Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
We’ve spent the last nine weeks walking through the “Scary Book” chapters. But as I sat back this week to look at the work, I found myself asking a question that every leader eventually faces: So what? Now what?
I realized that while the chapters are done, the mission isn’t. It needs an Afterword.
The “Day 91” Mindset
In the early 2000s, Tony Horton took the fitness world by storm with P90X. It was a 90-day grind of intense workouts. I’ve always been fascinated by a specific question: What happens on Day 91? Most people cross the finish line, take the “after” photo, and then… they stop. They treat the goal like a destination instead of a waypoint. I saw this in 2025 while completing my Spartan Trifecta. You grind through the Sprint, the Super, and the Beast to get those three medal pieces that click together. It’s a massive accomplishment. But once the medal is around your neck and the mud is washed off, the “Finish Line Syndrome” sets in.
The Afterword of any great achievement isn’t just a recap; it’s the bridge to the next lap. In continuous improvement, we teach: “Do it again.”
The Barriers We All Face
I’ll be honest with you: I face the same “Day 91” drift that you do. I’ve spent years rationalizing why I haven’t published my first book yet. I told myself the Champions Brew was enough. I hid behind “busy-ness.” I fell into the trap of thinking about the book rather than acting on it.
Whether it’s a fitness program, reading the Bible in a year (which I’ve done 4 times now), or a professional milestone, the barrier is always the same: Complacency at the finish line.
Uncommon Leaders aren’t just thinkers; we are do-ers. To honor the “Scary Advice” that started this, I am pushing past my own barriers and making a public commitment to you today:
I will publish the first edition of this book by May 1, 2026.
I’m taking a lesson from my mentor, John Maxwell. He published his first book, Think on These Things, in 1979. It had to be a “First Edition” before it could ever become a “30th Anniversary Edition.” More importantly, he had to publish a first book before he could go on to write more than 90 others! I’m not saying I’ll write 90 books, but I am stopping the “should-ing” and starting the “doing.”
I Need Your Help: Title the Book!
I want this title to reflect the transition from the mind to the hands. Philippians 4:8 tells us to “Think on these things,” but the very next verse, Philippians 4:9, gives the command: “Put these things into practice.”
Here are three titles I’m considering, and I would love your input:
- ACT on These Things: The Uncommon Leader’s Guide to Turning Thought into Excellence.
- Put These Into Practice: Moving Beyond the Reflection to Realize Excellence.
- The Do-er’s Discipline: The Scariest Advice You’ve Been Avoiding
- Quote of the Week
“Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” — James 2:17
What you need to do:
Being a Leader: The Message for You
Leadership is not a 90-day program. It’s an infinite journey. If you’ve recently finished a big project, a Spartan race, or a personal challenge, don’t let “Day 91” be the day you start drifting backward. Use this week to write your own “Afterword.” Reflect on how far you’ve come, but more importantly, decide what “Hard Thing” you are running toward next.
Email me at coachjohngallagher@gmail.com and tell me:
- Which title (1, 2, or 3) resonates most with you? (Or suggest your own!)
- What is your “Day 91”? What is the goal you finished recently that needs a “Now What” plan?
I commit to sending everyone who replies a free copy of the First Edition when it comes out!
It’s an honor to be your trusted Friday Coffee Guy. Each week, I bring what I’m learning and living in the trenches of leadership. If this edition challenged or encouraged you, share it with someone who leads, stays faithful, or learns alongside you, then click subscribe. Let’s grow Brew Nation together!
Until next week—stay focused, stay active, and keep growing, Champions!💪
