I was riding the Long Island Railroad back from NYC with a few colleagues from my medical device days when the topic of the gym came up.
Someone asked me, “How do you work out every day?”
Without skipping a beat, I said: “Discipline.”
They laughed. “Okay, Mr. Discipline!”
But I wasn’t joking.
They didn’t get it. Most people don’t.
What They Don’t See…
They don’t see that I’ve had to work harder than people with better genetics.
There was a time when I’d flex and… nothing. My nickname was Heavy Evvy.
This isn’t about vanity. It’s about survival.
Most of my family is either dead or dying from heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or autoimmune disease.
I want to live.
People say I’m “lucky.” But luck looks a lot like discipline at 5:00 A.M., at 2:45 A.M. before a flight, or at midnight after putting my son to bed.
The Wrong Questions
“How often do you go to the gym?”
Wrong question.
It’s not about the gym—it’s about your system.
“Every day.”
But that’s not even the point.
Discipline isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up.
Even for 5 minutes. A few push-ups. A short walk. That counts.
When Life Hits Back, I Pivot
- I ran the NYC Marathon to support my sister’s cancer fight, after never running more than 5 miles before I started training.
- I walked and used an elliptical for a year with a calf injury.
- I pivoted to yoga when my shoulder pain flared up.
- I trained before 2-hour daily commutes.
- I trained before my son woke up.
It was never perfect. But I showed up. That’s what mattered.
The Inner Critic Will Try to Stop You
It’ll whisper:
“You’re injured.” “You’re too busy.” “You don’t have the energy.”
That’s the Comfort Seeker talking. Or the Watchful Guardian. Or the Overdrive Samurai whispering that if it’s not all or nothing, it’s not worth doing.
You have to redefine training. You have to reframe failure. You have to tame the inner critic and call on your Inner Coach instead.
Tiny Decisions. Big Momentum.
Play
Every small choice you make is a deposit in your self-trust bank.
The more you show up, the more competent you become. The more competent you become, the more confident you feel. And confidence is a leader’s greatest asset—in business, in relationships, in health.
So… What’s Your Move?
You don’t need a marathon. You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a step.
👉 Five minutes of stretching. 👉 A walk around the block. 👉 Showing up for yourself—today.
Because real strength isn’t physical. It’s the mental resilience to keep showing up. Especially when no one’s watching.
Keep the Momentum Going!
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