Life is full of false promises and words that fail to produce action, yet death is the one thing all of us can count on. It terrifies most and intrigues the few knowing that it could be around the next corner or rear its head 60 years from now. It’s quite literally the epitome of a paradox: A known event that has an unknown time. These facts terrify the majority to a point where they lock themselves into a job or a lifestyle that solely relies off of safety and consistency because the fear of the unknown is too much.

We’re not only creatures of habit, but habitual creatures that have formed extremely short-term memory. We hear about people dying from an environmental catastrophe and say “Wow so sad…anyways,” as we go back to doom scrolling. We go to a family member or a friend’s funeral and have a brief glimpse of our own mortality then go back to playing Call of Duty. We hear about human trafficking within our own government, then go back to watching our favorite sports game. Pondering too long on our own inevitable demise is too heavy for the masses. Yet it hangs long and palpable on the tongues of the fortunate few.

I use the word fortunate because IMHO, it’s a blessing in disguise to be able to acknowledge our own expiration while simultaneously not allowing it to dictate the remaining path of our life. For some people, just the thought of death paralyzes them to a pit of despair filled with relentless depression and anxiety. You should not be driven to a catatonic state by having introspection into your life. You should have the courage and maturity to be able to understand that at some point this will all end. By gaining that knowledge, it in turn should give you gratitude to live out the remaining in a meaningful and purposeful way.

This is a mindset shift that doesn’t happen overnight and will take vigilance on your end to pay attention to the negative thoughts surrounding your inevitable expiration. This “disease,” it seems, has only been around since our recent expansion of technology; more specifically the internet. Prior to that, as a society, we were outside more, had more of a community, and overall took the time to appreciate what was right in front of us. Now, with stimuli coming at us from all angles at rates our brains cannot process we have become sick. We are rotting from the inside out from an overconsumption of information. So what’s the fix? Stop getting your dopamine fix from a screen and instead go get it by being with your friends and family in nature. I.e. Go touch grass. I’ll leave you with this, it’s bar none of my favorites:

“So live your life that the fear of death can never enter your heart.

Trouble no one about their religion; respect others in their view, and demand that they respect yours.

Love your life, perfect your life, beautify all things in your life.

Seek to make your life long and its purpose in the service of your people.

Prepare a noble death song for the day when you go over the great divide.

Always give a word or a sign of salute when meeting or passing a friend, even a stranger, when in a lonely place.

Show respect to all people and grovel to none.

When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies only in yourself.

Abuse no one and no thing, for abuse turns the wise ones to fools and robs the spirit of its vision.

When it comes your time to die, be not like those whose hearts are filled with the fear of death, so that when their time comes they weep and pray for a little more time to live their lives over again in a different way.

Sing your death song and die like a hero going home.” - Tecumseh

We’ve all heard this quote from G. Michael Hopf’s classic, “Those Who Remain.” It’s more or less breaking down a never-ending cycle that is part of the human societal experience. As a species, we have an inherent problem with over indulging in most things. For many people, their ability to be aware enough in order to cut themselves off at “x” amount of alcohol, junk food, or any other toxic habit you can come up with is difficult for a multitude of reasons. One specifically, is modern society’s addiction for that hit of dopamine which I referenced in a previous entry.

In 2026, humans live such easy lives in the grand scheme of things, yet our brain and body is the same that existed millions of years ago. We still carry the same genetic traits and markers from times past. Back then we had much less but were able to seek out that dopamine from hunting and gathering outside in nature. Insomnia and other mental illnesses rarely existed because we were so dead tired from physical labor all day. In present times, we obviously have significantly many more “things” per se, but we’re now forced inside all day under artificial lighting in a sedentary lifestyle for so-called “financial gains.” This isn’t living. This is a silent and slow death of our species.

Read more

Every summer, since I was a wee lad, I’ve gone up to the White Mountains of NH. Now as I’ve gotten older and now a family of my own, the tradition continues. This year hit different. Not necessarily in a bad way, just different. My current job demands presence even off the clock not just for my team, but for the client as well. I intentionally planned ahead and made every contingency for this trip to make sure that I could confidently leave all forms of communication behind to quite literally “unplug.” I had no idea how difficult that could actually be.

