Change or Choose

Let me tell you a story ...

I was running the penalty loop after failing to complete the Multi-Rig during my 13+ mile Spartan Beast several weeks ago when it hit me like a 2x4 upside my head: Every obstacle I wasn't ready for on the course, every rep I struggled to complete, every pound I couldn't lift, every follow-up call I didn’t make, they were all a choice. Not consciously, maybe—but a choice nonetheless.

What I consistently and repeatedly failed to change, I was actively choosing.

Whether it’s your body, your relationships, your health, or your career, there’s no neutral ground. If you’re not making an effort to grow, you’re quietly choosing to let things stay the same—or get worse.

In his book Can’t Hurt Me, David Goggins emphasizes the dangers of complacency: "You are in danger of living a life so comfortable and soft, that you will die without ever realizing your true potential."

Looking back on my 20+ year career in real estate, I realize that – even though I wanted more - I continued to listen to my internal critic Little Nicky constantly telling me "You'll start tomorrow," or, "This isn't so bad, right?"

However, it wasn’t until late 2021 when I started to kill Little Nicky on the daily that I realized that staying within this comfort zone was limiting my growth and potential.

Inspired by the belief that true progress requires stepping into discomfort, I chose to focus on investing.

This transition hasn't been easy; it demands confronting uncertainties and embracing new challenges. Yet, by pushing beyond the safety of the known, I discovered untapped capabilities and opportunities that would have remained hidden had I chosen to remain complacent.

This experience reinforced a powerful lesson: growth begins where comfort ends. By daring to venture beyond the familiar, we open ourselves to realizing our fullest potential.

Recently, I’ve been working on two major fronts: sharpening my Spartan Trifecta training and navigating some tricky real estate deals.

Each one demands its own discipline, its own grind, and its own fight against the comfortable choice. Training for a Spartan Trifecta isn’t just about physical conditioning—it is about dismantling the habits that kept me stagnant. It’s about maintaining a regular exercise routine. It’s about maintaining a diet based on whole foods and no cheat days. It’s about facing my cold plunge and spending 4 minutes in the chilly 42 degree water.

Real estate, on the other hand, has been a mirror for my ability to pivot, adapt, and outthink the "comfort-first" mindset.

Take the recent foreclosure negotiation I am working on. The seller is staring down a mountain of problems, paralyzed by the inertia of doing nothing for too long.

Together, we devised a plan: pull the property out of foreclosure, clear debts, and create a sustainable path forward for both he and my investing partners.

So here’s the gut-check question your Little Nicky doesn’t want you to face:

What aren’t you changing right now?

Because make no mistake—you’re choosing it.

Your excuses, your avoidance, your "tomorrow’s" all add up to a quiet decision to stay the same.

But here’s the good news: every single day, you get to choose differently.

What will you choose tomorrow?