I was coaching a client recently, and it reminded me of an old memory—riding the Long Island Railroad back from NYC with a few colleagues during my days in the medical device world.

The topic of the gym came up.

One of them asked, “How do you workout every day?”

Without hesitation, I responded: “Discipline.”

The whole group burst out laughing.

I didn’t get it.

“Ok, Mr. Discipline!” they mocked.

But here’s the thing—discipline is the highest form of self love.

Look, I’ve had to work harder than people with better genetics. There was a time when I made a muscle and nothing happened! My nickname was Heavy Evvy then.

It matters to me.

People say I’m lucky—but they don’t realize that luck is created at 5:00 A.M. when I get out of bed, or 2:45 A.M. before a flight, or even midnight if that’s what it takes. Because that’s who I’ve become. Someone who shows up.

“How often do you go to the gym?”

That’s the wrong question. It’s not about the gym—it’s about your system.

And the answer? Every day.

Every day?

Wrong question again.

“So what should I do?”

You have to redefine ‘training.’ It’s showing up, whether it’s 5 minutes or 2 hours. Sometimes all I have is 5 minutes, so I’ll do a few rounds of burpees, push-ups, or squats.

“But I can’t do that! My back, my shoulder, my hips…”

I get it. But excuses are the lies our Inner Critic tells us to stay comfortable.

I ran the NYC marathon to raise money for my sis’s cancer fight even though I never ran more than 5 miles in my life before I started to train.

I had a calf injury and couldn’t train for 12 months—so I walked and did the elliptical.

I had a chronic shoulder injury that made training unbearable, so I switched to yoga and body weight movements until I healed.

I commuted 2+ hours a day for 20+ years. I woke up early and trained before work.

When I became a dad, I learned to wake up before my son to train.

None of it was perfect. But it was something. And it kept me living my life in forward motion.

I don’t ask for perfection; I ask myself, “What can I work on today?”

It’s not all or nothing. It’s about doing something to show yourself that you’re committed to being better.

Tiny decisions. Big momentum. That’s what makes the difference.

If you’re looking for reasons to fail, you’ll find them.

But if you’re looking for reasons to win? You’ll find them too.

But showing up? That’s what counts.

It’s in the showing up that you build the real strength—not just physical, but mental and emotional too. It’s how you prove to yourself that you’re capable of more than your excuses give you credit for.

When I look back at my journey, it wasn’t the big wins that made me. It was the thousands of little decisions along the way. The early mornings, the late nights, the times I wanted to quit but didn’t.

Discipline isn’t glamorous. It’s not about Instagram-worthy moments or perfect workouts. It’s about doing the unglamorous work—the kind no one sees—that builds the person you become. It’s about the times that you showed up even when you were screaming at yourself to quit.

So, what’s your next step?

It doesn’t have to be a marathon. It doesn’t have to be a perfect plan. It doesn’t even have to be long.

It just has to be now.

Whether it’s five minutes of stretching, a short walk, or a full workout—just do something today. Take a small action that aligns with the person you want to become.

Because discipline isn’t about perfection, it’s about consistency and self love.

And remember, the more you show up, the more competent you become and the more you start to trust yourself. The more you trust yourself, the more confident you become. And confidence is a leader’s greatest tool—not just in business, but in health, relationships, and life.

So, let’s stop looking for the easy way out. Let’s stop waiting for perfect conditions or motivation.

The truth is, there is no perfect time. Motivation is fickle. There’s only now. And now is where your future begins.

Follow me, Evan Mestman, for actionable tips on how to elevate your health, your leadership, and your life. Because the transformation starts with you—one disciplined step at a time.

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