The One Step Most People Skip Before the New Year
As we head into the new year, I want to share something that might not be on your radar but has been a cornerstone in my life for over a decade: reflection. And I’m not just talking about an annual ritual. This is something I do daily, and when we’re stepping into a big new season, it becomes even more transformative.
If you don’t slow down to reflect, you’re almost guaranteed to repeat the same year with different goals.
A lot of people jump into resolutions fueled by a burst of motivation, and then it fades because there’s no deeper why anchoring them. Reflection changes that.
Research consistently shows that reflection improves follow-through because it connects your behavior to meaning, not just outcomes. When you take time to process what actually happened, you stop guessing about what you need next.
You start building from clarity.
So before you run into 2026, slow down and do this right.
Below are ten reflection questions to help you turn 2025 into a real roadmap for growth. Don’t rush these. Sit with them. Write honest answers. This is where clarity comes from.
10 Reflection Questions to Close Out 2025
What was one unexpected challenge you faced this year and how did you handle it?
What’s a moment from 2025 you’re especially proud of?
Where did you see the most growth in your life this year, and what contributed to it?
What did you learn about yourself that you didn’t know before?
If you could give your January 2025 self a piece of advice, what would it be?
What’s one habit or practice you want to bring with you into 2026?
What do you want to leave behind as you move into the new year?
How did your values show up in your decisions this year?
Who influenced you the most and how did they shape your journey?
What does a successful 2026 look like for you, now that you’ve reflected on this past year?
If you’re wondering how to reflect, here’s a simple framework I’ve used for years. You can use this daily, weekly, or as a year-end reset. Don’t overthink it. 5-10 minutes is enough.
A Simple Reflection Framework
How are you feeling?
Start with your emotions. Just notice them without fixing anything.
What’s on your mind?
Do a brain dump. Get everything out of your head and onto the page.
Any new insights?
Look back at what you wrote. What did you learn? What’s clearer now?
A question to lift your gaze
End with one question that helps you zoom out and see the bigger picture as you move forward.
This practice may look simple, but it’s powerful. Reflection is how you stop getting trapped in the day-to-day and start thinking in decades.
This is why Growdie exists.
I’ve been diving into the 2025 Growdie data, and it’s incredible to see how clearly people’s growth stories come into focus when reflection is built into the process. Growdie helps you reflect as you grow, not after the year is already gone.
If you want to step into 2026 with clarity, intention, and a real foundation, start here. Slow down. Reflect. And build forward with clarity and intention. 💯
What Courage Looks Like For Me Right Now
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been thinking a lot about courage.
Not because I feel particularly courageous, but because I’m becoming more aware of how much I need it in this season.
The more I think about it, the more I’m reminded of how uncomfortable courage actually feels. I’m working on growing in this area, which means my courageous moments still feel fewer than most. But when they come, they hit hard. Courage has a weight and a tension to it, and it rarely feels clean or confident in the moment.
Courage, I’m learning, isn’t about feeling ready. It’s about welcoming responsibility before you feel prepared.
Lately, I’ve been working through a definition to help anchor me when that discomfort shows up. Something to remind me what I’m choosing when I take the next step.
Here’s what I have so far:
Courage is taking ownership of your growth and inviting others into theirs, even when you’re unsure how it will turn out.
I’m sure it will change over time, but it’s been helpful for me to come back to and look at as I grow in this.
Two Types of Courageous People
As I’ve been thinking about courage, I’ve noticed there are different reasons people take responsibility.
Some people step up because they want to be seen. They take risks, lead from the front, and carry weight, but much of their motivation is tied to recognition. Their courage is real, but it’s often aimed at validation rather than responsibility.
But there’s another kind of courage.
It’s the courage that takes responsibility because something matters. Not because it will be noticed, but because it needs to be carried. It’s rooted in belief, not validation. You step forward because you feel accountable for who you’re becoming and who the people around you could become, even when the cost is real and the outcome is unclear.
Most people don’t avoid courage because they’re afraid of risk, but because they’re unwilling to carry the responsibility that comes after the decision.
