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.
I’m Too Distracted to Be Present
I can’t remember the last time I forgot about my phone.
Even when I set it down, part of my mind stays tethered to it, waiting for the next vibration, alert, or reminder.
I sat down to read for half an hour — just thirty minutes of focus.
By minute seven, I had checked my phone twice, added a reminder to my calendar, and started thinking about what I’d do once I finished reading.
Nothing urgent happened. My brain just couldn’t stay.
I wish I was exaggerating, but that’s my real scorecard for focus lately.
I knew I wanted to write about presence this week because it’s something I’m working on as a leader, but honestly, I felt underprepared.
So I did some research, and what I found blew me away.
The average person can only focus on one screen for about 47 seconds before switching to something else.
Twenty years ago, it was two and a half minutes.
That’s insane.
We touch our phones over 2,600 times a day.
We’ve trained ourselves to live in constant motion.
Our brains are always on alert, waiting for the next text, the next email, the next notification.
Even when we’re still, our attention isn’t.
Dr. Gloria Mark, who has studied attention for over two decades, says this isn’t just distraction — it’s conditioning.
Every time we switch tasks, we leave behind what she calls attention residue.
Part of our mind stays stuck on what we just left.
So when we move on, we’re actually carrying clutter from everything before.
No wonder it feels hard to focus, pray, read, or even finish a conversation.
Our attention span has been stretched thin, quietly shaping how we grow, lead, and think.
Distraction doesn’t just make us less productive. It makes us less present with the people who matter.
We’ve mistaken motion for progress.
What Distraction Does to the Brain
Here’s what’s wild: every time you switch tasks, it takes your brain about 23 minutes to fully refocus. That’s a real number from researchers at the University of California.
So if you’re interrupted five or six times an hour (which is normal for most people), you’re never fully focused on anything.
Your brain is constantly rebooting.
This is why we feel so tired even when we haven’t done anything physical.
The mind burns energy trying to restart.
And every notification, every glance at the phone, sends a small hit of dopamine that trains your brain to love distraction.
We’ve trained our brains to chase the next thing, and it’s showing up everywhere.
If we can’t focus, we can’t lead.
The leaders who learn to slow down will be the ones who keep growing.
This is why rest doesn’t feel restful.
The mind doesn’t know how to be still anymore.
Presence is what happens when you stop rushing and start paying attention.
Why We Resist Being Present
This month I’ve been doing 30 minutes of focused reading every day. It sounds simple, but I’ll be honest — it’s hard.
By minute seven, I want to check my phone or think about what I need to do next.
It’s not because I don’t want to grow. It’s because stillness feels uncomfortable.
Our brains love easy rewards. Every scroll, every ping, every like gives a little burst of dopamine.
Presence doesn’t work like that. It’s slower. It’s quieter. But it’s deeper.
When I push through the urge to move, something happens.
The noise fades. My thoughts settle.
That’s when I actually learn. That’s when growth happens.
We don’t resist presence because we’re weak. We resist it because it makes us face ourselves.
But if you want to grow, you have to stay long enough to feel uncomfortable.
That’s where transformation begins.
Most people aren’t addicted to their phones. They’re addicted to avoiding themselves.
What Practicing Presence Looks Like for Me
Every morning, I’ve started sitting in silence for five minutes.
It’s one of the simplest things I do in Growdie, but also one of the hardest.
As I’m finishing this blog, I’m at 62 reps of morning silence.
After 62 reps, I should be great at it, right?
Wrong.
Just this morning, I made it 45 seconds before I was ready to quit.
I caught myself thinking about everything but the quiet I was supposed to be sitting in.
When I finally made it through all five minutes, I didn’t feel peaceful. I felt exposed.
I realized how loud my mind had become, how much noise I let in every day.
Most mornings, those five minutes feel like a mirror I don’t want to look into.
But there have also been mornings where five minutes felt like nothing. I actually enjoyed the stillness.
It gives me a glimpse of what’s possible, of what this could become after 300 reps or more.
Regardless of how I feel, I’m staying with it. The reward is presence, and it’s something I’ll continue to fight for.
That’s what this whole process is about.
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about showing up.
I’m not trying to master silence.
I’m trying to rewire my brain, one rep at a time.
And that’s what I want for every leader reading this: not control, not balance, but the ability to stay when your mind wants to run.
You can’t grow what you can’t stay with.
Why the World Needs Present Leaders
This is where leadership comes in.
