great young man.  I was his “mind” and motivational coach in his early years.  I was the first influence in his life to live out a passion for athletics in my own early workouts where I took him along, even on my jogs pulling his bicycle with a rope so he could keep up.  I helped him negotiate and get his contract with MetRX.  I coached him on how to talk into a microphone at strongman events with short pithy humor.  And I was his marketing guru as he built his reputation and business around the world.  Few people know about any of this, but I thought it might be an interesting diversion for my readers and perhaps a peek into what makes me tick.   I hope you don’t mind me sharing these fond memories of my son.  I’m working hard to leave a legacy in my small world, and I’m working diligently to be “Bigger, Faster, and Stronger.”

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• Legacy or Currency
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In challenging times like these, many are questioning their investments in real estate and in the stock market.   We’re all concerned about our currency, our investments, our retirement funds, and our futures.   These are legitimate concerns, but may I suggest we keep our portfolios in perspective.

What is life?   Is it all about currency or legacy?   When you and I are gone, what will they say?   How will you be remembered?   Will you be remembered for your real estate investments, for your participation in the equities market, or will you leave a more precious and eternal legacy?

My son, Jesse Marunde, was a professional strongman who came in second at the world’s strongman contest in Chengdu, China about four years ago.   Last year he died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 27 in the gym here in Sequim.   Jesse was 6′5″ and 320 pounds of muscle.   I’m only 5′9″, and while I didn’t coach him on how to become the second strongest man in the world, I did get him started in weightlifting and athletics as a youngster.   But my contribution, if I may share, to Jesse’s life was not so much to help him with his extraordinary physical accomplishments that made him famous around the world, especially in Europe.   My focus with Jesse from the early years was helping him learn how to think clearly, how to develop a passion for life with a focus on being successful in ways that were personally fulfilling.   Jesse and I talked about everything, about what makes us tick, what successful people do and don’t do, about emotions, psychology, spiritual issues, and this life and the legacy we will leave when we are gone.   He was once asked by a college professor what made him believe he could be the strongest man in the world, and Jesse’s answer will live in my heart forever.   He replied, “Because my dad always told me I could.”

Jesse left a huge legacy.   Thousands mourned his death and thousands around the world still talk about the impact he had on their lives.   A man in his 80’s told me with tears in his eyes that Jesse saved his grandson’s life.   Jesse took the young man into his gym and began training him, but not just for physcial health.   While they trained on the weights, Jesse told him that working out and becoming strong isn’t going to change anything in his life, won’t get him off drugs, isn’t going to make him happy . . . unless he changes his lifestyle.   Jesse could be so tender and gentle when he wanted, but he also had the ability to flat out hold someone responsible for their conduct and their future in the most direct language.   Having a massive 6′5″ frame of muscle looking down into your eyes while demanding a straight answer can have an affect on a person.

Many stories have been shared about Jesse’s example and how he loved to help people.   He had a gift for breaking through to get people to take action, and many did.   Their lives will never be the same having met and worked with Jesse.   Jesse left a legacy that makes his worldly fame and success as a professional strongman pale in comparison.   Jesse was one of the world’s greatest athletes, but that is not how he will be most fondly rememberd.   That is not his legacy.   That was his currency.   His legacy is much greater and eternal.

As you and I struggle with financial concerns in these challenging times, consider what your legacy will be after you’re gone.   What will they say about you?   Are you focused on legacy or currency?

Possibly Related Posts:

• Bigger, Faster, Stronger is the Motto
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Sequim had a big event this weekend – the Jesse Marunde Memorial Strongman Contest with Strongmen coming from around the world, including:

Karl Gillingham, Magnus Samuelsson (who traveled from Sweden to Sequim), Dave Ostlund, Odd Haugen, Marshall White, Matt Parkes, Phil Pfister (who holds the World’s Strongest Man title), Breck Gault, Grant Higa, and Corey St Clair. This is a list of Who’s Who among the world’s strongest men, and they came to Sequim!

Pictured here is first place winner and local strongman Marshall White with Jesse’s son (and my grandson), Dawson, and Jesse’s wife, Callie Marunde.

It was a great day as friends from all around gathered to remember Jesse and enjoy a good time in an informal strongman contest. Kevin Nee did a great job MC’ing the event with Callie Marunde. It was good for me, too, as Jesse’s father, because I’ve been taking photographs of these guys at contests around the country since Jesse started competing.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Bigger, Faster, Stronger is the Motto
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While I post almost daily on this Blog, I will be taking a break for several days because of the death of my beloved son, Jesse Marunde. He was a great man, father, and son. Jesse was Internationally famous as a Strongman. A short statement has been posted on IronMind.

Possibly Related Posts:

• Bigger, Faster, Stronger is the Motto
• Legacy or Currency
• Jesse Memorial Strongman Contest