fbpx
(703) 444-0662 Hours 21620 RIDGETOP CIRCLE STE 150, STERLING, VA 20166
(703) 444-0662 Hours 21620 RIDGETOP CIRCLE STE 150, STERLING, VA 20166

Want to Make Progress? Put Something Hard on the Calendar

Many people search for something transformative. They want to look different; they want to feel different; they to grow to be something more than they currently are. A lot of folks get lost as they search. On the way toward something meaningful, they get sidetracked by another thing that looks like it speeds up the growth process. It might be something shallow. Sometimes it’s simply a distraction that doesn’t align with their values and who they want to become. In either scenario, they’re left searching. They accomplish the goal and realize that it was empty. Or they never make progress because the thing they chose wasn’t meaningful enough to commit. There’s another potential scenario. It didn’t scare them enough. And so, they were left hoping somewhere in the land of nice ideas. But if they did one simple thing, their entire lives might have been different.

 

They should have put something hard on the calendar.

 

 

Priorities, Fear, and Meaning

I’ve been a business owner for most of my adult life. One of the toughest things to do is set priorities because when you’re responsible for everything, everything seems important. But the truth is that some actions must take priority over others. The problem is it’s hard to see that. And that problem is created by lack of context. It’s real damn hard to know which actions are important if you don’t know specifically what you’re trying to accomplish. Specificity sets priorities.

 

The same is true for physical, mental, and emotional transformation. That’s why so many people get lost. With no specific desire, they fall victim to a number of whims – other peoples’ opinions, errant ideas, or whatever society tells them is currently worthwhile. It all seems important, or like it could be important, so people either freeze and do nothing, or do some bullshit that doesn’t matter.

 

 

A while back we used a process called Heaven and Hell Visioning to help people get clear on what matters to them based on the worst- and best-case scenarios. They’d spend a few minutes writing out the best-case scenario – what does success look like, what does it feel like, who did you become, how did it transform your life? Then they’d spend a few minutes writing out the bleakest situation they could imagine. This was all considered within the context of training.

 

The heaven scenario gave them an aspirational vision. It was something they could accomplish with effort. But it wouldn’t be easy. The hell scenario gave them something to fear. As much as we’d all like the world to be a positive, cushy place, it isn’t. And we are wired to find motivation in fear. Envisioning each scenario creates the tension that psychiatrist Viktor Frankl talked about:

“What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him.”

When you envision the aspiration and the fear you create the tension because there is meaning. Without meaning, there is no tension because you don’t give a shit. The goal sets the context for each condition.

 

 

Put Something Hard on the Calendar

For eight months I watched Chris Merritt strive and struggle toward a goal that was worthy of him. He talked to me about his aspirations; and he shared his fears with me. Most impressively, and most importantly, he threw himself into a process that helped him move toward his aspirations and away from his fears. A meaningful goal condensed life into something simpler, and he did what he had to do each day to move himself forward. Everyone at Beyond Strength was inspired by watching him take it all on.

 

Chris running the Georgia Death Race

 

None of it would have happened without him jumping in and putting something hard on the calendar. He knew that he needed a challenge for reasons meaningful to him. Then he took it on. And after eight months of preparation and completing a 74-mile race faster than he anticipated, he’s a different man. I’d dare say a better one, even with him being one of the best men I’ve ever known.

 

Chris finishing the Georgia Death Race and dropping the nail in the coffin

 

If you want to transform, listen to Viktor Frankl’s words and emulate Chris Merritt’s actions.

 

Put something hard on the calendar.


 

You might also like:

GETTING STARTED IS EASY

STEP 1.

Book your free intro.

 

STEP 2.

We'll lay out a plan for you and your goals.

STEP 3.

Build a body that's ready for anything.

 

YOUR MEMBERSHIP INCLUDES…

 

  • Your custom-tailored training program—whether it’s the right kind of deadlift to fit your body or intensity of the exercises during one of our conditioning classes, every aspect of the workout is tailored to fit YOU.
  • 100% coached sessions so that you're not doing this sh*t on your own and always have the certainty you're in the best position to be successful.
  • Simple lifestyle actions and aims, giving you clarity of what to focus on during the other 23 hours.
  • Access to the Beyond Strength training app to keep a running track record of your progress, communicate with your Beyond Strength coaches AND fellow members, and even review videos of YOUR exercises before jumping into classes.
  • The Beyond Strength Member Success Guide, arming you with everything you need to know to improve your strength and endurance and kick your goals in the face (yup, in the face).
  • 35 training sessions to choose from each week.

GUARANTEED RESULTS

(OR WE PAY THE FIRST 3 MONTHS AT A GYM OF YOUR CHOOSING)

You expect to see objective, undeniable results for the work you put in.

We agree.

That’s why we offer a Results Guarantee.

Any gym in the world can create a satisfaction guarantee, which is really just them banking on the fact that most people will be too uncomfortable to speak up and say they aren’t “satisfied”—whatever that means anyways.

 

What about something real? What about results?

 

No gym is crazy enough to guarantee results, right?!

We are. And we do.

If you attend at least 85% of your allotted sessions and don’t see at least 3 objective improvements in strength, endurance, mobility, and/or recovery in your first 90 days, we’ll pay the first three months at a gym of your choosing.