The Discipline Advantage: 37 Days Into a Game-Changing Challenge

Have you ever taken on a challenge so intentionally that it rewires how you think, move, and operate? That’s precisely what's happened over the last 37 days.

Last month, I committed to Ryan Fischer’s Built Different Challenge, a 66-day test of discipline in fitness, mindset, self-development, and overall consistency. I have learned so much from him and I had the pleasure of meeting him in Newport Beach, CA, just a few years ago. Thank you for the inspiration to do this and write this, Ryan! Chalk Performance Fitness (PS: Huge fan of his online training programs)

I’d like to think I already have a strong level of discipline and many of the habits, I had already dialed in, but I wanted to push beyond my usual limits and see what would happen.

The Phases of Change

1. Week 1: The most challenging part was following everything to a T. It required extreme focus to ensure that my workouts and to-do's were planned in advance. My schedule was hectic, and I had to take steps to prepare not just 1 week but 2 weeks in advance.
2. Week 2: The challenge felt more natural. It was no longer about forcing myself to do something but embracing the structure!
3. Week 3 & Beyond: My routines became automatic. Waking up at 5 AM, meditating before looking at my emails, training, heading to the gym when the weather was less than 20 degrees in the morning (one of our coldest winters I can remember), and making conscious decisions around nutrition and recovery became second nature.

The Built Different Challenge Parameters:

1. No alcohol.
2. Daily movement goal.
3. Daily self-development goal.
4. Daily nutrition goal.
5. Daily accountability. (This is key and a big thanks to the coaches at CrossFit Nassau for great workouts and the best coaching around!)
6. Daily sleep goal.

And now, on Day 37, I rarely even think about the routines anymore. They are just part of my routine.

What This Challenge Has Taught Me

I’ve NOT always been a morning person, but I have been for the last year or so. Lately, waking up ultra early—even when it’s freezing outside—has completely shifted my mindset. Meditating at 5 AM, getting my workout or movement in early, and tackling my biggest challenges (emails, projects, etc) have dramatically improved my energy, focus, and creativity.

Physically, I feel consistently calm and resilient throughout the day. The stress that used to feel overwhelming now feels a bit more manageable because I’ve already set the tone for success first thing in the morning.

Nutrition-wise, I am dialing in my food choices even more (avoiding meals out even 1x a week). For the meals I did have to eat, I chose restaurants that offered healthy options (yes, reviewing menus before committing). My recovery is faster, my sleep is better than ever (I didn't expect it to get even better), and my performance in the gym and business has skyrocketed. I've dodged colds and illnesses (I've been around a LOT of people who were sick), so my immunity has improved.

This challenge wasn’t about making a massive overhaul. It was about taking what was already working in my life and leveling it up with more intention.

Key Lessons for Business & Life

Whether you’re focused on fitness, business, or personal growth, the principles of discipline apply everywhere. Here are my top takeaways:

• Do the hardest thing first. Starting the day with a challenge—a workout, a difficult conversation, or deep creative work—sets the tone for everything else!
• Small changes compound over time. It wasn’t about drastic changes but about refining and tightening the systems I already had in place. The same goes for business—minor, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. A great book I read years ago and highly recommend: The Compound Effect, Darren Hardy
• Commitment builds confidence. Knowing I’ve stuck with this challenge for 37 days (and counting) has reinforced the belief that I can take on anything. Every time we show up for ourselves, we build belief in ourselves.
• Energy is everything. Cutting out distractions, optimizing sleep, and being intentional with my time have given me more mental clarity, creativity, and resilience than I could have imagined. As an already high-energy person, I've been able to take on new activities and power through more and tougher workouts.
• Discipline creates freedom. Structure doesn’t limit you—it empowers you. The more disciplined I’ve become, the more energy and time I have for the things that truly matter. You build your resilience and your confidence in doing hard things. I finally dove into a hobby I've wanted to explore for over a decade. My first experience was AMAZING. I don't think I would have started it had it not been for this challenge!

As we move further into the year, it’s easy to let the excitement of January’s goals fade. But real transformation happens when you keep showing up long after the motivation has worn off! Motivation is great! I start my day with it, but DISCIPLINE is the ultimate superpower. If you have discipline, it will last long after your motivation levels wear off.

Whatever challenge you’re working on—whether it’s in your career, family, health, or anything in your personal life—keep going!!! Push past the resistance, and you’ll be shocked at how much you can grow.

Now, onto Day 38! What will you commit to in the coming weeks? What's been a challenge that has helped you make changes...big or small?

Please share this with someone who might enjoy this! If you want to tackle a challenge, tag them and hold each other accountable!

#Discipline #Motivation #Habits #SelfDevelopment #Mindset