Patterns > Moments: Moments Matter. Patterns Shape You.
I’m deeply grateful for moments.
I think about family road trips when I was growing up. One in particular stands out, driving from Michigan to Florida to go to Disney World in our green and white van. Green suede seats. A tiny TV mounted up front that barely worked. Music playing the entire drive, singing at the top of our lungs. I remember playing I Spy with my brother and sister, arguing about who got the back middle seat, which I always wanted and almost never got, and somehow holding it when I had to use the bathroom every 30 or 45 minutes.
Those moments are burned into my memory. They matter. They shaped my childhood. And I’ll always be grateful for them.
Moments are powerful like that. They’re emotional. They’re easy to remember. They’re easy to talk about. They give us something to celebrate.
And that’s exactly why we lean into them so much.
Moments feel safe.
They’re exciting. They’re socially rewarded. They’re easy to point to and say, “That mattered.” We post them. We talk about them. We relive them. Moments feel like progress because they stand out from the rest of life.
But here’s the problem.
If moments are the only way we measure growth, we end up with a distorted picture of what’s actually happening in our lives.
Because growth doesn’t live primarily in moments.
It lives in patterns.
Patterns are harder to talk about. Harder to celebrate. Harder to look at honestly. And most of the time, when we do talk about patterns, it’s in a negative light. Bad patterns. Unhealthy patterns. Destructive patterns.
Patterns get treated like the stepchild of personal growth.
And I think I know why.
Patterns are revealers.
When you zoom out and look at a collection of small moments stacked together, your habits, your routines, your daily choices, you start to see patterns. And patterns don’t let you hide behind a highlight reel. They show you what’s actually true.
How you really spend your time.
What you consistently prioritize.
Where you’re steady.
Where you drift.
Where you start strong and fade.
That kind of honesty can feel uncomfortable.
Moments let us celebrate.
Patterns ask us to reflect.
And reflection takes courage.
But here’s the reframe that changed everything for me.
Patterns aren’t there to shame you.
They’re there to serve you.
Patterns exist to help you grow.
That’s why, inside Growdie, we measure behavior patterns. Not to label people, but to give them clarity.
We look at patterns like:
Are you a Builder, or do you tend to dabble?
Are you Steady, or do things come in waves?
Are you a Pacer, or do you sprint and burn out?
Are you a Connector, or are relationships staying surface level?
Are you an Integrator, or does growth stay siloed?
Are you a Finisher, or do things stall out before completion?
When people first see their patterns, there’s usually a reaction. Especially when they see red, yellow, and green. Everyone wants to be green. No one wants to see inconsistency or gaps.
But here’s what I love watching happen next.
Once people move past the initial emotion, they realize something powerful.
Knowing where you are gives you the ability to get better over time.
If you’re a dabbler today, you’re not stuck there.
If you’re inconsistent right now, that’s not your identity.
If your growth has been lopsided, that’s information, not a verdict.
Patterns give you feedback without judgment.
They allow you to make small, intentional changes that compound into real transformation. Not overnight. Not in one big moment. But over time, through reps. 💯
And this is where everything comes full circle.
Moments are meaningful.
Patterns are formative.
Moments give us memories.
Patterns shape our character.
If you want a life defined only by highlight reels, moments are enough.
But if you want to become the kind of man or woman who grows steadily, leads well, and builds something that lasts, patterns matter far more.
So here’s my invitation to you.
Give patterns a chance.
In Growdie, we surface behavior patterns once a month. Just enough to help you zoom out and see the bigger picture. Try it for a month. Look honestly at what’s forming in your life. Make one small adjustment. Then let time do its work.
You don’t need more motivation.
You need more awareness and steady reps.
Because growth isn’t built in moments alone.
It’s built in the patterns you’re willing to face and shape.
Reps > Motivation: The Quiet Power of Showing Up Daily
We all know motivation fades. Everyone gets that. And yet, it’s wild how often we still fall into the same cycle, waiting on the next burst of inspiration to carry us forward.
Motivation might get you started, but it won’t sustain you. Reps will.
That isn’t just feel-good advice. There’s a real reason behind it. Consistent action is how habits are formed. When you repeat something long enough, it stops being something you try to do and starts becoming something you simply do. It’s muscle memory for your character.
