You create your own prophecy

There's a difference between the person who got into shape once and the person who will never get out of shape again. I've been both, and I recommend the latter.

The difference comes down to two self-belief mechanisms: the Pygmalion Effect and the Galatea Effect. In essence, both run on the same loop: you believe something > you act on it > the world responds > your self-belief strengthens > repeat. However, the source of the expectation for both are different. One blooms externally, the other grows internally.

Fitness is the clearest example of this. When you're motivated by someone else's encouragement, the allure comes in the form of side effects (bigger arms, faster legs, flat stomach). It's a cause and effect: if I get bigger arms, I'll get more compliments. It's the reason why people stop exercising the moment their support system stops showing up. When you're self-motivated, the allure is who you can become tomorrow. It's not as flashy as external validation but scales tremendously over time.

The mistake people make is treating the side effect as the grand prize. They become so focused on looking good that they overlook the person they're becoming during their pursuit, which should be the main goal.

Daily rituals lead to self-fulfilling prophecies

To oversimplify, it's just 3 steps:

1. You work on your body

2. Your body works on your business

3. Your business works on you

In my experience, everyone ignores step 1 in hopes that they can endure step 2 long enough for step 3 to mean something when all it does is lead back to step 1.

We're not gonna do that, so let's break things down:

1. You work on your body

   We all have one meat machine. I think that is the one and only reason anyone needs to make it the first and highest priority on any given day. I'm gonna spare you the boring advice, I'm sure you have them memorised by heart.

   But here's what I'd add: exercise first thing in the morning. Why?
   a) there's a lot less foot traffic so all machines and equipment are free to use
   b) surrounding yourself with the type of person you're trying to be speeds up the process
   c) it creates momentum to start your day and because society runs on an AM model, it makes sense to ease into the day by getting the toughest task done first.

   For the record, I have nothing against night gym-goers. It's just busier, which turns it into more of a social scene than a training session. Also, I don't like waiting around for equipment. If it works for you, more power to you.

   
   

2. Your body works on your business

   No matter what industry you're in, you need to move your body to get a job done. Strong and steady hands create confident body language during presentations. Regular exposure to physical pressure will help regulate stress levels. There are plenty of scientific studies online that show a direct correlation between high fitness and brain function. You literally function better as a person when your health is in order.

   Building your physique is symbolic of building your career. Both of which take years of consistent cultivation and hitting the gym teaches you about consistency, setting goals and meeting expectations.

   Do this long enough and you'll have created a self-belief system that keeps you responsible for your own health and livelihood. In return, it'll serve as a signal to yourself, and society that you're reliable through action and true to your word, which helps establish trust and credibility faster.

   
   

3. Your business works on you

   When you're healthy, you make better decisions which makes you sharper in business. Better business allows you to reshape your lifestyle. This can be a pretty fluffy topic but I think it affects 3 parts: your wellbeing, relationships and purpose.

   a) Wellbeing (mental/physical)
   Better food and better healthcare will lead to a better lifespan. That also translates to lower risk of illnesses/injuries which means more time to stay alive to do the work you want to do.

   b) Relationships (social/romantic)
   I have firsthand experience of this with my confidence in social settings. Trust me, being able to express yourself fully while being comfortable in your own skin is one of life's greatest joys. It makes you more present for the people you care about, and this tends to attract more people who match that energy.

   c) Purpose
   Applying your expertise toward a purpose is going to amplify the possibilities for your life. It takes time and effort to figure this out, and that's why physical discipline can help create the mental clarity to find it.

It's all a loop

But I think the starting point changes the outcome. I believe it should start with you and your body – not your business, relationships, or your purpose. Once you understand your physical capabilities, it starts working on everything else for you.