Navigating the Messy Middle: Why We Stumble and How to Keep Going
It’s easy to start strong. The launch of a new habit, project, or goal comes with a surge of excitement. But there’s a phase in every journey where that initial spark dims: the messy middle. This is the part where motivation fades, distractions creep in, and the path forward feels less clear.
So why do we stumble here, and what can we do about it? Let’s break down the real challenges of the middle and how to keep your momentum alive.
1. Losing Sight of the ‘Why’
In the beginning, your purpose is front and center. But as you get into the daily flow, that vision can get a bit cloudy. When you forget why you started, the middle feels like a drag. The key is to regularly re-anchor yourself to your deeper reason. Even a quick reflection can pull you back on track.
2. The Dip in Novelty
What started as fresh and exciting eventually becomes routine. The middle is where the novelty wears off, and boredom can creep in. The solution isn’t to chase newness but to find meaning in the routine. This might be where tracking comes in, not as the main focus, but just as a tool to notice small wins and keep yourself engaged.
3. The Long Game vs. Quick Wins
In the messy middle, we often get impatient. We’re not seeing instant results anymore, and it’s tempting to think we’re not making progress. This is where you shift focus to the long game. The middle is where slow, steady progress actually happens, even if it’s not flashy.
4. Building Systems and Finding Support
When motivation dips, that’s your cue to rely on simple systems and community support. This isn’t about making things complicated, it’s about having a routine that keeps you anchored and a few people who can encourage you along the way.
5. Combating Distraction with Intention
Distraction is one of the biggest reasons the middle feels messy. As life gets busy, your goals can easily slip into the background. The antidote is intention—a small daily check-in to remind yourself what you’re working toward. Whether through tracking or a simple moment of reflection, that consistency keeps you aligned.
Embrace the Middle as Part of the Journey
The messy middle is where real growth happens. By understanding why we stumble and using simple tools to stay intentional, you can turn that middle into the place where you build true resilience. 🧱
A Lot Can Change in a Year
When people think about a year, it feels like a long time. But when it comes to growth, most of us waste it. We imagine our circumstances will magically look different in twelve months, and in the process we underestimate how much we could change in that same time.
Too often, we focus on our circumstances changing instead of us changing.
Circumstances changing:
Once I get promoted, I’ll finally feel fulfilled.
If I move to a new city, things will fall into place.
When I find the right relationship, then I’ll be happy.
If the market shifts, my business will take off.
Us changing:
I built daily discipline, so now results come consistently.
I developed resilience—setbacks don’t knock me out like they used to.
I grew in how I lead and listen, and my relationships deepened.
I took ownership of my health, so I actually have the energy for opportunity.
Your circumstances may or may not change in a year, but you can always change. And the change in you is what prepares you to handle success when it comes. Because what’s the point of having all the success in the world if you’re dead on the inside?
The most meaningful changes often get overlooked because they don’t show up on a highlight reel:
Learning to be present with your family.
Building consistency in your habits.
Developing emotional maturity instead of reacting to everything.
Growing your faith and trusting God more than you did last year.
Choosing courage over comfort when no one is watching.
A year can go by in the blink of an eye, or it can be the year that changes everything about you. Don’t just hope your circumstances get better. Decide who you want to become, and grow into it.
A lot can change in a year. And the best thing that can happen is that you don’t stay the same. 💯
You’re Not Behind
It’s easy to look around and think, “I should be further along by now.” We see people younger than us crushing it online, making big money, or hitting milestones we thought we’d have by now. That comparison mindset can steal the joy of our own journey.
For most of us, the pressure shows up in the same places:
Career path
Marriage or relationships
Having kids
Buying a house
Financial stability
Starting a business
Finishing school
Personal growth or fitness
Faith or spiritual maturity
Knowing your life’s purpose
But here’s the truth: life isn’t a race. There’s no universal timeline. Many influential people didn’t hit their stride until much later in life:
Vera Wang — entered fashion design at 40
Ray Kroc — scaled McDonald’s at 52
Julia Child — published her first cookbook at 50
Samuel L. Jackson — had his breakout role at 46
Colonel Harland Sanders — built KFC at 62
Laura Ingalls Wilder — published her first book at 65
Grandma Moses — began painting at 78
Stan Lee — launched Marvel’s rise at 39
Henry Ford — introduced the Model T at 45
Momofuku Ando — invented instant ramen at 48
Morgan Freeman — became widely known at 52
If you’re feeling behind, start by redefining success based on who you want to be, not just what you accomplish.
