“The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.” – Vince Lombardi
Happy Friday, Brew Nation!
Last week, I shared the “Table of Contents” for the book I compiled during a week of non-stop action, The Soundest Advice I Ever Got on a Road Trip & Other Ways to Overcome Resistance.
Today, we dive into Chapter 1: “Do Hard Stuff,” building on the last brew I shared here: The Scariest Advice I Ever Got on a Road Trip: 8 Chapters on Overcoming Conclusion 🛫 – Growing Champions
Most leaders understand the necessity of doing hard things eventually. But few intentionally seek out difficulty as a foundation for growth. My journey this year to the Spartan Trifecta—completing three different races in one calendar year—was a powerful, painful, and necessary reminder that choosing the difficult path is the only way to raise your average.
The Call to Raise the Average
It all started back in November 2024 on a call with my accountability group, lovingly known as RTA (Raise the Average). We were discussing our waning training motivation. We were in a slump and needed something audacious to shake us awake and challenge us.
A spontaneous Google search later, and before the call was over, we had committed to the Spartan Super—a 10k race with 25 obstacles—set for April. That was the easy part. After conquering the Super, we stayed committed, tackling the 5k Sprint in August, and saving the hardest one for last: The Beast (21k with 30 obstacles) this past Saturday.
It was, by far, the hardest thing I have ever done physically in my life.
The numbers tell only part of the story, but they capture the sheer commitment required:
- 24,663 steps taken
- 2,831 calories burned
- 4:09:53 total time elapsed
- Max heart rate: 183; Average heart rate: 138
- Ranking: 31/64 in my age group
That day was a brutal blend of camaraderie, competition, and courage. But the true victory wasn’t the time on the clock; it was the process that got me there.
The Barriers and the Trophy
In the 12 months leading up to the Beast, all the typical barriers popped up. There were nagging little injuries. There was self-doubt and the judgment of others—“Are you crazy?” Most significantly, there was the sacrifice of time, especially in relationships and other priorities. I can understand why so many choose not to do these types of hard things. When we were at the event, we met an individual who had done over 500 Spartan races! That’s a whole different level of commitment!
When we finished last weekend, we earned the third piece of the Trifecta “pie” and completed the challenge. The trophy is visually pretty cool, but it is also a powerful reminder of the year of discipline that led up to it.
I reflect back and know there were things I did well and things I could have done better in the training. But the principles of doing hard things apply directly to uncommon leadership:
The 4 Principles of Doing Hard Stuff
- To do hard things, you must commit to doing small things over and over. The 21k race is impossible if you don’t commit to the painful, daily 3-mile run or the weekly strength session. Leadership is the same: the long-term vision is realized only through relentless, consistent, small disciplines.
- To do hard things, it helps to have others going with you on the journey. My commitment to RTA held me accountable on days when I wanted to quit. Your inner circle should encourage you and pull you forward. Surround yourself with people who insist on your raising your average. Iron Sharpens Iron – Here is a link to a song we used in the final days leading up to our race that kept us inspired: https://open.spotify.com/track/4ntFjjhQBPpolFDPkaw9oN?si=e7d70b2509b1416f. The lyrics are powerful. Here is an excerpt:
- God says iron sharpens iron.
- I say be prepared to bleed.
- There’s glory in the pain
- From the One who set you free
- To do hard things, you need to be okay asking for help. No leader conquers a Beast alone. This required asking for help from my spouse (for time sacrifice), from trainers (for expertise), and sometimes from a physical therapist (for healing). Humility is the prerequisite for performance.
- To do hard things, you must be uncomfortable. If you are comfortable, you are not growing. That simple fact means we must intentionally seek out the friction that leads to growth—whether it’s running toward fear, taking on a new business venture, or simply committing to an ambitious goal.
Running the Race with Endurance
Choosing the hard road isn’t just about physical discomfort; it’s about spiritual and mental conditioning. When we commit to endurance, we honor the journey and focus on the example set before us:
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2)
The key is perseverance in the race marked out for us. You have a race marked out for you—a professional calling, a personal goal, a difficult conversation you need to have. It’s time to throw off the hindrances of doubt and excuses.
- Quote of the Week
“Don’t quit when you’re tired. Quit when you’re done.”
– Coach John Gallagher
Being effective as a leader means consistently choosing discipline over distraction. It’s about deeply reflecting on what’s working, humbly learning from what hasn’t, and courageously course-correcting in relentless pursuit of uncommon growth. Leaders don’t just drift into success—they evaluate, decide, and act.
Email me at coachjohngallagher@gmail.com with the subject line “BEAST” and share the hard thing you are committing to tackle in the next 90 days. I’ll personally respond with a tool to help you start your training.
What you need to do:
Your Call to Action: Commit to the Beast
What is the “Beast” you are avoiding right now in your leadership or life? What is the one hard thing you know you need to commit to today?
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 time—stay focused, stay faithful, and keep growing, Champions! 💪