My Relationship With Courage
I’ve had moments of courage. I had the courage to leave a ministry job that was no longer healthy for me — staying would have cost me more than leaving did.
Leaving made my future uncertain, risked my reputation, and forced me to start over in ways I didn’t expect.
I also had the courage to go full-time with my business, Grow or Die, stepping away from predictability to pursue something that didn’t exist yet.
That decision threatened my financial stability and removed the support system I had relied on at work. There was no safety net.
Those were real risks.
But lately, I’ve felt the need to step into a deeper version of courage. Not just making hard moves, but leading others into a future that hasn’t been built yet.
That kind of courage puts my business on the line, risks losing people prematurely, and constantly surfaces insecurity around what I’m building and whether it will actually last.
I second-guess myself every day. And at the same time, I’m deeply confident in the direction I’m moving. Doubt and conviction live in the same space as I learn to lead while still becoming.
What I’m Learning About Courage Right Now
Courage starts with ownership.
For me, courage begins internally. It looks like taking responsibility for who I’m becoming instead of waiting for better conditions or more confidence. Most days, courage doesn’t feel bold at all. It feels heavy. It feels like choosing ownership when it would be easier to explain, delay, or stay comfortable. But that weight is honest. And it’s necessary.
Courage invites without forcing.
As I grow into leadership, courage has also meant inviting others into their own growth. Not forcing it. Not convincing anyone. Just setting direction and extending a clear invitation. Some people walk with you. Some don’t. Leading clearly doesn’t mean shrinking the vision to keep everyone comfortable or resenting those who choose not to come. It means staying steady either way.
Courage commits without certainty.
This is the tension I’m living in right now. Courage hasn’t been confidence in the outcome. It’s been commitment to the responsibility. Moving forward even when I don’t have all the answers. Even when I second-guess myself. I keep taking the next step not because everything makes sense, but because staying where I am would cost more over time.
What responsibility are you hesitating to carry because the outcome isn’t clear yet?
Still Growing
I’m still learning what courage looks like in this season.
For me, it’s showing up daily and taking ownership of what’s in front of me, not chasing dramatic moments or trying to prove anything. It’s staying faithful to the responsibility I’ve been given, even when it feels ordinary or heavy
I don’t feel fearless, but I do feel committed to continuing the work, and that feels like enough for now. 💯
Building a Decade of Consistency: Beyond the Year, Into the Legacy
As we step into 2026, there’s that familiar surge of New Year energy. Everyone’s fired up to tackle new goals, and that’s fantastic. But before we get swept into the momentum of January, I want to invite you to think bigger. Not just about this year, but about the decade you’re building.
Staying consistent for an entire decade is absolutely possible, but it requires more than motivation. Motivation will fade. It always does. What keeps you anchored over 10 or 20 years are the values that matter long after the excitement of a new year wears off.
What values do you hold that are strong enough to guide you for the long haul?
When your mindset is focused on this year alone, it’s easy to chase quick wins. There’s nothing wrong with that. Quick wins feel good. They build momentum. They show progress.
But the challenge is real:
Quick wins don’t always last. And they often lead to restarting every January.
A decade mindset looks different.
If you’re building for ten years, you’re embracing the long game. You’re thinking about legacy, about who you’re becoming, about the values that shape you, and the people who will be impacted by your growth. You’re choosing ownership and accountability, not because they’re easy, but because they’re necessary.
Is it challenging? Absolutely.
Thinking in decades requires patience. It requires honesty. It requires holding the long view while still staying present. But the payoff is unmatched.
You’re not just building a quick sprint. You’re building something that shapes who you become over the next decade.
And that kind of growth is worth it.
To close this out, I want to leave you with a few deeper questions. Questions that deserve your time and attention:
What’s one area of your life where you’ve been settling for quick wins, and how might that be holding you back from long-term growth?
When you imagine yourself 10 years from now, what would you regret not starting today?
What kind of legacy do you want to leave, and what uncomfortable changes might you need to make now to get there?