The best thing you can do to prepare is to grow daily.
🧱 Set priorities and complete them.
🧱 Build healthy habits and sustain them.
🧱 Start challenges and finish them.
🧱 Set goals and see them through to the end.
This is what it looks like to stay ready and enjoy the journey.
So instead of rushing to “catch up,” embrace your own pace. Celebrate the stage you’re in. Because growth is not about beating a timeline, it’s about becoming the kind of person who’s ready when opportunity shows up. 💯
Are You Looking for an Accountability Partner or a Babysitter?
A lot of people ask for accountability but really want a babysitter.
A babysitter watches you, makes sure you do the bare minimum, and keeps you from drifting too far off course. They keep you safe — but they don’t push you forward.
True accountability is different.
It’s you owning the process and inviting someone to walk alongside you. It’s saying, “Here’s the standard I’ve set. Hold me to it.”
Being in the leadership space, I’ve seen this over and over.
Some people grow because they take full ownership. Others stall because they’re still waiting for someone else to drive the process.
A babysitter checks in on you. Real accountability makes you check in on yourself.
Why We Default to a Babysitter
It’s easier.
Building your own structure takes work. It’s simpler to say, “Remind me to do this,” than to create a system where the action is non-negotiable.
But when life gets hard, quick fixes fall apart. If you’ve built your growth on vision, it holds.
Vision Changes Everything
Without vision, accountability burns out fast. Vision gives accountability something to protect. Without it, you’re just chasing short-term wins that fade.
My Sleep Story
In 2016, I lived on four hours of sleep. People told me to rest more, but it never stuck. I’d ask for accountability, but really I just wanted a babysitter to nag me.
By 2023, my thinking changed. One of my core values is to be a healthy and active man for the rest of my life. That shifted my focus to the long term and made me ask, What could stop me from living that way?
Sleep topped the list. Books like Outlive and Why We Sleep showed me how much rest impacts clarity, health, and longevity.
This time, I owned the process: I wanted to average seven hours a night. I told my accountability partner, “I’ll send you my average every day. I don’t need you to chase me, I just need someone to see it.”
Since August 2023, I’ve hit that goal 95% of the time — not because someone babysat me, but because I took ownership.
Why Accountability Works
According to the American Society of Training and Development, you have a 65% chance of completing a goal if you commit to someone — and 95% if you set a specific accountability appointment.
But those numbers only matter if the accountability is built on your vision, not someone else’s checklist.
The Takeaway
Before you ask for accountability, ask yourself — do you want a partner, or a babysitter?
Real accountability starts with you.
Set the vision. Build the structure. Own the process. Invite the right people to keep you on track.
When you combine ownership with vision, you don’t just hit goals — you build a life that can sustain growth for decades. 🧱
The Lone Wolf Trap
I’ve seen it over and over in leadership.
People try to white-knuckle their way to growth. They grind alone, stack goals, push hard… but deep down, they’re stuck.
And I get it. I used to think the same way. I didn’t say it out loud, but I lived like it: head down, hyper-focused, no need for help.
There’s something appealing about that story. You feel strong. Independent. Self-made.
But it’s also lonely. And it’s limiting.
Because without people around you, who’s calling out your blind spots? Who’s holding you accountable when you start to drift? Who’s reminding you there’s more in you than you see?
The lone wolf might survive for a while. But they rarely thrive.
What People Are Really Craving
I’ve had more and more conversations lately with leaders who are realizing they’ve been growing in isolation and it’s not working.
They’re craving more than motivation. They want real connection.
They want a crew they can be honest with, grow alongside, and be challenged by.
This is exactly why I built Grow or Die. The points, the feed, the leaderboards—they’re all tools to push you forward.
But tools alone won’t carry you for a lifetime.
If you want to grow for the rest of your life, you can’t do it alone. You need people alongside you who will challenge you, hold you accountable, and push you past the limits you’d settle for on your own.
Because leaders who try to grow in isolation eventually plateau. But leaders who grow in community keep climbing.
Why It’s Hard to Step In
Wanting community and stepping into it are two different things.
