Nordine Zouareg: Wellness Coach, 2X Mr. Universe Champion, and Author Discusses Success
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Today I am excited to share a Success Story interview with Nordine Zouareg. Nordine is a sought-after wellness coach, a productivity and high-performance expert and a 2X Mr. Universe Champion.
My questions are in bold, Nordine’s follow in plain text
About Nordine Zouareg
Nordine has personally led over 10,000 one-on-one coaching sessions with some of the world’s most accomplished people. He teaches high-performance individuals how to recharge and learn habits that increase productivity while sustaining balance.
He is a 2X Mr. Universe champion (second youngest only to Arnold Schwarzenegger) and an internationally acclaimed wellness coach, and best-selling author of Mind Over Body. Nordine understands the anxiety that comes with the pressure of high-performance, so he is a leading expert for helping people achieve balance with high productivity.
He offers three main programs, all part of his Executive InnerFitness® system, Corporate Wellness Programs, Wellness Retreats at some of the World’s top Resorts Spas, and One on One Online Wellness Coaching Program.
What is one thing you have learned from being successful?
That success is elusive, it is here today and gone tomorrow. True success is having the ability to accept that. Just surrender to the idea and continue striving for new goals. My biggest success has been that I don’t attach myself to the outcome of my goals but remain engaged in their achievement.
That way if I don’t succeed at least I know I’ve done everything I could. Although I am confident about my successes, I keep high expectation at bay to avoid unnecessary disappointment, stress and self-inflicted suffering. I’ve learned that the key is to return to a love state of being when things get tough or don’t go the way we expected. A return to mindfulness if you will. That my friend is not taught at school.
Is there a mistake you have made starting out that you wish you could change?
Yes, I wish I knew early on in my life that making mistakes is natural and very human. I spent way too much time regretting the many I made along the way. Making mistakes is a guarantee and we must expect them. What I’ve learned is that at least I made decisions that shaped my destiny, some were good and some not so.
The key then is not to spend too much time in the past, just learn from your mistake, take the good stuff and move on. If you get shot with an arrow, do you try to find out who shot you or do you try removing the arrow to save your own life?
What advice would you give someone starting out?
A very wise man once told me: “We have a window of 14 years, between the age of 16 and 30 years old. If you are lucky to live to your ninety’s, you’ll have sixty-some years to either rejoice or regret depending on how bad you screw up or how good your decisions were. I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.
My advice is simple, find out what your heart longs to do, and decide to do that, take action. People can give you advice but only you can feel what’s good for you. Your dad may want you to be a doctor and you may feel that you want to be a teacher. Do you see what I mean? Your heart is your compass.
Professionally what are you most proud of?
I am proud of many things, but one thing comes to mind is my winning the Mr. Universe title, imagine that, to go from Rickets baby weighing 2 lbs. at birth to being bullied and beaten most of my childhood life to winning the prestigious title that Arnold Schwarzenegger holds, you kidding me? Just 3 years prior I was a janitor at a gym. The doors opened to me then and in a BIG freaking way!
Is there something you learned from the industry that you found surprising?
The traditional fitness industry is made of a bunch of super obsessed, egotistical and low self-esteem freaks. I was one of them. InnerFitness® is what I teach today, the opposite of Inner Conflict or EgoFitness. One must be mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually fit. Harmony is the key to happiness.
If you could recommend a book to help people be more successful what would it be?
When I started bodybuilding, my biggest source of inspiration was through bodybuilding magazines. I was also inspired by watching American movies; I absolutely loved John Wayne movies. The hero saving the weak, type movies. Then when I moved to America, I needed something to feed my soul and build a solid foundation to sustain my newly adopted “hard-working American way” so my two all-time favorite books are The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle, and The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey.
The books helped me with awareness and mindfulness. I was able to quiet my mind and get into a more creative and loving state. I became less reactive to things and people, which I needed in my profession. Becoming successful is all about creating harmony between work and life so I tend to read books that help me expand my knowledge and understanding of life in general.
Any upcoming projects you are working on?
There are a few projects in the oven, but they’re not cooked yet, lol. What I can tell you, people are going to love them. When the time comes and my agent allows me to start dripping the details, it will go on all social media and of course, you’ll be one of the first to find out.