If these questions stir something in you, if they make you think or reconsider or see your life differently, then you’re exactly the kind of person we’d love to grow with inside Growdie. Because all year long, we are doing the reps that build a legacy. And we would be honored to walk that journey with you. 💯
It’s Not About You
One of the biggest reasons people struggle to lead others is simple:
Their life still revolves around themselves.
They make decisions that are convenient to them, that benefit them, that inspire them, that feed their ego.
And when that happens, something dangerous forms:
You’re not leading yourself.
You’re leading your ego.
And the ego is a terrible leader.
I’ve watched leaders with massive potential lose influence because everything pointed back to themselves. And I’ve watched leaders who intentionally invest in themselves and others, leaders who show up, stay consistent, and live with purpose, transform entire teams because their lives are worth following.
Most people want the benefits of leadership without the responsibility.
They want the inspiration without the consistency.
They want the growth without the reps.
But here’s what wise leaders know:
You can’t start modeling late.
Your example is shaping someone right now.
If we don’t take that seriously, we will create leaders who talk the talk but never walk the walk and think that’s good enough.
I’m not okay with that.
We need leaders who live the lives they talk about.
Not perfectly, but consistently.
Not privately, but visibly.
It’s time to move from “trust me, bro” to:
“Watch me… and I’ll show you.”
Why This Is a Big Deal
Because leadership is inherited.
People don’t copy what you say.
They copy what you consistently do.
Leadership studies show that observed behavior has 4 to 10 times more influence than taught principles.
Translation:
You’re building your legacy even on the days you’re not trying to.
And the behavioral data is clear:
70 to 80 percent of people default to ease unless example raises the standard.
Most habits collapse within 7 to 10 days without immediate reward.
Consistency grows inside community far more than isolation.
But this is where Growdie has revealed something fascinating:
The Growdie Pattern: The More a Leader Carries, the More Capacity They Build
Inside Growdie, I’ve noticed something fascinating:
The most consistent leaders are usually the busiest ones.
The ones with the most responsibility.
The ones developing others.
The ones who stay committed even when life gets full.
And yet… they still have capacity for more.
They actually become more consistent.
There’s science behind this.
1. Responsibility Increases Cognitive Efficiency
Studies show that people with defined responsibilities activate stronger executive functioning.
Meaning:
Your brain organizes itself better when what you do matters to someone else.
2. Helping Others Increases Motivation
This is the “helper’s high.”
Supporting others boosts dopamine in a sustainable way, not a quick hit.
It enhances consistency and purpose.
3. Purpose Creates Energy
Purpose is neurological fuel.
When leaders know their actions influence others, their brain increases endurance.
This is why leaders who invest in the growth of others, not just their own tasks, end up with greater clarity, resilience, and consistency. Their capacity isn’t natural; it’s built through responsibility.
And that’s why the busiest leaders often grow the most.
It’s not because they have more time.
It’s because they have more meaning, and meaning expands capacity.
A Personal Story
Six years ago, I made a decision that changed everything.
I said:
“I’m going to read the Bible every year for the rest of my life.”
It wasn’t hype.
It was conviction.
Two thoughts hit me:
If I want to know Jesus, His Word shouldn’t just be something I read, it should shape my life every day.
If I’m discipling people, what kind of example am I setting if I don’t live what I teach?
So I rearranged my entire life around it.
And six years later, I’ve read the Bible cover to cover six years in a row.
That’s 2,100 plus reps, hitting the habit 99 percent of days, missing fewer than 20 total.
I’m excited to hit 10,000 one day.
I don’t plan on stopping.
Because yes, it strengthens me…
but more importantly, it sets a real, tangible, visible example for the people I lead.
Don’t Let Your Ego Win
Ego driven leadership ends in the same place:
You reach the top…
but you build nothing that lasts.
You acquire things…
but leave behind a weak legacy.
If you’re a leader, this message is for you.
Don’t waste years building yourself and forgetting the people who are supposed to follow you.
It’s about who you’re becoming
and who you’re building.
This Is What Grow or Die Is Really About
Grow or Die isn’t hype or motivation.
It’s not content for content’s sake.
