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Hardest Part ≠ Most Important Part

I don’t believe that “showing up is the hardest part”. Here’s why…

Have you ever struggled to get off the couch to get to the gym? 

When lacing up your shoes and carrying your bag to the car feels like you’re moving through thick air.

Where every right on red is a chance to turn back home?

Where you’ve sat in the car park distracting yourself to avoid going into the gym?

Where scanning your key tag feels like lifting PR bicep curl?

Only to get started training…and things feel suspiciously good. Like you’re hitting PRs and thinking “oh fuck…this could be my time to make the Olympic workout team?”

Chances are you have experienced this feeling. Showing up may be the hardest part.

But I don’t agree that it’s the most important part. 

The most important part

If we think the job is done once we show up, then there is a chance that we go through the motions when we arrive. In the long run, this is more degrading than not getting there at all.

If you’d have skipped the gym in favor of rest, then the next time you show up you might have brought more energy, higher effort, greater focus, and gleaned more benefits from 1 hard workout than 2 bleh level ones.

Once you’re there, you have to give it the effort that makes it worth getting there.

Don’t get me wrong, I firmly agree that there is value in going regardless. I speak often about the value of keeping the momentum going and casting a vote for the importance of the act. It builds the habit and gives you evidence of positive action the next time you feel like doing anything other than training.

AND 

When you get there, you’ve got to get to work.

Going through the motions can be more toxic than not going at all. It can perpetuate the “what’s the point” mindset.

Getting there might be the hardest part…but it’s not always the most important part.

The most important part is usually what impact you create when you’re there.

Don’t go to the party if you’re going to be a drag. Go and give it your best effort to make the most out of it.


If you keep showing up, but aren’t getting the results you want, then it’s likely that you’re not applying enough efforts to the right things. At builtXyou, we work with busy guys to build a clear, specific, and customized program to your goals, needs, and preferences, so you can be sure that the work you’re doing is guaranteed to get results.

If you’re tired of hoping your way through your health, fitness, and physique efforts then apply for one of our limited monthly coaching spots below today so that you can live the life you want in a body you are confident in and proud of,