December 24, 2025
What you want is record of progress, because that’s one of the great secrets to human happiness. You never arrive. Arrival gives you almost nothing, but it’s progress toward the goal.
Arthur Brooks, on the Tim Ferriss Podcast
This idea of never arriving, but focusing on progress toward a goal came into focus this past year — not through parenting or work, but through deadlifts. For the first 30+ years of my life, I never did a true lower body workout. My reasoning was simple, albeit irrational: I lifted weights for upper body (ego), and ran for lower body (function). I didn’t seem to understand that there were muscles in my legs, glutes, hips etc that also could benefit from the kind of tension that my biceps, triceps, chest, shoulders, and back regularly enjoyed.
That shifted about seven or eight years ago when I got a Tonal and started full body workouts. Last summer I joined a local gym, downloaded an app, and started recording every workout. I used ChatGPT to help me develop a training plan, and got to work. This past month, I hit a 266lb deadlift one-rep max (6 reps at 225lb), a 267lb barbell squat one-rep max (3x5 at 225lb), and a 239lb bench press one-rep max (one rep at 225). For my body weight, those are all advanced levels of strength. It’s kind of incredible to think that at 38, I’m the strongest I’ve ever been.
I credit a few things: Tracking progress daily. Ensuring I make time for a workout six out of seven days a week. And comparing myself only to myself. To prior versions. And believing that every day, I have the possibility of being just a bit better. Progress is the goal. Strength is just a very helpful byproduct.