We’re building a culture where:
Leaders live what they teach
Consistency is normal
Reps matter
Purpose expands capacity
Legacy starts today
If you want to grow, live it out.
If you want to lead, model it.
If you want to build a legacy, earn it.
Because if no one can follow your life, they will never truly follow your words.
Leadership isn’t about you.
It never was.
It’s about the people who follow after you.
Now go live it. 💯
What Happens When You Practice Gratitude for 300 Days?
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. As we sat around the table reflecting on what we’re grateful for, a thought crossed my mind: what if we didn’t limit this reflection to a single holiday? What if we stretched that practice of gratitude across an entire year?
A couple of years ago, I challenged a small group I was working with to do just that: write down ten things they were grateful for every day for 100 days. If they reached 10,000 gratitude entries as a group, I’d buy them all shirts to commemorate the moment. They were all in, but the real magic wasn’t the number; it was the transformation happening inside them. They started seeing more of the beauty and joy in their lives, and many of them kept the practice going long after the 100 days were up. They didn’t just hit 10,000; they soared past it. The real reward was the shift in perspective: turning ordinary moments into extraordinary blessings.
Gratitude doesn’t just change what you see; it changes how you see. And the science backs it up. Studies show that people who practice daily gratitude can experience up to a 25% increase in happiness and a significant reduction in stress. It’s not just feel-good fluff; it’s a real, measurable shift.
Your Call to Action: Start Your Gratitude Journey with Growdie
So here’s your invitation: start today. Take just one or two minutes each day to write down what you’re grateful for. And why not do it in a community that’s on the same journey? In Growdie, you can track your daily gratitude, hit those 300 days, and have a whole community cheering you on along the way. Imagine looking back a year from now and realizing how far you’ve come. This isn’t just a nice idea; it’s a journey that can truly reshape your life. Let Growdie be your space to build that habit, track your progress, and grow alongside others who are doing the same. Take that step, start noticing the good, and see what happens when you choose gratitude. 💯
How Do You Know Your Axe Is Sharp?
A call to leaders who refuse to drift.
Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about sharpness — about staying ready, focused, and effective.
It’s easy to lose your edge without realizing it. You get busy. Tired. Distracted.
And suddenly you’re swinging an axe that used to cut clean and now barely makes a dent.
This thought stuck with me so much that I ended up texting the Grow or Die Club about it the other day:
“At the Ruck, I was telling Devin how tough it is to stay sharp these days. So many people are dull mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually, professionally, relationally, and the list goes on. I don’t want to be dull. I want to fight to stay sharp. The world needs leaders who will sharpen their axe (grow) every day. Let’s be those leaders.”
Most people don’t realize their edge is dull until something breaks.
It made me step back and ask:
How do you actually know if your axe is sharp?
When Your Axe Is Sharp, the Work Moves With You
A sharp axe doesn’t remove effort. It makes your effort count.
You swing with rhythm, not desperation.
You hit the wood and feel it respond.
You’re not forcing everything. You’re aligned.
In everyday life, that sharpness shows up in simple ways:
You make decisions without being paralyzed
Conversations build trust instead of confusion
Your habits repeat because they fit your identity
Opportunities move toward you because you’re consistent
You feel energized by the day, not drained by it
A sharp axe takes the same amount of effort. It just creates more impact.
Your life always mirrors the sharpness of your habits.
A Dull Axe Works Against You
Any woodsman will tell you: a dull axe is dangerous.
You swing harder.
You grip tighter.
You sweat more.
And you get far less done.
Life works the same way:
You overreact to things that shouldn’t bother you
You procrastinate simple tasks
Everything feels heavier than it should
Your patience gets thin
You lose clarity and drift into survival mode
If everything feels harder than it should, it’s not because life got heavier. It’s because your blade got dull.
The danger of a dull axe isn’t that it slows you down.
It’s that it convinces you to keep swinging even though you’re not cutting anything.
Sharpness Is a Discipline, Not a Feeling
You don’t stay sharp by accident. You stay sharp on purpose.
Why Sharpening Matters and What It Always Requires
Abraham Lincoln said,
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.”