It’s easy to show up when you’re winning. It’s harder when life feels messy, when you don’t have the answers, or when you’re not at your best.
That’s usually when people pull back.
Not because they don’t want to grow, but because they’re afraid of being seen in the in-between.
And then pride steps in:
“You don’t need help.”
“You should be further along.”
“Keep that to yourself.”
But pride doesn’t protect your growth. It blocks it.
The Kind of Growth That Last
I’ve learned this watching leaders in Grow or Die: community growth is slower, scarier, and messier, but it’s deeper and it sticks.
You get mirrors.
You get encouragement.
You get accountability.
You get challenged in ways you never would on your own.
That’s why we track habits, log wins, and celebrate milestones. Because when you can see your growth and have people cheering you on in it, quitting gets a whole lot harder.
If You’ve Been Doing It Alone
Don’t wait until life forces you to look for your crew.
Find them now. Let them in before you feel ready.
It’s not about joining a crowd. It’s about finding the right people who see you, believe in you, and will push you to grow.
That’s what we do every day in Grow or Die.
And it’s the best kind of growth there is.
What Happened When I Cut Out TV and Social Media for a Month
Let me start by saying, I’m not trying to win any awards for turning off my screen. This isn’t a victory lap. I just want to be honest about what I noticed when I decided to take a break.
For the past month, I cut out all streaming and social media.
Why?
Because TV turned into my escape from real life, not a way to enjoy it. And social media? It was more of a distraction than a tool. I’d tell myself it was for business or inspiration… but deep down, I knew it wasn’t helping.
At the same time, I was doing a challenge on Growdie called the 3-2-1 Challenge:
No food three hours before bed
No liquids two hours before bed
No screens one hour before bed
Together, these habits helped reset more than just my schedule, they reset me.
Here’s what I noticed:
My bedtime became consistent and my sleep average went up.
I finished more priorities this month than any other month this year.
My anxiety and stress were at an all-time low. Seriously, it was wild how noticeable it was.
I spent less money. Fewer ads, fewer impulse buys.
I spent more in-person time with people than I had in the last two quarters. This is actually embarrassing. 😳
And I embraced boredom. Not just tolerated it, but actually enjoyed it.
There was something refreshing about not having something to scroll or binge. I found myself sitting with my thoughts more, without needing to fix them, post about them, or escape them. Just sitting. Thinking. Being.
It reminded me how loud life had gotten... and how little silence I had let in.
There’s a difference between rest and escape. One fills you. The other numbs you.
For a while, I was numbing without even realizing it.
It didn’t happen all at once.
It started with “just one episode” at night… then a scroll in between tasks… then a few minutes checking notifications that turned into thirty.
The habit snuck in quietly, until it was running my day.
It made me ask some harder questions:
Why do I feel the need to fill every moment with noise?
What am I afraid to sit with in silence?
And who am I when I’m not plugged in?
The answers didn’t come all at once. But the space I created helped me see things more clearly.
So if you’re starting to feel like your screen is running the show, or you keep telling yourself you’ll cut back “soon”—maybe try unplugging for a month.
Yes, I know the excuses.
“I need it for work.”
“I find good ideas there.”
“What if I miss something?”
I had them too. But here’s what I learned:
It’ll all still be there when you come back.
But the time you lose? You don’t get that back.
This wasn’t a massive life overhaul. It was a small shift with a big impact.
And if you've been thinking about doing the same… maybe this is your nudge to try it. 💯
The Growing Leadership Gap
We’ve got a problem.
There are leadership roles waiting to be filled. Teams needing real guidance. Big visions that aren’t moving forward. But too many people aren’t ready to step into what’s next.
Not because they lack the desire,
but because they haven’t built the leadership skills that make them ready.
And you don’t build those skills by accident.
You build them through consistent, intentional habits.
What I See in Growdie
Inside Growdie, we track behavior. And after reviewing more than 50,000 logged data points, one thing is clear:
The leaders who are rising aren’t necessarily the most talented.
They’re the most consistent and intentional.
We track eight core behavior patterns. Over time, leaders fall into three clear groups—each one showing who is ready, who’s stalling, and who still has a long way to go.
