Not Made for the Harbor

Dear Collective,

There is an old saying about ships that I keep coming back to lately. It goes like this: a boat is perfectly safe sitting in the harbor, but that is not what boats are actually made for.

I want you to think about that for a second.

The harbor is easy. It’s quiet. There are no waves, no sudden storms, and no risks of getting dinged up. But a boat that never leaves the docks is just a piece of wood rotting in the water.

I see a lot of people spending their whole lives staying in the harbor.

These are the people who never take a real chance. They are scared to start the new project, scared to walk into a new environment, or scared to push their limits. They constantly put things off for another day. They tell themselves that "someday down the line" when the timing is absolutely perfect, they will finally go out and do the thing.

But that perfect day never comes. And in the meantime, they miss out on all the real experiences that make life worth living.

When we push you hard on the gym floor, we aren't doing it to make you suffer. We are preparing you for the unexpected.

Life is not going to be perfect. You are going to get caught in storms you didn't see coming. Your plans will fail, your schedule will get wrecked, and things will go sideways. We train in here so that when those moments happen, you don't freeze up. You learn to adapt. You learn to give it your best effort and give it your all, even when the conditions are terrible. You get to showcase what you are really capable of.

I’ve had to look at this closely in my own life recently.

Between taking on a heavy new role as a controller, expanding my responsibilities with soccer, and keeping the high standards we have for We, The Collective, my plate is fuller than it has ever been. It would be incredibly easy for me to take the safe path. I could stay in my own comfortable harbor and cut back.

But if I did that, where would I be? I wouldn't enjoy my life nearly as much. I truly believe that life is a good challenge. We are meant to open businesses, test drive new things, explore our limits, and find out what we can handle.

You were built to sail, not to hide behind the seawall.

This week, stop waiting for the perfect weather. Stop putting off the hard decision or the tough workout for some imaginary "someday." Pull your anchors up, get out of the harbor, and let's go find out what you are actually made of.

With Strength and Wisdom,

Charlie We, The Collective Fitness