Now I understand this job isn’t the only one that demands presence even when not on the clock, on the job site, or in the office. The age of technology has strained the modern American’s ability to separate work from home life. It’s a literal paradox of having the benefit of being able to connect with family and loved ones instantaneously, while also having the drawback of our employers also being able to connect with us instantaneously. Yes, I already know what you’re thinking. “But Ian, you need to draw your firm line in the sand with your employer.” Oh, but if it was only that easy. It’s not just in my line of work either, small business owners have it just as bad if not worse when dealing with pain in the ass clients or last minute supply chain issues. Whether you like to admit it or not, some jobs require being on call around the clock.

Even sitting in this gorgeous river that flowed off of one of the many surrounding mountain peaks, it took considerable effort on my part to not run back to my pocket supercomputer and get a “hit” from some pointless notification. How wild is it that even when surrounded by the beauty of nature I felt as if I needed that bump of dopamine? Never in all my life had I previously felt such anxiety over something so pointless in the grand scheme of things. Even if there was something that required my attention, what am I going to do hours away in the mountains? That’s what my team is for. I knew that going in, but still had this invisible pull regardless. It was not only irritating like a scratch you can’t quite itch, but it was also eye opening to recognize it for what it was. A socially accepted addiction.

What I just recently experienced, and I’m sure what many of you reading this have as well at some point, is what happens when a society values producing over simply the experience. To be able to just go somewhere and do the thing without concerning oneself without any form of monetization, viewer count or quantifiable likes/shares. Once you can do that without regret of the aforementioned, then you are truly free. Getting to that point though isn’t as simple as it sounds. The “drug” is the hardest to break and you’ll inevitably feel that anxiety of FOMO even though the irony is you’re missing out on the most important thing: what’s right in front of your very eyes.

I’ll always have mixed opinions on the direction that technology has taken our culture. One day my wish is to get to a point where I can confidently turn my phone off for more than a few days without the impending fear of my job burning down without me. Some have told me in the past that “that’s the cost of leadership.” I call bullshit. I say that it’s simply an overused corporate sound bite that’s intentionally designed to erode the invisible separation between the hard work that pays for your life and the life you get to enjoy because of the hard work you put in. Remember, your job doesn’t define you. If you died on a Friday, they’d have someone to take your desk by the Monday morning meeting. Go live your life via detoxing the drug.

The greatest feat you can accomplish as a human is to simply survive. It isn’t necessarily about the weight you pull, the amount of money you bring in, the trophies from past performances, or how accurately you can fire a gun. It’s you fighting to live. Every. Fucking. Day.

So many people take the ability to see the sun every morning for granted. They go about their day seeing the world through a keyhole, unaware of the endless opportunities that they’re presented with. I won’t ignore the obvious as to how hard some days are to “stop and smell the flowers” when there’s bills to pay, you’re late for work, or you’re in the middle of a family crisis. Sometimes “locking in” and ignoring the static noise of the birds and the trees is what’ll help you get to the end of the day. Yet, you know deep in your heart that it isn’t sustainable.

If all you’re doing is running from point A to B with no ability to pause and breathe, then all you are is a pawn for the powers that be. It’s a delicate balance of being able to hammer down when necessary, but also being able to take a moment and take in your surroundings. That ability to shift is what makes the average great and the depressed happy once more.

Quitting on your goals, your job, your family, or your life is the easiest thing you can do. Having the grit to continue the fight everyday regardless of the odds make you the hero of your own story. Some days surviving means clocking in at the job you wish you could quit, but understand that in the grand scheme of things it’s a necessary evil for the current season of your life. Other times, surviving may be more blissful such as spending time in the forest or taking the dogs for a walk. Life in itself is a constant battle of balance and most days it’s easier said than done. Just remember to be aware when burnout is around the corner, because that’s where death of the soul starts knocking.

How many of you are waiting for the “perfect time?”

“I’ll do it when I have more PTO.”

“I’ll do it when I’m more in shape.”

“I’ll do it when I have “_____ dollars.”

News flash: There is no such thing as the “perfect time.” There will always be some unexpected chaos that you didn’t see coming that’ll undoubtedly throw a wrench in your plans. Yet, you hold onto hope (which isn’t a method BTW), because deep down it isn’t because it’s not the right time. It’s because you’re scared of taking that leap into the unknown.

It’s completely normal, and part of being human, to be slightly hesitant on doing something new where you’re unable to forecast the outcome. Whether it’s starting a business, going to your first BJJ class, your first shooting match, or seeking out a therapist for trauma you’ve been ignoring for years, the faux security you’ve placed in staying where you are will inevitably kill you.

