“Put the decision making into the work. Not into deciding when to work.”
I read that line and immediately had to pause.
Because it’s one of those sentences that sounds simple… but it exposes why most people stay stuck.
“Put the decision making into the work. Not into deciding when to work.”
That’s not just a creative principle. That’s a life principle. That’s a fitness principle. That’s an “I’m tired of starting over” principle.
And if you’ve ever struggled with consistency in the gym, it’s probably because you’ve been doing the opposite:
You’ve been spending all your mental energy deciding if you’re going to train…
instead of putting that energy into the actual session.
The mental tax nobody talks about
Most people think the hardest part of fitness is the workout.
Nope.
The hardest part is the daily negotiation:
“I’ll go after work… unless I’m tired.”
“I’ll go tomorrow morning… unless I wake up late.”
“I’ll start Monday… unless Monday feels weird.”
That’s not a plan. That’s an open-ended debate with yourself.
And guess what wins most debates?
Comfort.
So if you want consistency, you don’t need more hype.
You need fewer decisions.
Structure is not restrictive. It’s protective.
People hear “structure” and think it means military life. Like you’re eating chicken and broccoli in silence and waking up at 4:11 AM for no reason.
That’s not what structure is.
Structure is protection.
It protects you from:
your mood
your schedule getting chaotic
your brain trying to bargain
your energy levels being unpredictable
Because motivation is a liar.
Motivation is that friend that says “I’m on the way” and never shows up.
Structure is the friend that pulls up no matter what.
The cheat code: decide once
If you want to take that quote and apply it immediately, here’s the move:
Decide your training days once… then stop revisiting it.
Not “I’ll try to go this week.”
Pick the days.
Put it in your calendar.
Treat it like something that already exists — because it does.
Example:
Monday 6pm
Wednesday 6pm
Saturday 9am
Now the decision isn’t “Am I training today?”
The decision becomes:
“How am I going to attack today’s session?”
That’s where your focus should be.
“But what if life gets crazy?”
It will. Obviously.
So you need what I call a fallback plan — not as a second-best option, but as a continuity tool.
Because the fastest way to lose momentum is the all-or-nothing mindset.
Here’s what the fallback plan looks like:
“If I can’t make my session, I do a 20-minute home workout.”
“If I miss training, I go on a 30-minute walk.”
“If the day goes sideways, I still do something.”
You’re not trying to be perfect.
You’re trying to stay connected to the identity.
Where the decision-making should go
Once your schedule is decided, the decision-making moves into the work:
How’s my form on the Strength Anchor today?
Can I increase reps or load slightly this week?
Can I hold better positions in time-under-tension work?
Can I push the conditioning pod without losing control?
Can I finish strong even when I want to coast?
That’s real effort. That’s real skill. That’s training.
Not just sweating. Not just “getting it over with.”
Consistency isn’t about being tough. It’s about being smart.
People think consistency comes from being hard-core.
Nah.
Consistency comes from being strategic.
If you remove the daily decision fatigue, you free up energy for what actually matters:
performing better
learning technique
progressing week to week
staying in the game long enough to see results
That’s how bodies change.
Not through one heroic week.
Through repeatable structure.
If you’ve made it this far…
You’re a real one.
We all want the secret Krabby Patty formula. I can’t tell you how many Youtube videos I’ve watched on the secret to success and the MAMBA mentality.
Success reaches those that show up. Day in and day out.
Yes it will get boring. Yes it will get difficult. But if you look back at all of your successes, no matter how big or small, they are all propped up on the ability to show up and do the work.
So if you’re trying to get strong. Show up to the gym.
If you’re trying to run a marathon this year. Show up outside with your shoes tied and get your ass running.
It’s that simple.
That is all. Thank you for attending my Ted talk.
:)