Presence sits at the center of every leadership skill you have.
A single focused conversation can restore direction faster than a week of scattered meetings.
People don’t quit jobs as often as they quit distracted leaders.
When a leader listens, people open up.
When a leader is distracted, people shut down.
You can’t expect people to give their best attention if you never give them yours.
Gallup found that teams with engaged, attentive leaders are almost 60% more engaged themselves.
But only one in three employees believe their manager actually listens.
That gap is huge. It’s the difference between a team that’s alive and a team that’s just showing up.
Presence rebuilds what distraction breaks down.
It turns communication into connection, and connection into commitment.
A leader who listens builds culture faster than one who just talks.
And organizations that prioritize deep work outperform those addicted to busy work, not because they work harder, but because they think longer.
Presence has always marked great leaders. Now, it’s their competitive edge.
What’s Hurting Our Focus
Our attention is under attack.
Here are the biggest culprits:
Constant social media — your brain learns that scrolling = reward.
Multitasking — every switch burns focus.
Notifications — even when you ignore them, your brain doesn’t.
Short-form content — quick hits train you to crave speed.
Exhaustion — a tired brain can’t focus, no matter how hard you try.
Every one of these trains your brain to expect interruption.
And yes, addiction plays a role.
Every ping becomes a loop: cue → anticipation → response → relief.
But even without addiction, our environment keeps us overstimulated and under-recovered.
The reality is, distraction feels normal now.
But normal isn’t the goal. Growth is.
Distraction doesn’t just steal focus. It steals purpose.
How to Rebuild Your Focus
The good news is, attention is trainable.
Here’s what helps me and the leaders I interact with:
Deep reading — one page at a time, no phone nearby.
Prayer and reflection — stillness strengthens awareness.
Exercise — move your body, clear your mind.
Nature — walk outside, fresh air resets attention.
Focused reps — track your growth in Growdie. Each rep trains your mind to stay.
Rest — sleep is your reset button. Don’t skip it.
Focus doesn’t return overnight. It’s rebuilt through repetition.
Every one of these habits does the same thing — they force you to stay.
Stay with the thought. Stay with the task. Stay with the person in front of you.
Each time you stay, you grow stronger.
Presence isn’t something you achieve. It’s something you practice every day.
Why I Love Growdie
I’ve been using Growdie every single day since the beginning of the year.
And I can honestly say this: I like social growth more than social media.
Growdie is growing slowly — and I’m good with that.
Because the people I get to grow with have changed me this year.
I’ve built habits I used to only talk about.
I’ve broken ones I used to make excuses for.
Not because of willpower, but because I see the reps people are putting in every day.
It’s encouraging.
I love opening Growdie and seeing what others are building.
It’s slowly giving me my attention back — something social media never could.
The more I use it, the more focused I’ve become.
Growdie has made me more effective in my day-to-day life, and I mean that.
I’d rather watch the journey of someone quietly building than another highlight reel.
Show me the boring stuff over the quick hits.
This isn’t a community about looking impressive.
It’s a place for people who are done living distracted, people showing up, putting in the reps, and choosing the long game over the quick fix.
Growdie is for people who are done scrolling and ready to start growing.
That’s what Growdie is about: healthy, sustainable growth that lasts.
Your Challenge
If this hit home, try this:
Take five minutes of silence each morning for the next five days.
No music. No phone. Just you.
Log it in Growdie.
See what happens when you replace distraction with presence, and choose to stay instead of scroll.
Watch what it does to your focus, your mood, and your leadership.
Don’t do it to be productive.
Do it to remember what focus feels like.
You don’t need to master presence.
You just need to practice it.
The Takeaway
Presence isn’t optional anymore.
If you don’t build it, the world will take it from you.
Every scroll steals focus.
Every notification rewires your brain to crave noise.
Every time you avoid silence, you’re choosing comfort over clarity.
Most people will live distracted and call it normal.
Leaders can’t afford to.
You can’t grow what you can’t stay with.
You can’t lead what you can’t focus on.
You can’t build anything that lasts if your attention’s always somewhere else.
That’s why presence matters — because distraction destroys everything faster than failure ever could.
Start small.
Five minutes of silence.
One focused rep.
One decision to stay.
That’s where growth begins — one focused moment at a time.
And the leaders who learn to stay will be the ones who build what lasts. 💯
Your First 300 Reps: What Happens After the Excitement Fades.
Most people stop before 100 reps.
