“Satisfaction lies in the effort, not the attainment”…Mohandas Gandhi

An intriguing aphorism to say the least, but no doubt a timely one as well, because the fact of the matter is, today more than ever people are searching for a more satisfying way of life, and yet in their query often the last thing they wanna hear is the “EF” word.

Our mission here at Ingzig® is to shine a refreshing new light on this reliable old standard, to support and celebrate both the benefits of, and the honor in, Everyday Earnest Effort.™ Because the truth of the matter is, little is more satisfying than working diligently at something you’d genuinely like to achieve.

P.S. Rest assured we’re not here to suggest what you should do or how you should do it, but to encourage you to embrace your chosen work, and to dedicate yourself to it.

 

the back story (chapters 1 & 2)

The origin of Ingzig® begins circa ‘04/’05 when Pat and Cathy’s son Tim was about 15 years old. The saga, however, goes back to a family camping trip a dozen or so years prior to that fateful day when Tim, with his Donald Duck fishin pole in hand, hooks a pair of unsuspecting bluegill, and by the telltale grin on his face it appears that he’s hooked as well. Seein the joy this brought his young son Pat’s thinkin it might be a good idea to pursue this fishin thing a bit further. So he borrows some gear and together the two start hittin some local lakes. There, it doesn’t take long for Dad to realize that not only does Tim love to fish, but he’s also a natural at it.

Over the next few years they amass a modest freshwater arsenal, gradually hone their angling skills, and along the way forge a Father/Son relationship that could rival the strongest of maritime knots. One particular Saturday morning Pat decides to drive down to Newport Beach where he and Tim spend the day fishin off the dock at Davey’s Locker, and although the day’s catch proves pretty impressive for a couple of greenhorns, it pales in comparison to those of the sport boats returning from the fertile fishin grounds just outside the harbor. Of course Tim quickly takes note, looks up at his ol’ man and feverishly asks, “Hey Dad…?” So after a few seasons of over-crowded cattle boats, over-priced rental boats, and an ill attempt at converting a 14’ sailboat into a lean mean fishin machine (one the U.S. Coastguard nearly blackballs) Dad finally takes the plunge and buys a 20’ center console. That was December 2000, Tim’s 11 years old.

From here on out in addition to tearin up and down the Southern California coastline in their shiny new skiff, the guys start commuting to San Diego where they embark into Mexican waters aboard some of sport fishing’s elite. These boats are top of the line, the trips are much longer and fish are waaaaay bigger. This is the big time! But it isn’t all smooth sailing. In the beginning the two newbies are often ridiculed by the veteran anglers for their inexperience, and Tim, always the youngest on deck becomes the target of countless smart-aleck murmurs. Yet once the action starts Tim holds his own. Trip after trip, season after season he battles with the best of em, landing lunkers that when measured head to tail are nearly as big as he is. In fact, on numerous occasions he wins the jackpot for biggest fish. He even gets his photo in Western Outdoor News and eventually earns the name “Hotstick.” This all makes Dad extremely proud, not to mention very happy. Not only because Tim’s havin such a great time, but because he’s clearly in his element. The kid’s doin what he loves and he’s damn good at it. And Pat knows, in part anyway, that’s what dreams are made of.

It’s here that Pat gets to thinkin about his own dreams, about the things he enjoyed when he was Tim’s age. Things like playin drums and ridin dirt bikes, and the more he thinks about it the more he ponders why he ever stopped. Pat absolutely cherishes his time on the water with Tim but he knows it won’t last forever. Tim is quickly becoming a young man and soon he’ll be driving, dating, hangin out with friends, and eventually, goin fishin on his own. So in anticipation of what he perceives as nothin short of an enormous void in his life, Pat asks for a set of drums that year for Christmas, and on the morning of December 25th 2002, all is once again right with the world. Unfortunately, in just a few short years things would take a rather dim and undesirable turn.

During his sophomore year Tim’s schoolwork starts suffering and word has it that if he doesn’t pick it up he may not graduate from high school. Now Tim’s never been an “A” student, but everyone knows he can do better. Family and friends encourage Tim to turn it around, privileges are revoked, punishment is dealt out, but all to no avail. Repeatedly it’s suggested to Pat that fishin be taken away, but he’s reluctant to relinquish the one thing his son enjoys the most. Besides, at this point fishin isn’t just some playful pastime. Pat (among a host of others who’ve seen him at his best) feels Tim has a real shot at makin good on this. Still, as time goes by Pat’s increasingly pressured to pull the plug, and still he hangs tough and continues to do everything he can to persuade his son to change his ways. Finally, as friction steadily builds between Mom and Dad, Pat confronts Tim and tells him, “That’s it.” And that hurt, big time! Deep down Pat knows it’s the right thing to do, but he also knows that if fishin comes to a halt the chances of it starting up again are slim to none, and sure enough…

With fishin officially on hold, Pat turns more and more to drummin. In fact, he makes himself a pact to play a little everyday, and for the next several years that’s just what he does. A few minutes one day and a few more the next, rarely does he miss an opportunity. This seemingly small feat is nothin short of a monumental accomplishment for this self-proclaimed dreamer. As a man committed to family, to makin a livin, and of course for the past ten years to his son’s childhood dream of someday becoming “a fishin boat captain,” this was a commitment of a different and unfamiliar sort — this was personal. After a lifetime of dabblin and dawdlin, this was by all accounts Pat’s first-ever earnest attempt at the fine art of follow-through. It’d also soon become the budding inspiration for Ingzig®.

