Vinny's Values by Vinny Galanti, NPC Competitor When I was first starting out in bodybuilding, the first couple of years many people believed I would just make a fool out of my self and never amount to much. It was hard to get respect, and it was hard to have people take me serious regarding my goals. My motivation to win came from knowing people wanted to see me fall on my face, and when I started to win some local shows and be more accepted among the older guys in the gyms, that's when I started to really focus on bigger goals. I remember saying I wanted to win the New Jersey states, and one guy told me “Good luck, that show is for real bodybuilders, why don't you try winning the suburban championships first? That way you'll get a serious eye opener or you will know you fit in.” I remember being told, if you can't win the Suburban, then don't go to the Jersey States, and if you can't win the Jersey, don't even think of going to the Jr USA. Well, I busted my ass all year long for the 1989 NPC Suburban Championships, and found myself the middleweight and overall Novice winner. Back in the gym on Monday, and all I heard was, “You only won the novice, no big deal. Don't go to the Jersey in 2 weeks, you will just make a fool out of yourself.” Damn, I can't get any respect I thought, and figured I had nothing to lose since these guys in my gym will rag on me for anything I do....if I get killed its kinda expected, so the heck with it, I'm going it. I placed 2nd in the 1989 New Jersey States, and won my class in 1992, and 2 weeks after that I won my class at the Jr USA. Through the years I have won my weight class in 3 national level shows including the USA championships, and top 3 to top 5 in 7 out of 9 NPC Nationals. Because of bodybuilding, I have been literally around the world from South America to Germany to Mexico to Italy. At 40 years of age, I still have the love and drive today, but my motivation comes from someplace else. I think after what I have accomplished and for how long I been with Universal, my track record speaks for itself that bodybuilding was the right path for me, and I didn't make a fool out of myself. Being apart of something as big as The Forvm on Animalpak.com, with my boys the House, Big Ant, Sgt. Rock, Big Al and the rest of the crew, I get my motivation from those who wear their yellow Animal shirts. You are my motivation, your fan mail, your kind words, and even the friends I have made this past year from all the ABC's that I have been to. From G Diesel to Intensity to girlbdybldr. Having them in my corner, and knowing that we are like one big extended family motivates me to kill myself in the gym once again.