Not because they can’t keep going, but because they don’t understand what’s really happening when growth starts to get hard.
We’ll use working out as the example, but this isn’t about workouts.
It’s about what it feels like to build anything that lasts.
Every habit follows a familiar path: excitement, resistance, rhythm, identity, and overflow. The reps you put in, and the intention behind them, are what shape you.
Let’s walk through what your first 300 reps will feel like.
Phase 1: The Spark (1-10 Reps)
You’re fired up. It’s new. You feel unstoppable.
The first workouts are fun. You leave the gym sweaty, proud, and sore — a good kind of sore that convinces you change is already taking shape.
Insight: This isn’t transformation yet. It’s adrenaline. You’re in love with the idea of growth.
Tip: Start small. Build consistency before intensity.
Phase 2: The Dip (11-30 Reps)
The soreness lingers. You miss a day. You start to wonder if it’s even working.
You compare yourself to others or to where you thought you’d be by now.
Insight: You’re building roots, not rewards. Most people quit here because they don’t feel results yet.
Tip: Lower the bar. A short, imperfect workout beats none at all. Showing up matters more than showing off.
Phase 3: The Disruption (31-60 Reps)
Life gets messy. Work piles up. You get sick. You miss a few days and start hearing that voice again. “Maybe I’ll restart next week.”
Insight: This is the real test. Life is testing whether your commitment is optional or essential.
Tip: Don’t start over. Start again. The power is in how fast you return.
Phase 4: The Shift (61-100 Reps)
Something clicks. You start to feel off when you skip.
The gym becomes your reset button, not your obligation.
Insight: You’re crossing from emotion to identity. You still resist it some days, but now you expect that feeling and move through it anyway.
Tip: Reflect daily/weekly. Notice what’s changing in your energy, focus, and confidence.
Phase 5: The Integration (101-200 Reps)
Your workouts start fitting naturally into your day.
You plan around them instead of trying to squeeze them in.
Insight: You’ve built a rhythm that survives real life. It’s not fragile anymore.
Tip: Be flexible, not rigid. Swap time or location if you have to. Just keep the reps alive.
Phase 6: The Identity (201-300 Reps)
You rearrange your day to protect your workouts.
You don’t need motivation anymore. It’s just part of who you are.
Insight: This is what integrity looks like — doing what you said you would do, long after the feeling fades.
Tip: Help someone else start. Bringing others in strengthens your own consistency.
Phase 7: The Overflow (300+ Reps)
This is where it truly changes you.
You can be sick, tired, busy, or traveling, and you’ll still find a way to move.
You invite others into what you’re doing because it’s easy to share.
You adjust your schedule without stress.
Missing once is fine. Missing twice feels off. Not from guilt, but because you know how much better you are when you show up.
It’s not about the workout anymore.
It’s about how it shapes the way you live, lead, and serve others.
Imagine 1,000 Reps…
At 1,000 reps, you’re not forcing it. It flows.
You don’t lose your rhythm when life gets chaotic.
You bring people into your routines naturally.
You’re grounded, steady, and peaceful.
It’s not about personal progress anymore.
It’s about who you’ve become for the people around you.
The People You Don’t Want to Become (When It Comes to Growth)
When you start stacking real reps, you’ll notice something. Not everyone who looks disciplined is still growing.
Some people are experienced, but they’ve stopped evolving. Others look consistent, but they’ve stopped paying attention.
These aren’t bad people. They’re just stuck in old versions of themselves.
Here’s what it looks like when maturity turns into maintenance.
1. The “Used To” Person
They’ve done the work before. They built habits, achieved goals, and have stories to prove it. But a lot of their stories start with the same line.
What they say: “I used to…”
They talk about the season they used to be hungry, focused, or intentional, but not the one they’re living in now.
What’s missing: Hunger. They stopped pushing to become better.
2. The Talker
They know the language of growth. They can tell you exactly what to do and how to do it, but they aren’t doing it themselves.
What they say: “I’ve done it before. I know what works for me.”
They sound confident, but that confidence has turned into complacency.
What’s missing: Follow through. Their understanding outgrew their discipline.
3. The Specialist
They’ve built real skill in one lane — maybe fitness, business, or a specific area of life. But they’ve stopped expanding beyond it, repeating what works instead of growing into who they could become.
What they say: “I’ve been doing this the same way for years. It works.”
They mistake stability for progress, staying where they’re comfortable instead of reaching for more.