Filling the Gap: These Leaders Are Becoming Ready
The ones growing fast, leading well, and gaining real traction usually live out the majority of these behaviors:
• Builder – Builds sustainable growth habits with consistency
• Steady – Maintains a reliable rhythm of effort, especially when it’s not exciting
• Engaged – Leans into meaningful goals and challenges with focus and drive
• Finisher – Follows through on what they begin
• Pacer – Builds consistent momentum over time, avoids burnout
• Connector – Invests in meaningful relationships and people development
• Aligned – Shows focused growth that reflects their values and vision
• Integrator – Grows across multiple areas of life with balance and intention
These are the people who don’t just talk about leadership. They’re becoming leaders you can trust.
Stalling Out: These Leaders Aren’t Moving Fast Enough
They show potential. They even have streaks of momentum. But they’re not consistent enough to be ready for more.
We see traits like this with these leaders:
• Inconsistent – Shows up, but struggles with rhythm or follow-through
• Up and Down – Swings between spurts and slowdowns—momentum is there, but shaky
• Half In – Starts with energy, but fades over time
• Spotty – Finishes some things, drops others
• Mixed Mode – Alternates between progress and drifting
• Low Contact – Connects, but growth may be one-sided or shallow
• Wanderer – Moves from idea to idea without a consistent theme
• Lopsided – Invests in growth, but unevenly—some areas thrive, others are ignored
Let’s Talk About Lopsided Growth
This one is dangerous—because it looks great on the outside. But it’s not sustainable.
In Growdie, I’ve seen this play out:
• Dialed in on business, but lacks relational depth
• Focused on fitness, but emotionally distant
• Sharp professionally, but lacking purpose and peace
Lopsided leaders hit walls.
Because leadership always demands more than just one side of you.
Here’s what the data shows:
• Lopsided growth means investing in 3–4 focus areas, but doing it unevenly
• 1-2 areas are often dominant, and the others are barely touched
• Blind spots form when you grow without balance or feedback
Growdie Data Tells the Story:
• 75% of users focus 80% of their growth actions in just two categories
• The top 10% of leaders in Growdie take consistent action across five or more focus areas
• 90% of users who complete a 60-day streak grow across at least four different categories
They aren’t just intense. They’re in a healthy flow. And that’s what makes the top 10% more ready.
External Research Confirms It:
• A joint study by Harvard, Stanford, and Carnegie found that 85% of career success comes from soft skills, not technical knowledge
National Soft Skills Association
• Psychologist Tasha Eurich found that although most people believe they’re self-aware, only 10–15% actually are
Suzi McAlpine: The Leader’s Digest
If you’re only building in one lane, you might be missing the gaps that are holding you back.
Stuck at the Start: These Leaders Aren’t Ready Yet
This group struggles with traction. They start strong, then vanish. They have the desire, but not the structure. Here’s what we usually see with them:
• Dabbler – Starts often, but rarely follows through
• Pendulum – Swings between extremes, not stability
• Escaper – Avoids long-term effort and leans away from challenge
• Starter Only – Rarely finishes what they start
• Sprinter – Relies on bursts of energy but lacks staying power
• Isolator – Grows alone and avoids meaningful support
• Unclear – Activity is scattered and unfocused
• One-Laner – Over-focuses on one or two areas and neglects the rest
Some of these people have potential. But they’re not putting in the reps to build what it takes.
You Can’t Lead What You Haven’t Lived
Leadership isn’t handed to you.
It’s earned through small, consistent choices over time.
And I’m not just talking about mastering one skill.
You can’t coach discipline if you’re not disciplined.
You can’t talk about consistency while living out chaos.
People don’t follow your words, they follow your habits.
You don’t need to have “been there” in the exact place someone else is going.
But you do need the lived tools to lead them there.
That’s what earns trust. That’s what makes your leadership real.
It becomes easy to rely on talent instead of that kind of depth.
But talent alone doesn’t build people, it just buys time.
At some point, your life has to match what you’re asking others to do.
So What Can You Do?
1. Run a real audit – Are you consistent? Do you finish what you start?
2. Check your balance – Are you growing in multiple areas or just one?
3. Track your behavior – Not just how you feel, but what you’re actually doing
4. Pick one behavior to focus on – like becoming more Steady or actually Finishing what you start.
Set a 30-day goal. Track it. Review your progress weekly. Small reps lead to real change.
The Gap is Real, but So Is the Opportunity
The best leaders I know didn’t land there by accident.
