Newsletter

Hey there,

When you start something new, it can be tempting to try and rush through the beginning or intermediate steps and try to get right to the cool and sexy stuff.

I did this when I first started boxing. I barely knew how to throw a basic jab — let alone defend one — when I convinced my coach to let me start sparring, the boxing term for practice fighting.

When sparring, you’re supposed to practice all the skills you’ve been working on while training. But because I didn’t know much yet, I’d often leave sparring sessions feeling frustrated and defeated. I compared myself to others who had been training for years or a decade more than me and thought that maybe I just didn’t have what it took to be a skilled boxer.

Looking back, I realize that I wasn’t willing to start where I was. By pretending I wasn’t a beginner, I skipped crucial foundational steps. Doing so held me back and slowed my progress.

Whatever your goal or pursuit, there’s no point in pretending you’re further along than you are. By being honest with yourself and accepting where you’re at, rather than fighting it, you can then figure out the necessary steps to get where you want to be.

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Hey there,

Recently, someone came up to me at the gym and asked me how I got so good at jump roping.

I responded with a simple answer: I practiced a lot. For a really long time. And I didn’t give up.

And it really is as simple as that.

No matter what you want to get better at in life, the key to all improvement is long-term, focused practice.

This same lesson applies whether you have a fitness-related goal like jump roping, pull-ups, or sprinting, or a non-fitness-related goal like writing, public speaking, or becoming a less reactive person.

Practicing — really practicing — doesn’t mean putting in just a couple of mindless practice sessions here and there.

Showing up and putting in your reps is an important first step. But eventually, you’ll want to be more intentional about your practice.

This means diving into focused, deliberate work with the specific goal of improving performance. And doing this day after day for the long haul.

When I picked up a jump rope for the first time since elementary school, I wasn’t naturally gifted at it. I tripped a lot, got rope burns, and some days could barely jump at all.

But I kept at it, and eventually, it became something I’ve become pretty good at.

No matter where you’re at in your journey, keep going.

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Hey there,

When most of us think of masters, we think of athletes like Michael Jordan and Laird Hamilton, thinkers like Einstein and Bill Gates. We think of black belts, Grandmasters, and other superstars who have risen to the top of their craft.

But mostly, we think of these people as others — as in, people not like us. People blessed with talent and drive to become masters in their craft and fulfill their potential.

This is the same response I had when I was first training at circus school. I was mesmerized by the talent of those around me. What I didn’t take into account was just how long they had been working to get to the level where they were at — and the likelihood that if I worked as hard as they did for as long as they did, I could get there, too.

Mastery depends less on initial talent than the willingness to pick a path and stay on it.

As George Leonard writes in The Way of Aikido: Life Lessons from an American Sensei:

“What we call “mastery” can be defined as that mysterious process through which what is at first difficult or even impossible becomes easy and pleasurable through diligent, patient, long-term practice.”

Go here to read my article on Medium about my path to handstand mastery and how to work toward mastery in your life.

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Hey there,

The stories we tell ourselves about who we are often limit us.

For example, my story used to be that I was shy, weak (physically and mentally), and unable to deal with failure.

Your story might be that you’re not the type of person that could be fit. Or that you could never move away from your hometown, change careers, or take risks.

These stories can come from anywhere. They can stem from a single comment from a bully in third grade. They also come from our families, the town and country that we grew up in, and society as a whole.

These stories inevitably shape who we become. But we can change these stories to become the person we really want to be.

The first step to changing your story is to take action, no matter how small.

Act as if you are already the type of person you want to be.

For example, if you want to become strong, do the things that strong people do.

This might mean you start day one doing a single push-up against your countertop because that’s what you can do right now.

It might not seem like much, but do this consistently, and you’ll get stronger. Over time, as you continue to challenge yourself, you’ll have changed your identity from someone who can’t be strong to someone who is strong.

But you have to start with that first step.

