Always Chase The Effort, Sometimes The Results. (ep. 904)
There’s something I wrote down a while back that I drifted from—but lately, I’ve seen it pop up everywhere. I see it in the gym.I see it in sales—new reps, seasoned vets—it doesn’t matter.I see it with people who come to the altar of reinvention, saying: “I’m not who I used to be. I want…
There’s something I wrote down a while back that I drifted from—but lately, I’ve seen it pop up everywhere.
I see it in the gym.
I see it in sales—new reps, seasoned vets—it doesn’t matter.
I see it with people who come to the altar of reinvention, saying:
“I’m not who I used to be. I want to start over.”
And they do.
But not long after, they get frustrated. The results don’t come fast enough.
So they quit.
If that’s ever been you—in the gym, in your career, in your life—this episode is for you. And even if you’re not going through it right now, trust me… you will at some point.
So let’s talk about it.
Always Chase the Effort. Sometimes the Results.
How many times have you set a goal?
Maybe it’s a new job, a lifestyle change, building something better for yourself.
You start strong. You’re obsessed. But you’re obsessing over the results.
And what happens when you do that?
The results don’t come.
Or they show up weak. Wobbly.
Sometimes… not at all.
So you quit.
You lose momentum.
You feel like a failure.
But here’s the thing: Results are elusive.
They take time. They show up when they want, not when you want.
Effort Is Instant
You know what’s not elusive?
Effort.
Effort is yours right now.
It’s the only thing that gives you instant gratification.
That’s why I say:
Always chase the effort.
Sometimes the results.
Your effort is your ride-or-die. It’s your loyal companion—like your dog.
In fact, next time I get a dog, I’m naming him Effort.
And my cat? Results.
Because cats are unpredictable—just like results.
Build Your Day Around Effort
Effort is made up of small, daily non-negotiables.
They’re the bricks you lay—day after day.
You can’t control the result.
But you can influence it.
And the only way you influence results is through consistent effort.
When you chase the effort, you eliminate the daily negotiation with yourself.
You commit to the process.
You show up and build.
That’s what I did when I needed to rebuild my life.
I simplified my day into boxes—simple checkpoints.
And I just went boom, boom, boom… one box at a time.
Did I feel like it? No.
Did I negotiate? No.
I laid the brick.
The Pitfalls of Being Results-Obsessed
Let’s talk about the trap of chasing results.
You’re waking up at 5 AM.
You’re eating clean.
You’re skipping the drinks, passing on the pizza.
You’re working out.
You’re tired and sore.
And then…
Nothing.
The scale goes the wrong way.
The hard work? Doesn’t seem to pay off.
Meanwhile, you see that one guy eating like garbage and still shredded.
Yeah… I hate those guys too.
You feel defeated.
You followed the rules. You did the work. You sacrificed.
But here’s the shift:
Stop putting your identity in the results.
Put Your Identity in the Process
Ask yourself one thing:
Did I check the boxes today?
Not this week.
Not yesterday.
Today.
Check 3–5 key checkpoints. Here are mine:
- Wake up at a set time.
- Read at least 10 minutes (random reading in the morning helps prime my mind).
- Write—get thoughts out, clarify your thinking.
- Work out—move your body.
You do those 4 things? You just won.
And when you stack those wins?
You win the day—no matter how it ends.
The Daily Weigh-In (And Chocolate Rice Cakes)
I weigh in every day. I did it when I was overweight. I still do it now.
It’s not about obsession—it’s about feedback.
It tells me what I’ve been doing the last few days.
Sometimes it’s a wake-up call. Like when I was smashing a whole bag of chocolate rice cakes because they were “only 60 calories.”
Effort helps you course correct.
Chase the Checkpoints, Cut the Negotiation
Effort means creating a simple, repeatable system.
Three to five tasks. Every day. No negotiation.
No wondering. No hesitation.
You just move box to box.
And here’s the secret:
Consistency drives intensity.
When you’re consistent, your intensity naturally rises—because now, you’re competing with yourself.
And that’s the only person that matters.
When to Chase the Results
Now, there is a time to chase results.
When you’ve got a hot hand—everything’s clicking—you ride the wave.
Results are showing up. You’ve got momentum.
Confidence is high.
You’re not just surviving—you’re thriving.
This is when you play to win. You push harder. You take shots. You lean in.
But when that hot hand fades—and it will—flip back to effort.
Don’t get lost in the narrative.
Don’t spin out.
Just shut off the excuses, shut off the noise—
And chase the effort again.
Final Word: Effort Over Everything
Effort never fails you.
Because it’s not about a final destination.
It’s about evolving.
So the next time results disappear—
Go back to the process.
Did I lay the bricks today?
Did I check the boxes?
Did I win the decisions?
Or did I give my wins back at the end of the day by caving to a craving?
Effort over everything.
Results will come when they come.
But if you stick to effort, you’ll never be stuck.
Takeaway:
Chasing the effort isn’t just a productivity hack. It’s a life strategy. It works in the gym, in sales, in relationships, in every area of your life.
And it keeps you out of the crab bucket, away from the excuses, and always moving forward.
So chase the effort.
Sometimes the results.
But always—
Keep going.
Keep it simple. Keep it moving. Never settle. Stay tough. ✌🏼
Here is the full recorded episode.