They grew into it. Because they kept showing up.
If you want to lead something that matters, don’t wait around hoping for it.
Start building it—right where you are.
Start Building with Growdie
I’m not the most talented leader. I never have been.
But I’ve become a consistent one.
And that consistency, showing up every day and choosing to grow even when it’s hard, has changed everything for me.
Growdie wasn’t made to impress anyone. It was built to support people like me and you. People who want to grow with purpose, even when no one’s watching.
Growdie gives you the tools to build real leadership habits, daily check-ins, growth area tracking, and a way to spot your blind spots before they take you out.
Inside Growdie, we’ll track your behavior, you’ll see where you’re growing, and notice what you’ve been avoiding. You’ll build clarity, discipline, and confidence.
You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to keep showing up.
If you’ve ever felt the gap between who you are and who you want to be, this is how you close it.
Start small. Stay steady. Keep showing up.
That’s how leaders are built. 💯
Friends with a Competitor: Why I Choose Collaboration Over Fear
Most people avoid their competitors. I invited mine into a quarterly Zoom call.
What started as a simple feedback conversation turned into one of the most helpful and inspiring rhythms in my business and my growth as a founder.
I used to use a platform for my business that was extremely helpful when I was just starting out. I had searched for something like it for a long time but couldn’t find anything that fully fit what I needed—until this company came along.
They had everything I was looking for: the frontend, the backend, and the data-driven tools that helped me coach more effectively. But what really sold me wasn’t the features. It was a call with someone on their team who listened. Really listened.
He asked questions. He pointed me toward what mattered most based on how I was using it. That experience meant a lot to me, and over the next four years, that kind of care didn’t stop.
Every time I had a question, a feature request, or an issue, they responded with urgency and empathy. I didn’t feel like a customer. I felt like a partner.
At one point, they hit a major technical issue and the platform was down for a week. As frustrating as that was, they emailed quickly, kept us informed, and handled it with transparency. That’s when I realized something wild: the guy who had been helping me this whole time? The one I’d been emailing, calling, and troubleshooting with?
He wasn’t just on the support team. He was the CEO.
That kind of humility blew me away.
Eventually, I came to a crossroads. I was using multiple tools to bring my vision to life, and I realized I needed to build my own platform.
So I reached out to the CEO, told him I was stepping away, and thanked him. He asked if we could hop on a call just to get some feedback. We had a great conversation, and at the end I asked:
“Would you be open to hopping on a call once a quarter? I think we could learn a lot from each other.”
He said yes. And that’s what we’ve been doing ever since.
Now every few months, we jump on a call. He’s ahead of me in his journey, so I ask questions about the early stages of building an app. He asks me about new features and structures they’re considering and how I would approach them. It’s become one of my favorite rhythms. We challenge each other, ask real questions, and walk away sharper every time.
One conversation in particular gave me a wave of unexpected relief.
I asked him, “What was it like launching your app in year one? Did you see great success?”
He said, “It was terrible.”
That answer lifted so much pressure off me.
He went on to share the story of that first year—how there wasn’t some magic launch moment. No secret formula. Just a team staying focused, learning constantly, and building brick by brick. That reminder stuck with me.
A friend asked me recently, “Aren’t you scared he’s going to steal your ideas?”
Honestly, that didn’t even cross my mind. But I’m not worried about that.
I’m not competing with him. I’m competing with myself.
I want him to win. I want his company to grow, because when he gets better, it inspires me to get better too.
Let’s say he does use one of my ideas. So what? We’re all borrowing ideas in some form anyway. If anything, it’ll push me to be more creative, more thoughtful, and more innovative.
The market is massive. There’s room for great companies to coexist and raise the standard. That’s what makes the journey fun. That’s what makes me grateful I made the call. I didn’t leave it feeling threatened. I left it inspired and ready to get back to work.
Here’s why this has been so helpful for me:
It reminds me the world doesn’t revolve around my business.
When you collaborate with someone in your space, it forces you to zoom out. There are thousands of people building great things. That’s not something to fear—it’s something to celebrate.It’s more fulfilling to serve others than to serve your ego.
I don’t want to protect “my thing” so badly that I forget to be a generous human. Holding everything tightly makes you suspicious and defensive. That’s no way to live or lead.You need people outside your circle to make you better.
