You vs You: The Real Competition
My biggest competitor is myself. It’s always you versus you. You have to work hard. Everybody in this room knows that if something is important to you, you’ve got to put in the effort. I always say it’s the work we put in when nobody’s watching that truly matters.
The Value of Hard Work
You versus you: you’ve got to be the one to get up every morning, stay disciplined, and put in consistent daily hard work because that leads to success. My old man taught me this: you’ve got to work. Get your ass in the gym and work.
Building Discipline Through Routine
How hard do I work? I work hard. I have an intense schedule. At 4:00 in the morning, I wake up. By 4:30 or 4:45, I’m doing some sort of cardio while it’s still dark outside. Then, I have breakfast, go to the gym for about an hour, and then head to work. I aim to be the strongest and best. You’ve got to be the hardest worker in the room.
Lessons from Hardship
What I have found is that when you take bold actions and follow your gut and intuition, the universe has a way of meeting you halfway. Realize your potential and think bigger. You don’t have to settle for where you are.
I can trace my work ethic back to when we had a small apartment in Hawaii. We were evicted because we couldn’t pay the $280 rent. I was 15 years old when I saw my mom crying at the door with the eviction notice in hand. That kind of pain deeply impacted me. I thought then: I want to do everything I can to make sure we never get evicted like this again.
The Power of a Competitive Mindset
This is the stuff you can control. We control what we can, as they say. The other part is a competitive nature that’s in my DNA and blood. I love competition. I love to win, and I love to learn. I don’t say “lose”; I say, “I love to learn.”
Turning Struggles into Strength
For me, the work ethic comes from never wanting to be evicted again. That competitive nature never fades. What works for me is remembering the hard times. I think about them,you vs you and it allows me to be present and appreciate everything I have now.
The Joy of the Grind,of you vs you
For me, the drive comes from wanting to do more. I’ve been fortunate to accomplish a lot, but the hunger never goes away. I like to say I have a full plate, but I can always make room for what I love.
When I wake up in the morning, I have to be running toward the thing I want to do—not walking toward it. If I can do that, I find joy and happiness. It’s the grind we love, the process we sink our teeth into, and the journey we embrace to achieve our goals.
Conclusion: Always Keep Moving Forward
I’ve worked hard to get here, and whatever it is that you want to do, you’ve got to get after it. It’s always you versus you, and that’s the competition that truly matters.