Read more

It’s been a bit, and I honestly didn’t know if I had the courage to come back to this. 9 months ago, I embarked on jumping back into the close-protection world. I thought I left it all behind back in 2012, but it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up not only for myself but for my family, and so here we are. It hasn't been without its challenges and grievances, but isn’t that life in general? It constantly ebbs and flows like the movement of the tides.

Not only do I feel like I finally now have a moment to breathe and take it all in, but it ironically enough falls in the same month for men’s health awareness. I take this seriously than maybe others because of how much suicide has affected my circle of friends, specifically those I’ve served with in a past life. The constant gnawing of societies expectations, our partners expectations, and our kids expectations can be a bit overwhelming in a world where men are just expected to “nut up” and just do it.

Read more

Life can be funny sometimes. It seems as though the more you try to run away from the thing that you have a natural inclination for, the more it’ll sink its teeth in. The strange thing is so many people, myself included, have this overbearing imposter syndrome that makes them believe they’re not good enough to go after what makes their heart skip a beat. These same people will end up going to their graves doing a job they absolutely despise solely because it provides a bare minimum and consistent income along with so-called medical benefits. Their Linked In states they’re an accountant at Dingle Dore Enterprises, yet on the weekends they end up organically starting a side hustle starting with their close friends as “clients.” They claim they could never be a mechanic, yet they end up fixing cars at night at half the cost and half the time than larger known dealerships would charge. They can’t get away from their natural born talent.

They can try by covering up their grease stained arms with a cheap suit and tie, but underneath they’re a gear head who loves to problem solve. Or a woodworker who loves to create art. Or an electrician who loves to make things tidy and efficient. Or a plumber who loves making a system in a house that’ll last for decades. Or a website designer who loves creating a launching point for a new company. The list of examples are endless, but they all have one common trait – an unspoken level of passion. As people get older, it seems that passion, for whatever the topic, slowly seems to wane. The bright flame that once ruled over their lives starts to lose its color in the name of “stability,” “age,” or “new priorities.” Yes, life is constantly changing and evolving every time that second hand ticks to the next. Yet to ignore the thing that life has called you for is one of life’s many great tragedies.

Read more

Lately I feel like there’s a common theme of time popping up more and more in my life.

Trying to capture more of it on the days where I’m rushing to meet deadlines and on other days I want to burn it away because I feel like I’m waiting around and twiddling my thumbs.

What a paradox.

Read more

I was asked long ago, “Ian, what keeps you going? How do you continue on and on knowing that there is no end?”

I shrugged it off as not knowing what to say, as to not know how to answer.

Hell, I still have no clue how to answer it.

As cliche and tacky as it may sound, I don’t give myself a way out.

I intentionally pigeon hole myself in a way so that the only way is through.

No backpedaling.

Definitely not stagnating.

As my brother Marcus said many moons ago, “Find a way, or make one.”

There is no greater tragedy than seeing others who give up before they even start.

Who find even an ounce of friction and immediately opt out.

Tap out.

Fucking cave before the storm even crests the horizon.

Read more

The tragedy of life is that so very few will be enlightened by the fire in their lungs as they push for one more rep.

One more round.

One more run at the stage.

And gasping for the sweet taste of oxygen as they just eviscerated their previous PR.

As they finally submitted their school arch nemesis.

As they finally ran the drill clean.

So very few will be drawn to the concept of sacrificing their preconceived notions of themselves in order for their own exponential growth.

Comfort creates the average.

Average surrounds with the average.

It’s how echo chambers are born.

And it’s where growth goes to die.

There are so very few who are dedicated to a cause – to a belief – because it’s “hard.”

Things that are difficult and arduous break the majority.

The average want it now.

The few believe in the long game.

They understand that’s it’s the arduous journey, not the pristine destination.

It’s hard never settling and avoiding complacency like the plague that it is.

But you see, that’s the beauty in it.

There’s so very few because you can’t fake dedication.

You either have the capacity to choke the life out of weaknesses and self-doubt with your bare hands, or you don’t.

Average breeds average.

Dedication breeds greatness.

What are you?

Time is a funny thing. Those that want to get to their goal already want less and those with a dying family member want more. However they perceive it, it’s the enemy.

I remember when I was in high school I wanted to graduate already, and now I’d give anything to go back to the days of only working a measly job for a simple paycheck. Or how when I was in the end-phase of my military enlistment and I just wanted that glorious DD-214, I’d give anything to be back in the sandbox with the boys.

