01/07/2026
The Wake-Up Call I Didn’t Want… But Really Needed
I love my daughter to death, but damn she can be brutally honest at times.
Sometimes the people closest to us have a way of saying things we really need to hear — even when it stings a little.
The other day we were at the gym running sprints on the turf helping her train for soccer, and I was completely gassed.
I was bent over, catching my breath, legs burning, lungs on fire.
She looked at me and said, “What’s wrong, old man? Can’t run anymore? Too out of shape?”
And as much as part of me wanted to laugh it off, the coach in me was proud.
She wasn’t being mean or maybe she was — either way she was challenging me and deep down, I knew she was right.
Later that morning, I kept thinking about that moment.
Not because my ego was bruised, but because it reminded me of something important: we all need someone in our lives who isn’t afraid to be honest with us.
It’s easy to brush things off and say, “I’m fine,” or “I’m doing okay.”
But only we truly know whether we’re really giving our very best effort — or just doing enough to get by.
Honest feedback has a way of waking us up.
For me, running has been my weak spot ever since I tore my Achilles years ago.
Physically, I recovered — but mentally, I never really went back to it.
I told myself I could just do cardio other ways.
I convinced myself running “wasn’t necessary.”
The truth?
I avoided it because it was uncomfortable.
My calf would tighten up, and instead of slowly increasing my strength and rebuilding tolerance, I just stopped trying.
I wasn’t incapable — I just wasn’t willing to address the weakness head-on.
Standing there on the turf with my daughter calling me out, it hit me:
I didn’t want to be the dad who used to run, who used to be an athlete.
I wanted to be the dad who leads by example.
The dad who shows his kid what it looks like to work hard, stay disciplined, and train with purpose.
Her honesty didn’t discourage me — it lit a fire.
It reminded me why I started training in the first place and why consistency matters.
That moment also made me think about our members.
We all have that one thing we avoid — the exercise we skip, the habit we shrug off, the conversation we never have with ourselves.
We tell ourselves we’re “busy” or “doing good enough,” but deep down we know whether we’re really putting in the work.
And most of the time, the thing holding us back isn’t knowledge or time.
It’s honesty.
Being brutally honest with yourself is uncomfortable — but it’s also freeing.
When you stop pretending and start acknowledging where you’re falling short, that’s when progress begins.
That’s when you stop avoiding your challenges and start facing them.
And yes — this applies to everything.
Your workouts.
Your nutrition.
Your sleep and recovery.
Even the effort you bring to your daily life.
If you’re not where you want to be right now, chances are it’s not because you “can’t.”
It’s probably because, like me with running, you haven’t been as honest with yourself as you could be.
And that realization isn’t something to feel bad about — it’s something to feel empowered and motivated by because honesty gives you the opportunity to change.
So ask yourself: do you have someone who will call you out when you need it?
And more importantly, are you willing to call yourself out?
The truth is, your biggest breakthrough is usually waiting on the other side of that honest conversation.
And the good news is, you are always one decision away from doing things differently — and proving to yourself what you’re really capable of.
If this hits home, good — it means you’re ready. Let’s keep moving forward together and make 2026 our best year yet!.
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