People quote that line all the time, but they forget the principle behind it.
Sharpening has always required the same things:
Attention — noticing when the edge is fading
Intention — slowing down to address it instead of ignoring it
Friction — the pressure that creates improvement
Consistency — steady passes, not rushed effort
Maintenance — protecting what makes you effective
Anything with an edge grows dull without intention, including you.
The methods may look different today, but the principle behind sharpening has stayed the same.
You don’t wait until the moment you need strength to prepare for it.
You sharpen before you swing.
Dullness Shows Up Before You Notice It
You don’t go dull in a moment.
You go dull in a drift.
Here’s how it shows up:
You’re busy but not productive
You can’t name your top priorities
Emotions get loud, clarity gets quiet
You choose ease over growth
You avoid conversations you need to have
You lose passion for things that used to matter
Dullness always whispers before it shouts.
A Simple Rhythm That Keeps Your Edge
There are countless ways to sharpen your life: habits, workouts, prayer, reading, community, solitude, accountability, reflection.
But here’s a rhythm that sharpens people faster than almost anything else:
End your day with a 5 minute review.
Every night:
Write your top 3 wins from today
Write your top 3 priorities for tomorrow
Identify one adjustment that will make you sharper
Five minutes a day keeps your blade aligned with your mission.
It keeps you intentional instead of reactive.
It turns growth into a lifestyle instead of a moment.
Your Axe Tells the Truth
Most people blame the tree.
Leaders inspect the blade.
Your energy, impact, clarity, and effectiveness all come back to the same question:
Is your axe sharp?
(If you’re unsure, look at your habits. They’re the blade of your leadership. You can’t fake sharpness. Your habits always tell the truth).
Because if it’s not, you’ll always work harder than you need to.
And if it is, even the hard things start to move.
Check your blade today.
Don’t wait until it costs you.
Do one thing today that sharpens your edge.
Stay sharp.
Fight for it daily.
And help others do the same. 💯
The Real Reason Accountability Is Hard: It’s All About Ownership
Why do so many people wrestle with accountability?
We assume it’s a motivation issue or a discipline issue, but most of the time, it’s an ownership issue. We naturally want to protect ourselves by blaming circumstances, timing, or other people. Behavioral psychology even shows that we’re wired with biases that make it easier to say, “It wasn’t my fault,” than to say, “This is on me.”
Think about everyday situations:
The person who’s always late and blames traffic instead of leaving earlier.
The colleague who misses a deadline and says the team didn’t support them.
The friend who says they can’t get healthy because life is too busy.
It’s easier to point outward than to look inward. But ownership is the turning point.
I had this moment in 2016. I let my health slip, not because life was too busy, but because I kept telling myself I was still in better shape than some people. I wasn’t eating well, I wasn’t consistent at the gym, and I was making excuses. Then it hit me. In ten years, I would either be in the best shape of my life or the worst, and the choice was completely mine. That moment of ownership changed everything.
It’s actually what inspired me to build Growdie. I realized many people struggle with owning their growth journey, and I wanted to create something that helps them do that in a real and tangible way. Growdie isn’t about checking boxes. It’s about visibility and accountability. Most people grow in the dark. They don’t know how to talk about their growth, and they can’t point to the reps behind it. Growdie gives you the data and clarity to see your growth, measure it, and understand it.
And let me be clear. Yes, this is hard. It will be one of the hardest things you ever do. Every rep takes time, energy, and intentionality. But this is the kind of leadership the world needs. We don’t need more talented people coasting on skill. We need leaders who show up, do the work, and set the example. Leaders who own their growth instead of waiting for someone to push them.
I’m just going to be bold here. If you want to take ownership of your growth, you need to get on Growdie. For real. I’ve been in this app all year, and my ownership has gone through the roof. My growth has gone through the roof. My intentionality is on a level I have never experienced before. So much of that is because of the reps I am getting every day and the people I’m seeing and interacting with inside the app.
