Lately, I’ve been reading up on Cristiano Ronaldo. The guy has an incredible story, and I love stories like his.
(Seriously. Give him a Google. He came from almost nothing and became one of the greatest soccer players to ever do it—not to mention wealthy and famous beyond belief.)
If you don’t know, Ronaldo is known for his intense training regimen and ripped physique. I like finding inspiration from places you wouldn’t normally expect.
One thing that really struck me was something Lionel Messi said. It was something along the lines of:
Ronaldo trains because he loves it. Messi trains because he has to.
That hit me hard because I realized:
I’m absolutely a Ronaldo in this area of life.
I don’t just love the end result. I love the process.
I love being in the gym banging out sets. I love the feeling of my muscles working. I love seeing what I’m building over time.
I love the lifestyle itself.
I train six—and sometimes seven—days a week. I have home gym equipment and a gym membership. You could say I love training.
I eat plenty of whole foods, protein, and fiber. Do I indulge? For sure. But it’s not an every meal thing.
I prioritize sleep, and do my best to sleep well every night (life sometimes has other plans, but I do the best I can).
You could also say I’m a little crazy. And maybe I am.
But I also believe that’s why I’ve been so successful at this part of my life.
Now, do you have to love it this much to get results?
Not exactly.
I take it further because it’s naturally part of who I am.
But you can also be like Messi. You can train because you have to. You can train for the end result.
And honestly? Sometimes the end result is enough.
It’s not that hard to get results, either.
Almost anyone can find five hours a week for the gym.
Get off social media. Turn off the TV. Cut down the bar nights. Make training convenient.
Almost anyone can make better food choices.
Eat a few more whole foods. Get a little more protein. Eat more fiber. Cut back on some junk.
Almost anyone can improve their sleep.
Go to bed an hour earlier. Shut electronics off before bed. Cut caffeine earlier in the day.
It helps to love it.
But it’s not required.
Here’s the truth:
Some people are obsessive craftsmen. They genuinely love the process. They could train for hours, talk about it endlessly, and happily structure their entire lifestyle around it.
Others are disciplined pragmatists. They may not love every workout, every meal prep session, or every early bedtime—but they love what training gives them.
Both approaches can work.
The end result is ultimately why you do it.
So if you love it? Great.
If you don’t?
That doesn’t mean you stop training.
You just use a different strategy.
Guiding Principle
Whether you’re an obsessive craftsman or a disciplined pragmatist, the work needs to get done.
Something to Ponder
The areas where you’re an obsessive craftsman are probably your strengths. But where are your weaknesses? How could those weak areas improve if you decide to become a disciplined pragmatist in them?
See You In the Arena
This week is just about over. Next week is just about here. Let’s keep building.
Brick by brick.