                                                    

                                                                   

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In 2007 Tim graduates, (whew) he’s also driving, dating, hangin out with friends, and although he and Dad still get together to wet a line now and then fishin for the most part has taken a back seat. Pat in the meantime has been drummin steadily for nearly five years now and is beginning to reap the rewards of his effort, and in the process, has become infatuated with, well, the process. Curious, he reads a number of books on personal growth and achievement to see what the experts have to say, and just as expected, each one brings something unique and valuable to the table. However, at the end of the day, no matter how ya slice it, it all pretty much comes down to what Pat’s been doin nearly everyday for the past half decade.

In typical good-hearted fashion Pat starts wonderin if maybe what he’s been applying behind the drum kit can benefit others as well. Of course unlike his literary cohorts Pat’s no expert, so a crackerjack bestseller on how to make your dreams come true is the last thing on his mind. And quite frankly, after feelin first hand the crowning effects of Everyday Earnest Effort™, Pat’s thoroughly convinced that this simple yet powerful process is worthy of much more than mere documentation. This sh** can change lives, and in his book, that’s cause for celebration.

With weekends no longer set aside for coastal endeavors Pat and Cathy venture inland to the California desert in recognition of Cathy’s longtime leisure pursuit — gamblin. And as luck would have it, just like when Tim’s standin ready at the rail, when Mom’s out shaggin a jackpot she too is in her element and doin what she loves, and she too is damn good at it.

En route on Interstate10 Pat can’t help but notice the virtual parade of trucks and trailers loaded with off-road equipment makin the same commute. Come to find out in addition to a number of locally sanctioned areas there’s also a few acres of open ridin just a couple of miles from Cathy’s favorite casino. Inevitably Pat gets the itch, and one day before a scheduled trip back to the badlands, unbeknownst to Cathy, he comes home with a dirt bike in the back of his pick-up.

As mentioned, ridin dirt bikes is somethin Pat’s enjoyed since he was a kid. Many a weekend were spent loadin stripped-down enduros onto rickety ol’ rent-a-trailers anchored to the family sedan (a Volkswagen Super Beetle) and headin out for a day in the dirt at Claude Osteen, Saddleback, and Indian Dunes. Then at sixteen, while workin part time at McDonalds, Pat saves up $950.00 and proudly lays his hard-earned cash down on a brand new YZ125. From there it was off to the races. But as it turns out, his illustrious motocross career would be short-lived.

Desert ridin, however, is somethin new altogether, yet it proves to be the perfect fit for the desert-bound duo. Cathy can now gamble her little heart out without someone breathin down the back of her neck. And Pat, aside from a few aches and pains in his own back, neck, knees, arms and legs, is feelin sixteen all over again. But it’s not until Wayne joins forces that things really shift into high gear. Wayne, a good friend of Pat’s is an ex District 37 competitor who knows the local deserts like the back of his hand. Like Pat, he hasn’t ridden in years, but after an invitation to spend a day out at his old stompin grounds the die-hard desert rat can’t wait to get to Malcolm’s to check out the latest line of Husky’s. Since then, the two have enjoyed ridin together throughout many parts of California, Arizona, and Nevada.

At this point Pat’s havin a blast, still, he quietly yearns for the good ol’ days. So with bike in tow, he temptingly stakes out some of the nearby motocross tracks, and what ensues proves to be both exhilarating, as well as, intimidating. Keep in mind, while Pat may feel sixteen again, the fact is he’s pushin fifty, and needless to say a whooooole lot has changed in the past thirty some years. For one, the riders are f**kin ridiculous! These guys are flyin (both literally and figuratively). Pat’s absolutely blown away (both literally and figuratively). Humbled, yet nonetheless impressed, he decides to check out some regional races to get a better — and yea, much safer — look from the sidelines. Soon after, he attends a string of Supercross, pro motocross, and Worcs events. Next, he orders Speed channel, and then a two-year subscription to Dirt Bike and Motocross Action magazines. After all these years it seems Pat is once again becoming quite the dirt bike junkie. And the more he continues to (re-)embrace his favorite sport of all-time, the more he senses somethin missin. Of all the companies promoting the sport/industry, none he feels justly represent the rider. Not a single commercial, ad, booth, banner or tuff block cover gives a deserving nod to the dedicated efforts of these incredible athletes. Instead, the focus/hype is on the brand of bike they ride, the line of products they use, the type of gear they wear, even on the kind of energy drinks they (allegedly) drink. With all due respect (apart from the energy drink fiasco, then again, in part because of it) Pat sees an injustice, as well as, an opportunity.

Now although Ingzig® and the 3E™ moto (oops, motto) encompass much more than just hole shots and tail whips, Pat’s confident that motocross is the perfect place to help introduce his upstart company. After all, he loves the sport, totally respects and admires the riders, and truth be told, can’t stomach energy drinks.

So…first things first, he christens his YZ450F with a shiny new set of custom printed “3E” number plates. Suh-weet. He then takes his idea to friends and family, talks with dozens of local riders and bleachers of hard-core fans, even the overprotective parents of impressionable lil two-wheel tikes are consulted. And when the verdict is in, all agree that Ingzig® would be a refreshing and welcomed addition to the sport’s current line of sponsors.

Wow! Pat’s stoked. This is precisely the kind of response he was hoping for, and aside from his mild manner and kind disposition (LOL) he can only attribute this rousing reception to the undisputable fact that although we don’t often hear much about what it takes to realistically pursue a worthwhile goal, while we’re constantly bombarded with products and promises that would gladly have us think otherwise, in our heart of hearts we know exactly what it takes.

Earl Nightingale, considered one of the founding Fathers of Personal Development, once said, “Every great accomplishment is the result of a thousand tiny accomplishments that no one ever sees or appreciates.” Ingzig® it appears is a company poised to change all that…both on and off the podium.