Small Steps Over Big Leaps

Dear Collective,

Happy New Year. We have officially stepped into 2026, and I want to start this year by pushing back against the "New Year, New Me" script that we’ve all been sold.

Every January, people try to change everything about themselves overnight. They decide they’re going to work out seven days a week for two hours a day, quit every "bad" habit cold turkey, and never touch a carb again. But let’s be real: trying to work out 11 days a week for 44 hours a day isn't actually possible. These massive, radical leaps are incredibly difficult to maintain because life eventually gets in the way. When the intensity becomes too high, the first thing we do is quit.

This week, I want our intention to be small steps over big leaps.

What nobody wants to hear is that real change is found in the slow, consistent action, the almost boring tedium of showing up and doing the small things right. It’s not about changing your entire identity in one week; it’s about getting ever so slightly better over a long period.

What if, instead of promising to live in the gym, you just committed to 20 minutes of movement because that’s what you actually have time for? What if, instead of banning "bad" foods, you just decided that you’re going to have the fries, but you’re going to share them with a friend or just not finish the whole plate?

These small, consistent choices are the ones that move the needle. They are the 1% wins that compound into a masterpiece. When you take the small step, you give yourself a chance to succeed every single day.

I’m practicing this right now with our transition. We have officially moved into our new space at 134 North Ridgeland Ave in Oak Park, and classes have already started. WE MOVED AN ENTIRE GYM AND OPENED IN SIX DAYS OVER NEW YEARS! It was a massive undertaking, but we didn't get here by doing everything at once. We got here by packing one box, moving one piece of equipment, and solving one problem at a time. Please pardon our dust.

As you start your 2026 journey, don't worry about scaling the whole mountain today. Just look for that one small, consistent thing you can do right now. Fix that one piece of the mess, and then do it again tomorrow.

With Strength and Adaptability,

Charlie