Just as I wanted less, other situations I’d give just about anything for more time with my beloved dog Faith or to hear my best friend Marco’s laugh one final time. No matter how you slice it, neither I or you have control over time. It just “is.” It’s in a never-ending, linear motion.

We cannot fast-forward it nor can we, as Blockbuster said, “Be kind, re-wind” it. We can only be present and, as the late Ram Dass once said, “Be here, now.”

What my very small experience on this floating rock has taught me thus far is that being present and appreciative of this current, exact moment is one of the many struggles of an impatient and supposed “disenfranchised” society. Being proud of being constantly insatiable is the new cool thing. Always desiring more is what’s keeping our world in a constant state of [DIS]ease.

Read more

I find it rather unnerving lately when I hear the same sob story over and over again about the high cost of living.

Of how expensive eggs are.

Of how pricey a house or car is.

I get it, it’s rough out there. Everyone seems to be grinding tooth and nail in search of some sort of stability.

Lately it seems like a pipe dream at best, but hey, what else can one do?

Yet, I see these same people going on get-away vacations, buying a boat or ATV, or just simply living outside their means.

Why?

Simple.

They’re dopamine addicts. They’re chasing the “high” of attempting to find joy in things that cost them “society tokens” (i.e. the almighty dollar).

If you’re ok with being haunted by monthly bills that pile up or just living in debt to every credit card company known to modern man, than you might as well just stop reading now. This piece isn’t for you.

This is for those trying to find an exit strategy.

Don’t worry, I’m not going to sell you some online class or PDF MLM hack.

I’m just going to ask that you adjust your so-called priorities and ask yourself, “Is this actually benefiting me, or hurting me?”

If you want to change in order to live a life unburdened by the money man, then you may need pause for a moment and get your bearings.

Re-learn how to find joy in listening to or reading a book.

Go for a walk in the park or a hike in the woods.

Do a bodyweight/calisthenic workout.

Meditate.

Camp in your backyard, or a friends, and do without the noise of electronics.

Watch the sun rise or the sun set as the crickets chime in with their nightly melody.

Learn to cook a home made meal and taste the love and satisfaction that comes from making something yourself.

Watch an old DVD you have laying around and find happiness in the nostalgia.

Find happiness in the stillness in between moments.

I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, I’m just reminding you of how simple it is to be content with things that don’t break the bank.

Stop trying to keep up with the Jones’ and instead be happy with what’s right in front of you.

A roof that keeps you dry.

A warm bed.

Lights at the flick of a switch.

Running water at the turn of the knob.

Friends at the sending of a text or a late night call.

And if you’re reading this, the internet where you can quite literally learn just about anything.

It just comes down to how bad you want a better life and to be free from the hook of short-term pleasures.

Leave a comment

Doing years of door work at some not so great areas of Boston afforded me the opportunity to interact with a lot of “interesting” humans.

Out of efficiency you learn very quickly to pick up on tells/ticks, erratic eye movement, hand/body placement.

The sooner you can see a potential problem, the sooner you can make it no longer a problem.

Simple math here folks.

Anyways, you can tell very quickly who untested/untrained people are by “beating of the chest” (i.e. talking shit), the claim of “I’m a street-fighter bro, I only see red,” or in simpler terms, the one who “has a temper.”

Talk to anyone who’s been doing grappling or striking for at least a decade.

They are the first ones to either leave before it’s a problem or be able to talk themselves out of a problem.

Why?

Because fighting sucks man.

I, like them, understand that as well.

There’s also usually a character that lingers in the depths of these people.

Some people call it the “inner-critic.”

That’s what keeps the dedication going on the toughest of days.

That’s also what wakes me up in the middle of the night.

Not because of zombies or monsters, no, but because I wasn’t able to perform on the day I was called upon.

What could be a worst tragedy than that?

All the years of training and preparation.

Early mornings and late nights.

Blood, sweat, and tears.

Talking to God asking are my efforts worth a damn?

And for what?

Dashed in an instant.

So what do you do? Let the critic win by waving the white flag in defeat?

Hell no.

Read more

I had a heart to heart today with one of my youngest. Let’s just say she’s not a fan of doing the hard things. In all reality though, who actually is? I had to explain to her that the more difficult things you can tolerate, the better off your life will be. Now as those parental readers here know, that’s a difficult pill for a 13-going-on-28 year old to swallow. Hell, that’s difficult pill to swallow for most so-called adults. Regardless, the truth gained from the experience(s) is a requirement for growth.