“Motivation is what gets you started; habit is what keeps you going.” — Jim Rohn
The real growth doesn’t happen on your best days. It happens when you show up on the ordinary ones.
I’ve seen this play out firsthand. I have multiple habits that have crossed the 300-rep mark. And once you hit that threshold, something shifts. You’ve lived that habit through busy seasons, hard seasons, high-energy seasons, and low-energy ones. At that point, it’s no longer about grinding or fighting resistance. It’s part of who you are.
That’s when you realize you’re playing a different game. You’re no longer asking, “Can I keep this up?” You’re seeing the results compound and thinking, “I’m operating on a new level now.”
This is why reps beat motivation every time. Motivation depends on a feeling. Reps depend on a decision. And feelings are unreliable, but systems are not. As James Clear puts it, “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” The life you build is a reflection of the systems you practice daily.
So if you’re wondering where you fall on the motivation vs. reps scale, here are a few questions to reflect on. If you find yourself answering “yes” to most of these, you’re relying too heavily on motivation:
Do you often wait until you “feel” like doing something before you start?
When you lose motivation, do your habits tend to fall away quickly?
Do you find yourself needing a big goal or a new challenge to get back on track?
Is it hard to stay consistent with routines when life gets busy or unpredictable?
Do you notice that your progress is inconsistent—some weeks are strong, others drop off entirely?
When you think about your habits, do they feel like a struggle rather than something that’s just part of your day?
Do you find yourself frequently starting new routines but not sticking with them over the long term?
If you answered “yes” to most of those, it’s time to shift focus from waiting on motivation to building steady reps. Every rep is a vote for the person you’re becoming. 💯
Decades > Days: Becoming Who You Want to Be, Not Just Chasing What’s Next
When I talk about thinking in decades, not days, I’m talking about focusing on who you are becoming over the long haul instead of racing toward the next achievement. It’s the difference between letting your values lead your life and letting your goals quietly decide what you think matters.
That difference shows up everywhere.
In your career, it looks like moving away from “I need that promotion this year so I can feel successful” and toward “I’m developing the skills and character to be a better leader for the rest of my life.”
In your relationships, it means letting go of the need to impress people right now and committing to relationships that deepen, mature, and grow over time.
In personal growth, it means you are not reading books just to say you finished them. You are building a lifelong habit of learning that steadily shapes who you are becoming.
This matters because the world around us is pulling in the opposite direction. Social media trains us to chase the next moment, the next win, the next visible milestone. And if you live that way long enough, there is a cost.
I spoke recently with someone who had achieved everything on paper. Success. Financial security. The outcomes many people are chasing. And yet he felt empty. Not because he was short on accomplishments, but because he had never stopped to consider who he wanted to become. He climbed hard and climbed fast, only to realize the ladder was leaning against the wrong wall.
When goals drive your life, they eventually start shaping your values. That is where people get stuck. When values lead, goals fall into their proper place.
If one of your core values is to love your neighbor as yourself, that value will naturally produce goals centered on building meaningful relationships and serving others. Not chasing recognition. Not collecting milestones. Investing in people in a way that actually lasts.
This is why decades thinking matters.
If you stay focused only on days, you may achieve a lot and still feel lost. If you anchor your life in decades, you build something far more important than results. You build a life that holds together, makes sense, and reflects who you were actually meant to become. 💯
How To Plan Goals That Actually Fit Your Life
As we step into a brand new year, there’s always that buzz of fresh motivation in the air. And if you’re like me, you’ve probably had years where you set goals with real enthusiasm in January, only to realize a few months later that they’ve lost momentum. I’ve definitely been there.
What I’ve learned is that meaningful goal setting isn’t about a quick ten minute exercise. It takes a couple of hours of thoughtful planning. But the payoff is worth it. You become more prepared, more realistic, and far more strategic about what you’re actually aiming for.
In this blog, I want to walk you through a straightforward, step by step process to not just set goals, but to fit them into your real life in a way that makes them achievable. And by the end, you’ll see how all of these pieces work together. If you want extra support along the way, Growdie is built to help you do exactly this.
Most people don’t fail at their goals because they lack discipline. They fail because they plan their growth in a fantasy version of their life instead of the one they’re actually living.
