A Glimpse into My Daily Routine

On a typical Monday morning, I woke up at 6:10 am to the blaring sound of my alarm clock. After dragging myself out of bed, I got dressed, brushed my teeth, grabbed a Gatorade, made an espresso, and within 15 minutes, I was heading out for Jiu-Jitsu practice.

Training starts at 7 am. Though the early start isn't my preference, it's a commitment I must uphold. The fear of missing out (FOMO) is far worse than the slight sleep deprivation I endure post-training. I arrived at the gym by 6:35 and hopped on the exercise bike for a five-minute warm-up before putting on my rashguard and shorts. Then, I spent about an hour wrestling and sparring with my friends and teammates.

This part of my day is usually the toughest, yet it also brings me the most joy. In fact, the highlight of my day often occurs before most people even begin theirs. By 9 am, I was back home preparing breakfast and, naturally, more coffee (you'll notice a recurring theme here).

I tackled some emails, edited an article, then gathered my gear for another trip to the gym. After an hour and a half of lower back therapy, I did some weightlifting. I returned home around 2 pm, heated up my pre-prepared meal of steak, rice, and broccoli, and yes, made another coffee.

Then it was time to write. I dedicated about 90 minutes to a ghostwriting project, getting just over halfway through. At 4 pm, I headed out to teach a 5 pm Jiu-Jitsu class and was back home to shower by 6:45. I warmed up yet another pre-made meal (this time steak, rice, and mushrooms), then sat down to write next to a large bottle of sparkling water.

That brings us to now, as I work on my word count quota for the night, aiming for 2,500 words across two articles. My hands ache, I'm fatigued, and I have a craving for pizza.

The Reality of Success

Success in any field is often accompanied by discomfort.

Thank you for indulging my narrative about the hard work behind my passions. Today, I don't have any magical insights to share. There’s no inspiration here — and that’s precisely the point.

Previously, I believed there had to be a profound, hidden meaning behind everything I wrote. I thought I needed to convey a secret that would persuade readers. But when discussing success, the truth is, there are no hidden formulas.

Success is straightforward:

Success = Opportunity + Skill + Intense Effort + Luck

That’s essentially it. If you lack talent and opportunities (or privilege), you must compensate with relentless effort and a bit of luck. Even then, you might not succeed. Many writers glamorize success, suggesting there's a secret to unlock if you follow their advice.

That’s not my approach. If I only wrote when I felt inspired, I would only produce a couple of pieces each week. If I trained in Jiu-Jitsu solely when it sounded enjoyable, my attendance would drop drastically. If my feelings dictated my life, I assure you, my diet would consist mainly of cookies.

Dopamine, dopamine, dopamine.

If my emotions were in control, I'd likely be an unhappy man stuck in a job I despised, earning a mediocre salary. Instead, I choose to embrace exhaustion and fulfillment.

I've realized that regardless of how weary I become, I appreciate my part in this bargain every day.

Finding My Place in the Craft

Much of what I share online falls under the "inspiration" or "self-help" banner. I'm not entirely comfortable with that label. It’s ironic because many miss the point: while striving to craft inspiring narratives or helpful essays, countless mundane tasks lie beneath the surface. The daily life of any artist, athlete, or craftsman is often quite monotonous.

Today, I'm writing another article. I penned one yesterday and will repeat the process tomorrow, regardless of where I am in the world. My daily writing quota is non-negotiable.

But here's the kicker: I genuinely enjoy the monotony.

As I write more, I notice improvement. The better I become, the more enjoyable the process. With enough practice, I occasionally enter a "flow state," where writing becomes a joy. However, those moments are fleeting. Eventually, fatigue creeps back in. The challenge of balancing writing, ghostwriting, and being a professional athlete becomes overwhelming once more.

This cycle continues. While I could make the journey less arduous by taking more breaks, the craft demands consistency. Whether it’s writing or Jiu-Jitsu, practice is non-negotiable. If you don’t hone your skills, you’ll inevitably struggle.

I’m not a natural at writing; it doesn’t come easily to me. The only reason I excel at anything is that I commit to it, regardless of my mood.

I'll keep pushing forward until I can’t anymore.