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Hey there,

What kind of person do you want to be?

This is a question I’ve given a lot of thought to in my own life, especially over the past few years.

We are not destined to be the same person for the rest of our lives. We can — and will — change, so we might as well be intentional about it.

For example, we can choose to get healthier, fitter, or learn new things. We can build our self-discipline and get better at relationships. We can even change our personalities if we want to.

As William Zinsser writes in On Writing Well:

“Decide what you want to do. Then decide to do it. Then do it.”

It’s that hard — and that simple.

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Hey there,

If your goal is to create a lifelong fitness habit, my best advice is to keep it simple.

For example…

Bodyweight-based workouts are much more effective than most people think to build strength, conditioning, and overall fitness. They’re also generally easier on your body long-term and put you at less risk for possible injuries.

Some equipment can be a nice addition for variety, but you really don’t need much. A few simple pieces of workout equipment like resistance bands, a jump rope, and a pull-up bar are all you need for effective full-body workouts. Other things like kettlebells, medicine balls, and parallel bars can be nice to have around but aren’t necessary if you don’t have access to them.

Get creative! Use what’s around you. You can literally fill a backpack with some heavy books and use that for an added challenge.

Also, remember that every little bit of movement counts. If you’re really busy, try adding in mini workouts throughout the day — things like doing a few sets of bodyweight squats and push-ups in between work sessions, taking breaks to stretch and foam roll, or doing a few reps on your doorway pull-up bar each time you walk by.

And remember: the best form of exercise is the one you’ll do.

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Hey there,

How much do you prioritize rest and recovery?

If you’re like me, not enough. As a driven, goal-oriented person, I like to work. I feel most alive when I’m working, training, and striving toward my goals.

But too little rest can wreak havoc on our bodies and our brains.

When it comes to our bodies, too little rest can result in overtraining syndrome, the side effects of which are not pretty. Fatigue, sickness, injury, lack of motivation, and loss of performance are all almost guaranteed from too many workouts.

Our brains work the same way. There’s a reason we have aha moments — those flashes of creative genius where everything suddenly makes so much sense — in the shower or on a run. We need time to let new connections simmer. Just like our muscles make the real gains after we’re done with our workout, our brains work the same way.

So how do you incorporate more rest into your life? Check out my recent article for Medium on why rest is so important — and how to rest better.

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Hey there,

I “discovered” fitness after college. I’m grateful that I did because I’m not sure I’d be here to write this today if I hadn’t.

I was a depressed and chronically anxious kid, and fitness gave me an outlet to deal with my rocky emotions. Working out gave me something to put my energy into when I was upset. It also gave me the motivation to get up in the morning when I was so depressed I would have stayed in bed all day if it weren’t for my planned workout.

Although I’m less controlled by my emotions than I used to be (hooray for growth!), working out continues to be the main way I deal with my emotions and anxiety.

Stressed? Work out. Upset? Work out. Depressed/anxious/overwhelmed with life? Work out.

But, as every athlete and weekend warrior eventually learns, you can’t solve all of your problems through exercise.

Over the years, I’ve had to find other ways to manage when I can’t out-exercise my problems. I wrote about these science-backed strategies here in an article for Medium. Try them out and let me know if they help you, too.

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Hi there,

I don’t have to tell any of you that this has been a hard couple of years. Between two years of Covid, and, most recently, the war in Ukraine, I’ve been doing my best to keep my head above water — but sometimes the stress and hopelessness of it all gets to me.

These are the strategies that help me the most when I’m feeling anxious, depressed, or hopeless:

• Consistent exercise (big surprise…!)
• Fresh air and sunshine
• Nutritious food
• Sleep 7-8 hours a night
• Learn things that inspire me
• Connect with people I care about

When I focus on really dialing these in, I do pretty well most days. If I miss any of them, I start to struggle.

This is also a great article on what to do when you’re feeling the hopelessness of war.

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