Some of you are missing that. And when you start, you will feel the challenge of stepping into something new. You’ll have every excuse in the book because ownership is uncomfortable. But as someone who has been doing this for years, with almost a decade of logging my reps, let me tell you something clearly:
When you get your first 300 reps, it will change your life forever.
But the choice is yours. I can’t force you to do this. Some of you may not be ready yet. But some of you are ready. You’re just sitting on your hands, hoping growth will happen on its own.
So take the step. Step into ownership. Step into visibility. Step into Growdie with us.
Because I’m telling you…
It can change your life forever. 💯
Stop Managing Time. Start Leading Yourself.
Most people don’t have a time problem. They have a conviction problem.
Every day, you’re faced with choices that either move you forward or keep you busy. Most people confuse urgency with importance. I did too—until the Eisenhower Matrix helped me see the difference.
This tool isn’t just about time management. It’s about conviction. It’s about leading your life with focus and becoming the person you’re meant to be.
1. Urgent and Important: Do It Now
These are the things you have to do right away. The strategy is simple: do it now and clear that space. If there’s a deadline you missed, handle it so you can create space for the work that builds long-term value.
2. Not Urgent but Important: Invest in Growth
This is where your growth lives. Schedule those value-adding activities. For example, if you need to prepare for a big presentation, block out that time because you’re choosing to invest in who you want to be.
Back when I was in a leadership development role at Booster, I realized that if I didn’t intentionally create space for growth, it just wasn’t going to happen. I could talk about it all day, but I had to do something.
So I started this small routine. I’d come into the office early, right after my workout, and carve out fifteen minutes just to read leadership articles. It wasn’t much—just a little pocket of time I dedicated each day. I’d read, reflect, and then share my insights on Instagram. Over time, that space grew. Because I made that intentional effort, it became easier to keep doing it.
That season taught me that conviction has to lead the calendar—not the other way around.
That’s what I want you to feel here. It doesn’t have to be hours of deep work. It can be five minutes here, ten minutes there. When conviction drives you, creating that space stops feeling like discipline and starts feeling like purpose. Little by little, you move away from distractions and toward value-adding opportunities. It takes time, it takes reps, but it’s worth it.
3. Urgent but Not Important: Limit the Noise
These are the distractions—like constant emails or messages. Limit them by setting a single time block to handle them so they don’t pull you away from your priorities.
4. Not Urgent and Not Important: Set Boundaries
These are the time-wasters—like scrolling social media or unnecessary tasks. Choose to limit them not just to be productive, but to align your day with what matters most.
Conviction is what separates busyness from leadership. It’s what helps you trade reaction for direction. The Eisenhower Matrix gives you the structure to live that out.
Clarity and conviction don’t come from managing time. They come from managing yourself.
The Wall You Keep Hitting Is the Way Forward
You ever stand over your bed at 10pm (midnight for some of you), exhausted… and pick up your phone anyway?
You know you need sleep. You know it’s good for you. But somehow, you’re still scrolling.
That’s resistance.
And most of us are at war with it every day.
In Grow or Die, we talk a lot about the journey of growth. And one thing I’ve seen again and again—both in myself and in others—is how naturally we take the path of least resistance. Like water flowing downhill, we reach for whatever feels easiest. But the habit of avoiding resistance quietly holds us back from becoming who we say we want to be.
Growth isn’t about finding more motivation. It’s about building the muscle to keep going without it.
The Cost of Avoiding Resistance
Every time we dodge resistance, we widen the gap between what we say we want and what we actually do.
I’ve seen it too often: people set big goals, start strong, and then quietly slip away the moment it stops being convenient. Not because they’re weak, but because they never built the muscle to push through.
Data backs it up. Studies show that people who avoid small challenges over time feel more stuck, less motivated, and more misaligned with their values.
So let’s just call it:
You will not grow if you avoid resistance.
Resistance isn’t the enemy. It’s an invitation.
And the only way to accept that invitation is to take action.
Starting with the “What,” Even If You’re Not Ready
In Grow or Die, we’re big on reps.
You won’t always have clarity before you take action. And that’s okay. Sometimes the rep comes first. You do what you know is good for you, even if you don’t fully understand it yet. And over time, the meaning starts to take shape.