Also, have two fitness retreats and an online wellness program. I host the InnerFitness® Retreats at Miraval and at the El Conquistador in Tucson. I also have a 30-Day Recharge Online Wellness Program.
Has Social Media Factored into your success?
It’s funny, but up to a year ago, I thought social media was a joke, it isn’t!!!
Everyone who wants to bring awareness about their services, products or themselves need to get engaged on social media. My advice is to use social media to raise consciousness and be at the service of humanity, avoid using it as a source of spreading gossip or inflicting unnecessary pain onto yourself or others.
Remember not to cling to the “likes”, just post, get engaged with your base and have fun. The numbers are out, over 65% of Instagrammers are miserable.
Any mistakes you see people routinely make with social media?
Yes, they post too much or not enough, and they don’t engage. They cling to the numbers instead of the quality of their posts. Get someone to help you if you don’t know how to navigate the various platforms.
Where can people connect with you online?
My new Facebook page: Nordine Zouareg
Instagram: Nordine Zouareg
Twitter: Nordine Zouareg
LinkedIn: Nordine Zouareg
My website: www.NordineZouareg.com
Do have any apps, books or tips that you use to be more productive?
No, I use my own method called The 90/30 Power Focus™; I have been since 1997.
How do you manage time?
I don’t, I manage energy, which is a lot more effective than time. One hour of energy depleted time yields very little productivity and results. One hour of energy filled time produces high performance and productivity. Do you see what I mean?
What is the best advice you have received?
“If you want to know what you’ve been doing in the past, look at your body now. If you want to know what you’ll be doing in the past, look at your mind now.” — His Holiness The Dalai Lama
This quote taught me that if I didn’t feel happy, all I needed to do is to reassess where I was and how I felt based on my current conditioning.
Do you have any advice for people that may feel discouraged about reaching their goals?
Failure is not a curse but a blessing and deciding to try again and again is the only way to succeed. Just have the courage to stop and reassess what you’re doing and what’s not working for you. Whether it’s business or personal, just do it again, and do it better.
KNOW WHAT THE F… YOU WANT AND DO IT!!!!!.
How important is fitness to success?
If it wasn’t for fitness, I would of have never done what I’ve done. Fitness feeds success. The importance of fitness for success is like oxygen is to the brain, it’s that CRUCIAL!
How is fitness related to health and wellness?
You can look fit while being unhealthy and unfit while being healthy. Fitness does not equal health and health does not equal fitness. For example, obsession is a mental health issue, but you see a lot of fit people that are miserable. Likewise, you can see fatter people that are mentally stable happy and healthy. Do you get my drift? A bodybuilder or pro-wrestler is not necessarily perfect candidates for a health and wellness commercial.
You have worked with some of the biggest stars such as Oprah, and even Ruth Bader Ginsburg, what is it like working with such influential people?
It’s freaking AWESOME!!! These guys are the real deal. I learned a lot from them. They are not where they are by accident, they work super hard at being the best.
Any funny stories working with celebrities?
Yes, I once got knocked down by Oprah while butt-dancing on the theme “RESPECT’” by Aretha Franklin during my Total Body Work class at Miraval. We laughed our asses off.
Any advice to help people get motivated to start a fitness or wellness program?
Motivation is an ego trip and is short lasting. I use inspiration as it is long lasting and is love based. I used to love working out more 20 years ago, I think it is because I was more driven to win competitions. Now it’s more of a healthy ritual but I still enjoy it though. Do you know what I enjoy more? The sauna at the end of my workout sessions. I love it!!!
What is the one thing you wish everyone knew?
That you’ve already won the biggest competition in life, you competed against 600.000.000 sperms and you WON the BIG PRICE…LIFE!!! Everything else is a BONUS, whether you want to be an actor or a president, it’s all good. We are ALL EQUAL, ALL WINNERS!!!!
Anything I should ask that I have not?
People ask me why I moved to the US and my answer has always been the same: IT’S A FREAKING AMAZING COUNTRY AND I LOVE BURGERS…..LOL!
Thank You
Thank you, Nordine, for sharing your experience with us.
If you are looking for a wellness coach or fitness retreat check out Nordine’s website for information on his programs and follow him on social media to learn of his upcoming projects.
Originally published at yourmoneygeek.com on February 20, 2019.
