The Power of the Persistent Step

To The Collective Fitness Community,

This week, let's lock in on an intention that's easy to forget in our fast-paced world: Never discourage anyone who continually makes progress, no matter how slow. And honestly, that "anyone" includes you.

This world can be obsessed with instant gratification and overnight success. We see the highlight reels, the finished products, the "before and afters" that skip over the grueling middle. This makes us think if we're not sprinting, we're standing still. But that's a load of crap. Real, lasting change—the kind that truly reshapes you—isn't a sprint. It's a relentless, often agonizing, crawl.

Think about it like this: If you take just one step forward every single day, even when you're tired, even when you mess up, even when you feel like you're going nowhere... that's immense. Because that single step, especially on the days you want to do anything but, is a direct victory over the voice that tells you to quit. It’s a quiet declaration that your commitment outweighs your comfort, and your discipline trumps your fleeting motivation. Each one of those small, almost invisible pushes builds a stronger, more resilient version of you, brick by painful brick

It's the philosophy behind tackling something as brutal as the videogames Elden Ring or Dark Souls. Most people never finish the games. In September 2023, only 40% of copies of Elden Ring had completed the game. This remained constant with Dark Souls where only 35-40% of players finish the game.

One of the reasons it’s so difficult is there is not a lot of guidance. You are expected to search forums, watch guides, and even ask others to directly help you in the game. You die, you learn, you adjust, and you go again. You don't beat it in a day (speed runners- this isn’t for you here). You beat it by consistently showing up, taking tiny chunks out of the journey.  

That's the essence of building true discipline. Motivation is a fickle friend; it shows up when it feels good. Discipline is the quiet, stubborn bastard that drags you out of bed, laces up your shoes, and tells you to take that one damn step, even when you don't feel like it. You screw up? Good. Learn from it, brush that shit off, and keep going. You're not feeling it today? Keep going. A mere 1% improvement each day compounds into something monumental over time.

So, this week, apply this to yourself and everyone around you. Celebrate the small, consistent efforts. Don't let perceived slowness trick you into stopping. Every single step, every rep, every moment of choosing discipline over comfort, is progress. And that, my friends, is all that truly matters. Just keep going.

Strength & Community,

Charlie