The “what” is that first rep.
Go to the gym. Turn off your phone. Write one page. Take the step—even if you’re unsure.
That first movement matters more than you think.
Clarity doesn’t always come before action.
But action can spark clarity.
And over time, consistency shapes conviction.
So what happens when that action meets resistance?
That’s where things get real.
Asking “Why” Changes Everything
Eventually, resistance gets louder.
You hit a wall and ask, “Why am I doing this?”
Don’t ignore that moment. Lean into it.
Most people stop there. They hit the discomfort and back off. But real leaders dig. Not just once. Over and over again.
Ask “why” until you find something that actually moves you.
Sometimes that digging reveals a misalignment. You realize you’re chasing something that doesn’t match who you want to be. And that’s okay. Letting go of something that no longer fits is part of growth too.
But other times, we walk away too soon.
Not because it’s wrong, but because our “why” wasn’t anchored deep enough. That’s the danger. If you never push far enough to build conviction, you’ll keep abandoning the things you actually need most.
3 REASONS WE STOP AT THE WALL
We mistake resistance for a sign to quit
We confuse discomfort with misalignment
We never take the time to anchor a real “Why”
When you avoid resistance, you don’t just rob yourself.
You rob the people who needed you to push through it.
Your “why” is what grounds you when everything else gets hard. It turns resistance into a compass, and repetition into transformation.
And no, it doesn’t always show up quickly.
Sometimes it takes months.
Sometimes it takes years.
But if you keep showing up, the “why” will meet you there.
A Quick Story From My Life
For me, this showed up in something as simple as sleep.
I used to stay up late even though I knew I needed rest. I’d wake up tired, foggy, and frustrated. People around me noticed. I noticed. But I kept doing it.
I was showing up tired to meetings, crashing midday, and convincing myself I could lead others while quietly running on fumes.
Eventually, I started asking myself why I kept avoiding rest. And I realized: if I want to be a healthy leader—the kind of person others can count on—I have to take care of the one body I’ve been given.
That was back in August 2023. And I’m still working on it.
Though I’ve made a lot of progress (averaging 7+ hours of sleep most months) I’m not there yet. I’m still anchoring into my “why.” It might take me a couple more years. But I’m okay with that.
Because the “why” I’m building is worth it.
From a Strong “Why” to a Powerful “How”
Once your “why” is strong, your “how” gets clearer.
You stop copying other people’s plans and start building rhythms that fit your life. You enjoy the process more. You stay consistent longer. And you stop needing external motivation because your internal conviction is strong enough to carry you.
This next part—this is what fires me up the most.
Once you’ve walked through resistance, you’re in a position to lead others through it.
That’s what leadership really is.
Not just doing hard things for yourself.
But becoming the kind of person others can follow through their own resistance too.
Face the Resistance You’ve Been Avoiding
Here’s your challenge:
Pick one area where you’ve been avoiding resistance.
Just one.
Then ask why.
Not once. Keep going. Until it hurts. Until it humbles you. Until it moves you.
Then share it—with someone you trust or inside the Growdie community.
Because if you can’t name one area you’re avoiding…
that’s the area.
And if you keep skipping this work,
don’t be surprised when your growth plateaus.
This isn’t about proving something.
It’s about becoming someone.
Don’t wait for clarity to show up.
Show up and let clarity meet you there.
Let’s stop avoiding the hard stuff.
Let’s grow through it.
One rep at a time. 💯
You’ve Already Mastered One Life-Changing Habit (You Just Don’t Think About It)
Every person reading this has already mastered one habit that changed their life. You just don’t think about it anymore.
It’s something you’ve done tens of thousands of times, and you probably did it this morning without thinking.
Let’s talk about brushing your teeth.
It sounds almost too simple, right? But stick with me. There’s a whole world of growth lessons hidden in this everyday habit.
I’ll let you in on a little secret: I actually hated brushing my teeth as a kid. (Yep, my parents can definitely vouch for this!) I’d avoid it whenever I could, and it took a lot of nudging before it finally stuck. But eventually, it did. And I’m so glad they pushed me because now it’s automatic, effortless, and essential.
