25 Hours a Day

1. Embrace the Suck: Find Growth in Discomfort

Embrace the suck is a bit of a slogan, but it's also a reminder that life is like weight training: our muscles grow stronger as an adaptation to the stress we put them under when we work out.

Embracing discomfort leads to growth. This principle, learned in military training, applies to all aspects of life. By willingly facing challenging situations, you develop resilience and adaptability. These experiences, while uncomfortable, are catalysts for personal and professional development.

Examples of embracing the suck:

• Completing a grueling workout
• Tackling a difficult work project
• Pursuing a challenging educational goal
• Overcoming personal fears or limitations

The key is to view discomfort as an opportunity rather than an obstacle. By reframing your perspective, you can turn challenging experiences into valuable learning opportunities and personal growth.

2. If It Were Easy, Anyone Could Do It: Overcoming Challenges

I naively thought $20,000 was more than enough money to start a product-based business, and that I'd have the brand fully built before the first payment was due in eighteen months.

Success requires perseverance through challenges. Building a successful business or achieving significant goals is rarely a smooth journey. It often involves overcoming numerous obstacles, setbacks, and moments of self-doubt.

Nick Bare's experience in starting Bare Performance Nutrition illustrates this principle:

• Initial expectation: Quick success and $1 million in revenue within a year
• Reality: Years of struggle, learning, and persistence before achieving significant growth

The journey to success often involves:

• Adapting to unexpected challenges
• Learning from failures and setbacks
• Continuously refining strategies and approaches
• Maintaining commitment and passion despite difficulties

Understanding that the path to success is challenging helps maintain realistic expectations and fosters the resilience needed to persevere.

3. Survive Tough Times by Developing Mental Toughness

My mind took stock: There's no more food coming. There's not going to be any sleep for a long time to come. My body wasn't going to carry me through. My mind was going to have to do the pushing from here on out.

Mental toughness is crucial for overcoming adversity. Developing the ability to push through difficult situations mentally is a key factor in achieving long-term success. This mental fortitude allows you to persevere when physical and emotional resources are depleted.

Strategies for developing mental toughness:

• Set challenging goals and commit to achieving them
• Practice positive self-talk and visualization
• Expose yourself to controlled discomfort (e.g., challenging workouts, cold showers)
• Reflect on past successes during difficult times
• Focus on controllable factors rather than external circumstances

By strengthening your mind's ability to overcome challenges, you increase your capacity to handle stress, adversity, and setbacks in all areas of life.

4. Become a Learning Machine: Continuously Acquire New Skills

Learning means savings, but that's also a kind of investing. It wasn't intentional, but the more I learned, the more valuable I became to my own company. I was investing in the brand by also investing in myself.

Continuous learning drives personal and professional growth. Adopting a mindset of constant skill acquisition and knowledge expansion is crucial for long-term success. This approach not only enhances your capabilities but also increases your value in various contexts.

Benefits of becoming a learning machine:

• Increased adaptability to changing environments
• Enhanced problem-solving skills
• Greater creativity and innovation
• Improved self-confidence and self-reliance
• Expanded career opportunities

Practical ways to foster continuous learning:

• Set a goal to learn one new thing daily
• Utilize online resources (courses, tutorials, podcasts)
• Read books and articles in your field and beyond
• Seek mentorship and learn from others' experiences
• Apply new knowledge practically in your work or personal projects

By prioritizing learning, you invest in your most valuable asset: yourself.

5. Abandon Entitlement: Take Responsibility for Your Success

I am quick to remind myself that it all comes down on me. As a business owner, I reflect often on my time leading an infantry platoon. If the platoon failed in a mission or a task, it wasn't the platoon's fault. It came down on me, as their leader.

Success is earned, not given. Abandoning a sense of entitlement and taking full responsibility for your outcomes is crucial for achieving your goals. This mindset shift empowers you to take action and create opportunities rather than waiting for them to appear.

Key aspects of abandoning entitlement:

• Recognize that no one owes you success
• Understand that hard work is necessary but not always sufficient
• Take ownership of both successes and failures
• Focus on what you can control rather than external factors
• Continuously seek ways to add value and improve

By adopting this mindset, you become proactive in pursuing your goals and more resilient in the face of setbacks. It fosters a sense of agency and motivation to create the life and career you desire.

6. Go All-In: Commit Fully to Your Passion

Once I did that, things started to change, things started to pay off. I wasn't looking for excuses anymore at that point.

Full commitment amplifies results. Going all-in on your passion or goal means dedicating yourself entirely to its pursuit. This level of commitment often leads to breakthrough results and personal fulfillment.

Characteristics of going all-in:

• Prioritizing your goal above other pursuits
• Willingness to make sacrifices for your vision
• Persistence through challenges and setbacks
• Continuous effort to improve and innovate
• Aligning daily actions with long-term objectives

Benefits of full commitment:

• Increased focus and productivity
• Greater resilience in the face of obstacles
• Accelerated skill development and learning
• Higher likelihood of achieving ambitious goals
• Deeper sense of purpose and fulfillment

Going all-in doesn't guarantee success, but it significantly increases your chances of achieving extraordinary results in your chosen field.

7. Win the Day Back: Maximize Each Day's Potential

Every day I wake up behind on the scoreboard. Every day I work to end it with a win. And every morning, it begins all over again.

Each day is an opportunity for progress. Adopting a mindset of "winning the day back" involves approaching each day as a fresh opportunity to make meaningful progress towards your goals. This approach combines urgency with a focus on consistent, daily action.

Strategies for winning the day:

• Start early and tackle important tasks first
• Set clear, achievable daily goals
• Use backward planning to organize tasks efficiently
• Embrace the day's highs and lows as part of the process
• Reflect on daily accomplishments and areas for improvement

Benefits of this mindset:

• Increased productivity and sense of accomplishment
• Reduced procrastination and wasted time
• Greater alignment between daily actions and long-term goals
• Improved resilience and ability to overcome setbacks
• Continuous progress towards larger objectives

By focusing on winning each day, you create momentum and consistency that compound over time, leading to significant long-term achievements.

8. Go One More: Push Beyond Your Perceived Limits

Whatever it takes to get one more step closer to your goal.

Pushing beyond limits unlocks potential. The concept of "going one more" encourages you to push slightly beyond your perceived limits consistently. This approach leads to gradual but significant improvements over time.

Applications of "go one more":

• In fitness: One more rep, minute, or set
• In business: One more call, pitch, or hour of work
• In personal growth: One more book, skill, or challenge

Benefits of this mindset:

• Continuous improvement and skill development
• Increased mental toughness and resilience
• Discovery of previously unknown capabilities
• Greater sense of accomplishment and self-efficacy
• Accelerated progress towards goals

By consistently pushing just a bit further than you think possible, you expand your limits and achieve more than you initially believed you could. This principle, applied consistently, can lead to extraordinary results over time.

Last updated: September 23, 2024