What’s missing: Adaptation. They’ve stayed loyal to what’s familiar instead of faithful to who they're becoming.
4. The Shortcut Seeker
They’re always looking for the easier route. A faster hack, a better tool, a new system.
What they say: “There’s a quicker way to do that.”
They want the results without the resistance.
What’s missing: Depth. They avoid the struggle that builds staying power.
5. The Maintainer
They still do the habit, but they’re just going through the motions.
What they say: “I still do it every day. It’s just part of my routine now.”
They sound steady, but there’s no stretch behind it.
What’s missing: Purpose. They’re consistent, but not connected to who they’re becoming through it.
The Person You Want to Become: The Builder
The Builder isn’t perfect. They’re just present.
They keep showing up, keep learning, and keep refining. They’re humble enough to grow again and honest enough to know they still need to.
What they say: “I’m still learning.”
What makes them different:
They don’t just do reps. They do them with awareness.
They evolve across every area of life, not just one.
They stay teachable, even when they’re strong.
The Builder keeps becoming.
And that’s who you want to model your growth after.
Keep Building
Reps build rhythm. Intention turns rhythm into growth.
You can log hundreds of reps and still stay the same, or you can bring full attention to every one and never be the same again.
Don’t rush it. Every rep is building something deeper than progress. It’s shaping the foundation you’ll stand on later.
Keep going until it feels strange not to.
That’s where real growth starts to overflow. 💯
What Are You Really Doing With Your Time?
Our lives look a lot more alike than we think. It might seem like some people are living these wildly exciting lives, but when you look at the numbers, our routines look strikingly similar.
The American Time Use Survey (ATUS), run by the U.S. Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics, tracks how people in America actually spend their hours each day—on work, household tasks, leisure, and more.
Here’s what the data shows:
In every age group—20s, 30s, 40s, 50s—there are blocks of time dedicated to work (or school), household responsibilities, and personal care.
But one category stands out for how consistent it is: leisure and sports. Across almost every age bracket, people average 4 to 5+ hours a day on leisure activities.
Work hours may rise and fall, family needs may shift, and even health demands change, but that block of unstructured free time shows up in every stage of life.
So yes, the details shift. But the overlap is undeniable: we all have leisure time. And that’s where the opportunity lies.
If we all have 4–5 hours of leisure every day, what are you really doing with yours?
What 14 Minutes Can Do
Now imagine if you took just 1% of that leisure time and made it intentional. One percent of your day is 14.4 minutes. Even that tiny slice could help you grow.
And before you roll your eyes at the whole “1% better” talk, let’s put it in perspective. The top leisure activity in America? *Drum roll.*
Watching TV and video—2.6 hours a day on average.
If we can give more than two hours a day to screens, we can give 14 minutes to growth.
Let’s break it down:
If you spent 14 minutes reading every day and hit it 80% of the time, you’d finish 10–12 books in a year.
If you used that time to encourage someone every day, that’s over 200 encouragements in a year.
If you used it to reflect, journal, or practice a new skill, you’d build a consistent habit that reshapes your life.
Over a year, 14 minutes a day adds up to nearly 90 hours. That’s the equivalent of a college course or training for and running multiple marathons. What could you do with 90 hours?
It’s not about massive overhauls. It’s about small, mindful shifts that compound. Over time, that 1% becomes a steady force that changes your relationships, your mindset, and your actions.
Fifteen Minutes That Changed Everything
A habit that has completely changed my life is stretching for 10–15 minutes a day. For years, I made excuses. I knew I needed to stretch, but I never stuck with it. Then in 2019, I read Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins. One of his running stories freaked me out enough to finally take stretching seriously.
I made myself a deal: I wouldn’t work out until I stretched. That one boundary shifted everything. I found a solid stretching routine and I’ve been consistent ever since. For over six years now, those 10-15 minutes a day have improved my workouts, increased my mobility, and saved me from injuries.
That’s what 15 minutes has done for me. Now imagine what 15 minutes could do for you.
And stretching is just one habit. Over time, small 15-minute choices like this have stacked into a morning routine that now fuels my entire day. It didn’t happen overnight. It started with 1%.
That’s the compounding power of time invested well.
The Choice Is Yours
Here’s what I know: growth doesn’t just happen. You have to own the process. You have to make the intentional choice every single day.
So what’s holding you back from giving 1%? We know the time is there. Now it’s up to you to be intentional with it.
Don’t waste the time you already have. 💯