When a Chore Becomes a Habit
Believe it or not, brushing your teeth wasn’t always a given. There was a time when people didn’t see it as necessary, and the results showed: tooth decay, yellow teeth, bad breath, and even losing teeth early.
Health advocates realized the solution wasn’t more information, it was behavior change. Even when people knew the consequences, they didn’t care enough to act. It just felt like a chore with no immediate reward.
So they added a cue and a payoff — the minty fresh feeling. Suddenly brushing didn’t just clean your mouth, it felt good. That simple reward helped millions of people turn a task into a lifelong habit.
That’s the turning point — when something stops being what you do and starts becoming who you are.
Once adults got hooked, they passed it on to their kids. And sure, kids resisted (I know I did), but after thousands of reminders, something clicked. Over time, brushing became automatic, a habit we rarely think about but always do.
If you started brushing your teeth twice a day around age four or five, first with help, then on your own, by the time you’re thirty, you’ve put in nearly 20,000 reps.
That’s twenty thousand intentional actions you barely even think about anymore.
When Nothing Can Stop You
Here’s what blows my mind about brushing your teeth — it’s failure proof.
We brush when we’re sick, tired, scared, frustrated, or overwhelmed. Whatever emotion or challenge tries to stop you, you still brush your teeth.
If you lose your toothbrush, you buy a new one.
If your toothpaste runs out, you replace it.
Even when you’re sick or exhausted, you still find a way. That’s what a deeply built habit looks like.
It’s so deeply ingrained that nothing can stop it. You don’t debate it. You don’t overthink it. You just do it.
And that’s what’s possible with any growth habit you want to build.
When something becomes part of who you are, you’ll tackle any resistance that tries to get in your way. You’ll push through bad days, bad moods, and even bad experiences because it’s no longer a decision.
It’s a rhythm.
It’s who you’ve become.
Consistency doesn’t need motivation; it needs identity.
The Reps That Build You And The Ones That Break You
Now, let’s flip the script.
Just like you’ve built thousands of reps brushing your teeth, think about the habits that might not be serving you — like picking up your phone.
The average person picks up their phone 80 to 100 times a day.
That doesn’t even count the 2,600 touches we make once it’s in our hands.
Over a decade, that’s hundreds of thousands of mindless actions. Each one gives your brain a small dopamine hit, training it to crave quick relief and constant stimulation.
By your 20s or 30s, that habit is just as automatic as brushing, but instead of health, it builds distraction and restlessness. The reps are there either way.
One habit keeps your mouth healthy. The other chips away at your focus.
The habits that shape your life aren’t the loud ones; they're the quiet ones you build on purpose.
Small Wins That Compound
Take Paul from Growdie. He used to hate flossing — never did it. But on January 19th, 2025, he decided to start. In that first month, he flossed 12 times. By February, 27. And from March through mid-October, he’s been flossing almost every single day — 265 times this year.
His wife even started a group text between the three of us: “Thank you, Growdie, for helping Paul become a daily flosser!” 😂
It’s those small, consistent wins that add up, not just for you, but for the people around you. That’s what real growth looks like: one simple action, repeated enough times to become part of who you are.
Your 300-Rep Challenge
We’ve seen how brushing your teeth became a habit that serves you, and how picking up your phone became one that doesn’t.
So here’s the real question: what habits are you putting reps into every day?
If you want to strengthen your relationship with God, spend time reading Scripture and praying.
If you want to grow in self-awareness, journal daily or take a moment to reflect before bed.
If you want to learn faster, read or listen to something that stretches your thinking.
Every habit compounds. Every rep counts. And over time, those small actions shape who you become.
So here’s my challenge to you:
Pick one habit you can see yourself building 300 reps in. Just 300.
Imagine how different your life could be if you showed up that consistently.
If you can do it for your teeth, you can do it for your growth. You just have to decide it matters that much.
Make your growth as automatic as brushing your teeth.
We’ll be there to cheer you on every rep of the way.