Trying not to be the one-upper here, but I know some miraculous humans I can call friends. All of them regardless of job, location, age, or sex, have one common trait – being survivors. Whether surviving domestic violence or overseas warfare. Whether surviving a failed mountain ascent or a 30+ hour ultra-marathon. Whether learning to walk again with a missing leg from war or spender 10+ years in the pursuit or a BJJ black belt. Whether a former alcoholic who’s found God and grace or a 3x cancer survivor. They found light in the darkness, and in turn, gained a higher tolerance for life’s hardships.

If all you have ever known and all you have ever done are things that selfishly bring you only joy and pleasure, that’s what some people may call “hedonism.” There needs to be balance at play here.

“We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them.”

-Epictetus

You can’t rely on things always going as planned in life. You just can’t. To believe otherwise is a pipe dream at best. The lower your tolerance to the hard things equals a lower perceived ability to continue. Yet through intentional hard effort, you can understand that your ability is directly tethered to your time under tension. An untested man is an individual who has lived a life of pleasure and never having raised a finger in effort. They have never explored a deeper part of themselves, a side that at times is required.

That isn’t to say that you need a similar situation akin to those aforementioned above in order to grow. Seek it out. Do what terrifies you. Sign up for the match. Do the free trial class. Take the job because it’s what you’ve always wanted. Do the workout today even though the couch is calling your name. Climb the route because it makes your palms sweat. Run the marathon because it controls and quiets the darkness. Ask her out on a date because she makes your heart skip a beat.

Search these out and be ready for learning to occur. None of these come without cost or consequence. The larger the load you can bear, the more capable you become. This isn’t “bro math” either, ask yourself how good you felt after completing the workout you didn’t want to do, after showing up to class still a little sore, or after finishing that race that you thought you would have for sure DNF’d on. Life isn’t a competition of who’s first, but who can last. Last longer by doing the difficult thing more often that you may want to. Growth is kind of a bitch like that.

Doing hard stuff is hard. Doing the hard stuff over and over is what breaks most people. It breaks them in a sort of way that many can’t return from. They get discouraged because life happens. Losing a job. Binging. Injury. A birth. A death. I’ve heard it all and experienced most.

Falling off is expected, getting back on is voluntary. The name of the game isn’t who gets derailed, but instead who rights themselves against all odds. No one in a right, stable mind wants to do a difficult task repeatedly. Day after day. Week after week. Month after month. Repetition is how you get there. You can read all the self-help books, listen to all the guru’s, and pay for all the webinar’s, but at the end of the day it’s just putting intentional time in.

Notice I didn’t simply say, “Put time in.” Anyone can burn time by logging in and then logging out. But are you intentionally putting in the appropriate amount of effort to achieve the appropriate response? Become comfortable with patience. The more you can develop time under tension, the greater your tolerance to discomfort. The greater the tolerance to discomfort, the less you are tethered by fear.

Fear makes people do really weird shit sometimes. One of them is simply the fear of public embarrassment. Fearful people will rarely intentionally place themselves to be tested on public display where there’s a win/lose standard. No one wants to lose but it happens, and the bravest amongst us dust themselves off and go at it again and again. Reps on reps.

Fitting in will always be easier socially and financially than to intentionally stand out. Yet, it doesn’t feed the soul. If anything it’s akin to a cancer. Day by day. Week by week. Month by month. Year by year. It eats away at your very being. It eventually gets called depression and what follows is a death being ruled suicide. The family holds a vigil while simultaneously being pulled apart by grief because “no one knew.”

This unfortunate cycle repeats itself over and over again and instead of getting to the root of the problem, they label it a “mental health crisis” and move on. Humans today contain the same genetic markers of their hunter/gatherer ancestors, but instead of being able to find a balance in nature, they are instead forced into the daily rat race that is labeled as “being an adult.”

Read more

You live in a world populated by the most mediocre and average. To live an extraordinary life is taboo. It is akin to being shunned like an outcast. The United States specifically was once a country that prided itself as a “physical culture.” Its fathers are now a shadow of its once tanned, muscular, 5” inseam short wearing self. Now, most dads wear clothes that are too big, along with their appetite, and instead of a dedication to the pursuit of being a quality figurehead of the household, it now drowns its sorrow in copious amounts estrogen-raising light beer, an unhealthy addiction to video games or porn, and a voyeuristic relationship with watching professional sports. Welcome to the Modern Dad of the 21st Century.