Competitors often see things your team doesn’t. They bring different approaches, perspectives, and experiences. That input is invaluable if you want to grow.
Does this open you up to potentially getting hurt? Yes.
But so does isolation. You risk more when you never take the risk. And in my experience, the reward is worth it.
Final Thought:
Don’t let fear of competition shrink your world.
Some of your greatest collaborators might be the people you once saw as threats.
Reach out. Ask questions. Be generous.
That mindset shift has changed everything for me.
When Talent Runs Out
I remember using my talent to wing a college graduation speech.
Two weeks before the ceremony, I found out the student body had voted for me to speak. I felt honored and confident. The speech would happen the night before graduation, and I told myself I didn’t need to overthink it. I figured I could spend about twenty minutes pulling it together, deliver it with passion and energy, and it would land.
Why wouldn’t it work?
It had worked so many times before.
I showed up for graduation weekend, took pictures, mingled with people, and then slipped away to prepare. On my way to find a quiet space, a faculty member stopped me and said,
“I can’t wait to hear your speech!”
Without hesitation, I said,
“It’s going to be fire.”
That sentence is still branded in my memory.
It was like I was saying, Watch this.
How embarrassing is that?
So much confidence. So little preparation.
I really thought passion would carry me. Again.
I found a room, grabbed some paper, and scribbled a few thoughts in about ten minutes. Then I stood in the mirror, rehearsing it for ten more, trying to inject energy and conviction. I had this idea that I’d make the graduating class stand up while I spoke directly to them. I just knew that would be the moment.
Then I gave the speech.
Fumbled a few words, but I got through it.
It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t great either.
I stood there afterward, waiting for compliments. I had even rehearsed my response:
“Thank you—I just wish I had more time to prepare.”
But the first person who walked up to me didn’t say any of that.
She looked me straight in the eye and said,
“Did you even prepare?”
Ouch.
I had no words, because she was right.
I didn’t.
I had leaned on talent. I winged an opportunity that deserved more. And the worst part? I almost excused it again.
It was just one speech.
But reflecting on it now has me thinking:
How many areas of life are we doing the same thing?
Leaning on talent. Avoiding the real work.
Telling ourselves it’ll be “good enough.”
Even when it isn’t.
My talented friends, you need to hear this.
At some point, we all hit a wall.
Talent runs out.
And when it does, you’ve got two options.
Make excuses.
Or grow.
So let’s talk about what it takes to grow when talent is no longer enough.
1. You Need a Purpose That Pulls You Forward
A lot of people hit their limits and assume that’s it. That this is as far as they go. But they’re not stuck—they’re just operating without a deeper reason.
A strong purpose pushes you. It adds weight to your decisions. It gives your growth a direction.
Ask yourself:
• What am I building?
• Who am I becoming?
• Why does it matter?
If your purpose doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.
2. Be Honest: Talent Isn’t Enough
You’ve got to admit it. The way you’ve always done things isn’t working like it used to.
Where are you coasting?
Where are you underprepared?
Where are you just getting by?
Until you’re honest with yourself, you’ll keep making excuses and calling it strategy.
You can’t grow until you get real.
3. Build Structure Around Your Purpose
Big dreams with no systems won’t get you far.
You need clarity. You need direction. You need a plan that’s actually doable.
Start here:
• Choose one goal that matters
• Add challenges that push you
• Lock in habits that keep you steady
• Set priorities that protect your focus
Don’t wait for motivation. Build the systems that move you even when you don’t feel like it.
4. Discipline is Not a Strategy. It’s a Decision.
There’s no shortcut. No perfect routine. No hack.
Discipline is what happens when you decide to show up. Again and again.
It’s what builds momentum when motivation fades.
It’s how you stay sharp when no one’s watching.
It’s how you develop consistency that actually lasts.
If you’ve been winging it lately, you already know it. And you also know it’s not working.
You don’t need another idea.
You need to show up.
5. Accept That Growth Takes Time
You will not see instant results.
You’ll feel stuck sometimes.
You’ll wonder if it’s working.
Keep going.
Some days, all you’ll do is revisit your purpose. That’s still growth.
You’re shaping how you think and how you respond. That matters.
Be patient with the process.
Not every win shows up fast—but the change is happening.
6. Stop Chasing Cheap Wins
If you’re chasing applause or the next adrenaline rush, you’ll always be reactive.
