What separated the succeeders from the scufflers in 2024?

Let’s start by loosely defining a succeeder vs a scuffler. 

Succeeders achieved their goals - things like optimal body composition, specific strength or athletic goals, or more health-related goals like lowering their A1C to normal levels or coming off their BP meds. 

Scufflers may have made progress but experienced persistent turbulence and turmoil and, in the end, came up short of what they had set out to achieve. 

None of this examination is to pass judgment. Succeeders are not morally superior, more virtuous people. 

But they do demonstrate some enviable qualities that I’ll describe a little later. 

It begins with mindset - a matter of priorities.

I’ve heard it said and full-heartedly agree that if we have more than one priority, we, in fact, have none.

Succeeders have clarity on what’s essential to them and they put and keep first things first. They are exceptional at prioritization. 

Succeeders make health and fitness their priority. The scufflers would tell me that their health and fitness are a priority but make work and career theirs. 

The succeeders are no less busy than scufflers. No, they are especially busy people. Unlike the scufflers, our succeeders don’t wallow in their busyness. Neither do they take pride in it or moan about how busy they are. They simply stay focused on what’s essential and get on with the work. 

OK, that’s great, but what do they actually do that’s different from the scufflers?

Succeeders are investors - of their energy, finances, and most importantly, their time. Like successful financial investors they pay themselves first. They preserve an ample amount of each resource for themselves. And they consistently put those precious resources to work for themselves and take advantage of compounding effect they deliver into every area of their lives. 

They plan their days, weeks, months, and year and include their training in that plan. 

They book their training on their calendar. And meal planning. 

They say NO to the inevitable demands upon that time that come at them. 

They condition their first degree connections, the people they interact with daily, how essential and sacred that time is to them so that those people know not to intrude upon it. 

They plan recovery into their schedule, too, which keeps them fresh and focused. 

They refuse to let temptation get a foothold. They will not let the quit in. 

The payoff goes way beyond lower body fat and more muscle. 

Our succeeders enjoy a peace of mind that everyone else craves. They’ve got their sh*t together, or appear so. They are poised and calm, seldom seeming frazzled or appearing overwhelmed. They don’t complain or moan about their circumstances. They always seem to be moving forward, making steady progress, achieving milestones, taking stock and then pressing on. I admire these people. 

From the carnage of their day-to-day mess, scufflers see the succeeders and wonder how they do it. They envy their accomplishments and serenity. And because scufflers tend to compare themselves to others, they feel jealous, discouraged, and self-loathing. 

Later this week, I’ll expand on these differences between succeeders and scufflers in more granularity by examining how they approach their nutrition. 

Talk soon!