Step 1: Write Down Everything You Want to Accomplish This Year
Step one is simple, but powerful. Start by writing down everything you want to accomplish this year. You can write it on paper or type it out. Do whatever works best for you.
If you want some structure, you can use the seven focus areas we use in Growdie: Personal Development, Professional Development, People Development, Play and Experiential Learning, Health and Fitness, Financial Health, and Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Health.
You can use these categories or create your own. The goal here is not perfection. It’s getting everything out of your head and onto the page.
Step 2: Identify the Type of Investment
Step two is about clarifying the type of investment each item represents. Not everything you wrote down is a “goal” in the same sense.
Goals are typically long term investments. They usually take three months or more to complete and require high activation energy. Activation energy is simply the effort it takes to get started.
Challenges or projects are shorter term investments, usually under three months, but they also require high activation energy.
Habits are long term investments with low activation energy. These are things you do daily or weekly.
Priorities are short term, low activation energy tasks, usually taking an hour or less.
Understanding this hierarchy matters. It helps you see what kind of effort each item actually requires and prevents you from treating everything the same.
Step 3: Map Out Your Current Week
Before you plan your ideal week, you need to map out your current one.
Take an honest look at how you’re spending your time right now. Include everything. Hours at work. Hours sleeping. Even habits you might not love admitting, like scrolling on your phone or binge watching shows.
This isn’t about guilt. It’s about awareness.
Once everything is on paper, you’ll probably notice places where your time doesn’t align with what you say matters most. That’s actually a good thing. You can’t change what you don’t see.
Step 4: Determine How Many Hours You Can Realistically Invest
Now that you see where your time is going, step four is to figure out how many hours you can realistically invest in your goals.
Just because you find an open hour doesn’t mean you need to fill it. Sometimes you don’t have the mental or emotional capacity to add something new, and that’s okay. This step is about being intentional, not busy.
This is also where habit stacking becomes powerful. Instead of finding new time, you can often attach a new habit to something you already do consistently.
Remember, even if you see ten free hours on paper, most people realistically have two or three hours they can invest well. That’s more than enough. Small, consistent investments compound over time.
Step 5: Goal Planning
Now we get into the actual goal planning.
Without this step, goals stay theoretical and depend entirely on motivation showing up when life gets busy.
Using the framework from step two, you want to break big goals into smaller, practical pieces.
For example, if your goal is to read 30 books in a year, that’s a big commitment. To support it, you might create a challenge to read six books in a month. You could build a habit of reading ten pages a day. And you might set a priority to create a book list so you always know what’s next.
You’re not hoping motivation shows up. You’re creating momentum through structure.
In Growdie, this is exactly how things are designed. Goals are supported by challenges, habits, and priorities. Challenges are supported by habits and priorities. Some habits even have priorities attached to them. They all work together to bring growth into your actual day.
Step 6: Place Habits and Priorities Into Your Schedule
This step is where everything becomes real.
As you place habits and priorities into your schedule, you’ll quickly see if you’re trying to do too much. And that’s what I love about this step. It’s a reality check.
In your head, it might feel doable. On your calendar, you see what’s actually realistic.
This is where wisdom shows up. Scaling back. Choosing a few key goals. Thinking long term. You don’t need to start everything on day one. You can build slowly and let progress compound over time.
Step 7: Review and Adjust
Your plan is not static. It’s a living document.
As you move through the year, you’ll learn more about yourself, your capacity, and the process. Some things will need to shift. Some goals might need to scale back or move to a later season. That’s normal.
Reviewing and adjusting is what keeps you from getting stuck. When something isn’t working, move it. Change the timing. Adjust the approach. Growth requires flexibility.
Join Us In Growdie
Everything I just walked you through is built into Growdie.
My goal is to make growth fun, engaging, and sustainable. Inside Growdie, you’ll find goals, challenges, habits, and priorities already set up. You can prove your progress, grow alongside a community, track your reps, see your growth over time, and earn rewards along the way.
Growdie isn’t for people looking for shortcuts. It’s for leaders who are willing to do the work and grow in a healthy, sustainable way.
This isn’t about overnight transformation. It’s about becoming the leader you’re meant to be through consistent, intentional growth.
If this framework resonates with you, join us in Growdie and start building in a way that actually fits your life. 💯
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. 💯