Freestyle Fridays: A Check-In on Consistency and Commitment
Freestyle Fridays were created to be real. Uncut. Unedited. Unscripted. No notes. No polish. Just honest reflection on what is working, what is slipping, and what needs to change. This episode was recorded on a cold December morning in Zionsville, Indiana, with temperatures hovering near seventeen degrees. And that cold became the perfect reminder of something important: routines matter, and consistency always shows up in the results.
When Your Routine Slips, Your Results Follow
I noticed my routine had started to slip. Nothing dramatic at first. No immediate negative outcomes. But slowly, the cracks showed up. Conversions were down. Confidence felt off. Calls did not feel as sharp. Leadership felt heavier. The reason was simple. I stopped doing the things I committed to doing each morning. This morning, I got back into the cold plunge for the first time in weeks. Forty-six degree water inside a twenty-seven degree garage is a different kind of cold. Stepping out of that water into freezing air wakes you up fast. But this was not about cold exposure. It was about recommitting to winning my morning and setting the tone for the entire day.
Do More of What Works and Less of What Does Not
Here is a simple exercise I want you to do. Look back at the last thirty days and ask yourself what habits and rituals worked. What moved the needle. What created momentum. Then ask yourself what did not work. The answer is simple, but most people ignore it. Do more of what worked. Do less of what did not. And if something consistently does not work for you, find help or support for it. Focus your energy where you get the greatest return.
Redefining What Winning the Day Looks Like
Life evolves. Seasons change. What winning the day looked like a year ago may not be what it looks like today. I no longer have the same built-in accountability I once had with a trainer down the street. After HYROX, I intentionally took a week off from training. That week turned into two. Two turned into more. And suddenly I am five weeks away from stepping on stage in early 2026 not feeling great about how I look or feel. That realization was a wake-up call. Winning the day has to be redefined as life changes. The standards must remain, even when the structure shifts.
Even High Performance Coaches Need Coaches
I share this because I want you to know something important. I coach people at a very high level of accountability every single day. And I still struggle with consistency sometimes. That is why I have coaches. Actually, more than one. Accountability is not a weakness. It is a requirement for sustained performance. Which brings me to an important question: are you coachable?
The Truth About Being Coachable
I recently revisited a book called Trillion Dollar Coaches, and one line stood out. Only coach the coachable. Coachable people show honesty, humility, a willingness to work hard, and an openness to learning. You also have to be honest with your coach. Sometimes people are not afraid of failure. They are afraid of success. Afraid of what happens next. Afraid of raising the standard. I see this often. I have felt it myself. You train for something, achieve it, and immediately ask, what is next, instead of pausing to appreciate what you just accomplished.
Why Celebrating Wins Matters More Than You Think
This is something I am actively working on. Celebrating wins. My coach called me out on it recently. He reminded me how many wins I had stacked up, yet my focus was immediately on what I had not done yet. Here is a lesson worth remembering. When you celebrate a win, you raise your floor. You redefine what is acceptable for yourself moving forward. Sometimes we avoid celebrating because we do not want to raise that floor. But growth demands it. We do not put ceilings on ourselves, but we must raise our standards.
A Personal Reminder of Gratitude and Second Chances
This week, we celebrate my son Leo turning two years old. After losing our son CJ in 2020, being given a second chance at fatherhood was terrifying and beautiful all at once. And it has been worth every ounce of fear. Leo brings joy, energy, and perspective into our lives every single day. He reminds us how precious time is and how powerful gratitude can be. Second chances are scary, but they are often where the greatest rewards live.
The Questions You Must Answer for 2026
As we approach 2026, here are the questions you need to answer honestly. Are you clear on where you want to be next year. Do you know what you must do differently to get there. How did 2025 actually go for you. What held you back. Are you being coached. Are you surrounded by people who hold you to a standard of excellence. Growth does not happen in isolation.
The Role of Community and Coaching in Growth
You do not need to work with me specifically. But you do need someone. A mentor. A coach. A community. I would not be where I am today without being coached consistently since 2005. Coaching changed my life. That is why I chose to become a coach and help others grow at a high level. If you want to be better, learn more, serve more, and lead more, it requires support.
Final Thoughts: Clarity, Commitment, and Consistency
Be clear about where you want to go in 2026. Commit to doing what is required to get there. Stay consistent with the habits that work. Celebrate your wins. Get support where you need it. And remember this: growth is not about perfection. It is about recommitment. Over and over again. That is how progress is built.