To live a life in the constant chase of perfectionism removes the bullshit and enhances perspective of the weakness that perpetuates the modern world. Most people want easy and will in turn avoid quite literally anything that gives even the slightest indication of being difficult. Your grit is similar to your immune system. The more you expose yourself to difficult situations (i.e. exposure to germs), the more your grit is reinforced (as will your immune system). The more you avoid it the less your tolerance is and the more susceptible you’ll be to quitting (or disease).

No one in human history has benefited from being either physically or mentally weak. It just goes against general logic. The physically stronger individual along with superior logic and guile typically survives. In the past, anything below that threshold wasn’t suitable enough to carry its bloodline on to the next generation. They were quite literally erased from existence. Yet today, those today who are physically inferior, mentally unstable, and are generally low-IQ individuals are emboldened and held as heroes, while others are considered extremists because their sheer presence is

deemed a threat against the “disenfranchised.”

Fuck all of that. Humans have been at war since they emerged from caves 300,000 years ago. This war against physicality is no different. They want you to be soft. They want you to be malleable. They don’t want you to think freely and to speak up against what’s morally or ethically wrong. They want you to be numb from the sickness that’s perpetuating the human species. They want to phase all of you out that remember what it was once like. This is the long game they’re playing. This is a multi-generational genocide on the pursuit of perfectionism. Keep remembering. Keep posting. Keep the stories alive of how capable humans can be if general physicality is the foundation of your life.

Whether you realize it or not, you are in a passive agreement with everyone you pass by every single day. You and all these random people you come in contact with are all in an acknowledgement with an unspoken pact. This so-called unspoken pact is how you and everyone else can exist together in what is formally called a “society.” Of course there will always be the outliers and vagrants who refuse to abide by a loosely framed code of morals and ethics and are eventually deemed “criminals.” Yet, for the vast majority of humans on this planet, we are more or less slightly evolved monkeys with decently advanced technology (some with nuclear capability) who are all existing mutually together.

Read more

How many of you have heard someone say “you’re perfect the way that you are.” That is by far one of the biggest bullshit statements you’ll encounter throughout your life. Other people typically want to be in your good graces and rarely do they want to tell you the hard truth. That’s the inherent difference between an acquaintance and a true friend. The …

Read more

Life in itself is war. Within your lifetime you’ll experience multiple battles and skirmishes that will fundamentally change who you are as a human being. Yet, how you react is the most important thing. Everyday is a roll of the dice. Cars break down, tragedy can happen out of nowhere, and a simple accident can change your life forever. You try to control as much as you can, but the sheer reality is nothing is guaranteed. This terrifies the uninitiated. These thoughts are what scares people into staying exactly where they are because of the fear of the unknown that lays ahead.

For those brave enough to weather the chaos that’s called “life,” you can expect it to eat you alive if you choose to allow it to. Now what does that mean exactly? Who would willingly be ok with waking up day after day accepting that you will be chewed up and spit out only to do it again? That’s what any sane person would call Hell. What many people don’t realize is that they are choosing to continue to live in this hellscape because they continue to avoid the hard things.

You need to learn to lean the fuck in when life gets hard, which it will, more often than you’d like. Intentionally avoiding it and burying your head in the sand like an ostrich would is coward behavior. Cowards die because they allow fear to infect their brains like a virus would. Inaction, stillness, is what will kill you. Sure, pause when you need to get your bearings but movement, no matter how little, in a forward direction towards your goal is what will get you there.

If you so choose to go all in to a goal, whether that goal is to be Grandmaster class in USPSA, a black belt in BJJ, starting a business, or to simply get into the gym to lose weight understand that it is a war of attrition. There’s no “life hack” or motivational guru that’s going to get you there any faster other than just showing up and doing the work. Yes, there may be mentors that can help to keep you on the path when necessary, but at the end of the day it will always be you vs. you.

How long are you willing to keep your head down and just log the hours? On the good days and the bad days? On the days when all your so-called friends want to hit the bars? On the days when those numbers in the bank account are getting smaller and smaller? Everyone wants to mimic what their famous Instagram influencer is doing until shit starts getting hard. Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but life is hard. But if you’re able to keep on the straight and narrow and put the hours/days/weeks/years/decades in, you’ll eventually get where you want to be. In a society that is sick with a dopamine addiction, prove the statistics wrong and be in it for the long haul. Keep. Fucking. Going.