Cheap wins feel good, but they fade.
They don’t build depth. They don’t shape identity. They don’t prepare you for anything bigger.
Let go of the pressure to impress.
Focus on becoming someone solid.
7. Remind Yourself Who You Are Becoming
You will forget.
That’s why you need daily reminders.
Not of what you’re doing—but of who you’re becoming.
Read your purpose.
Revisit your vision.
Ask, “What would the future version of me choose right now?”
Stay connected to your identity.
It keeps your decisions aligned and your effort focused.
8. Grow Every Day
This is how you move forward.
Not all at once. Not when it’s convenient.
Every day.
Growth isn’t always loud. It’s not always exciting.
But when you stay consistent, it changes everything.
You won’t always feel it.
Some days it’ll feel like a step.
Other days like a stumble.
But keep going.
That’s the difference between people who rely on talent and people who build legacy.
You’re not chasing something. You’re becoming someone.
✍️ Reflect and Apply
Take 5 minutes and ask yourself:
• Where in your life are you still relying on talent instead of discipline?
• What’s one habit you can build this week that aligns with who you want to be?
• What would it look like to show up with full effort in the space you’ve been coasting?
👉 Next Step
Write your purpose down (if you need help, shoot me an email).
Put it where you’ll see it every day.
Read it out loud tomorrow morning.
If you’re serious about moving past your talent, start there.
Let that reminder shape how you show up. 💯
Why I Track My Growth Every Single Day
I’ve been tracking my growth daily since 2019. When most people hear that, it sounds exhausting to them, but for me, it’s been one of the most enjoyable, life-giving parts of my journey.
Tracking hasn’t just helped me stay organized. It’s made me more intentional with the things that actually matter in my life. I’ve spent a lot of time reflecting on the kind of man I want to become, and I’m genuinely excited about becoming him. But that doesn’t happen overnight and it definitely doesn’t happen without consistent, intentional action.
A big part of my journey has been getting reps. Reps in my habits. Reps in my values. Reps in becoming.
I’ve adopted what I call a Grow Every Day Mindset. It means that when I reflect on my day, I want to be able to point to something, anything, that shows I’ve grown.
But I know growth can feel ambiguous, so let’s break it down.
What Is Growth, Really?
Growth is consistent improvement in how you think, talk, and take action.
How is your thinking changing?
Example: “I had a strong fixed mindset, but now I’m more growth-minded.”How is the way you talk with others changing?
Example: “I used to interrupt people a lot. Now I focus on active listening.”How is the way you take action changing?
Example: “I used to be reactive. Now I’m proactive.”
These shifts don’t just happen because you want them to. They happen when you get intentional reps in these areas, again and again. It’s a process that refines over time.
The Hard Part
The challenge is simple: unhealthy actions are easier to do, and healthy actions are harder.
If we’re lazy, we’ll fall into the easy stuff. But if we’re disciplined, we’ll commit to what actually grows us.
Reps That Align With My Values
One of my values is: “A healthy and active man.”
This year alone, I’ve already logged 1,193 reps in Growdie tied to Health & Fitness.
What kind of reps?
Weigh yourself - 183 reps
Track your food - 180 reps
Sit in the sauna 15min+ - 175 reps
Stretch for 10min+ - 172 reps
Workout for 30min+ - 152 reps
Sleep for 7+ hours - 144 reps
No fast food - 90 reps
These might seem small, but each one moves me closer to that man I’m becoming. The specific reps may change season to season, but the value—"a healthy and active man"—stays the same. It gives me a filter to evaluate my choices. I can always ask, “Does this help me become that man?”
Growth in Every Area
In Grow or Die, we have 7 focus areas, and I have a personal value statement for each one. I look at those values every single day.
They humble me.
They challenge me.
They remind me this is a lifetime pursuit and that I can’t grow alone.
Sure, I could do okay in one area by myself. But if I want to truly live well, I need the support of other growth-minded people. That’s what makes this journey worth it.
The Long Game
What finally clicked for me is this:
This is MY growth journey.
I’m not competing with anyone else. I’m competing with who I was yesterday.
At the end of the day, I don’t “arrive” at my values.
I live them, one day at a time.
And the most satisfying thing to me?
Finishing my life well.
That starts now with a simple, daily commitment:
Grow Every Day. 💯