The most important step you take in any endeavor is the first one.

It’s that one that builds the inertia that leads into the next step, and then the next, and then the one after that.

Runners often say that tying your shoelaces is the hardest part of any workout. 

Because they know that once the shoes are on and they step out of the front door, they’re going to do something. 

They need to take that first step.

They showed up; Got to tick the box, and doing something is infinitely better than doing nothing.

The first step in making a positive change should be to set a goal. It’s essential to establish what you want the final result to be.

Who do you want to be? 

How do you want to feel? 

What do you want the people closest to you to think when they look at you?

The more clarity you can get on what you want, the more likely you are to be able to come up with a plan to make it happen.

And the less time you’ll waste going in the wrong direction. 

Many people climbed up the ladder of success only to find it was leaning against the wrong wall.

They spent four years studying a subject they had zero interest in before moving on to a job they didn’t like. To make money to buy things they don’t need to impress people they don’t care about.

And the same is true of changing your body.

If your goal is to look slim and defined, don’t train or eat like The Rock.

If your goal is the have a relaxed relationship with food while still getting in shape, don’t do a super restrictive diet like Keto.

And if your goal is to stay functional and fit for the rest of your days, avoid exercise programs with historically high rates of injury like Crossfit.

Do a deep dive when you’re setting a goal.

Because the real magic isn’t in what you get when you achieve your goal.

It’s in the type of person you become by making it happen.

When I finally got in shape in my late thirties after over a decade of abusing my body with alcohol, late nights, and bad food, I became more disciplined, confident, and focused in every other area of my life.

How you do one thing reflects how you do everything.

Once you have your goal in mind, reverse engineer the process back to today and decide what your first step should be.

Don’t get fancy. The first step should be easy and lead naturally into the next one.

The equivalent of the runner putting on their shoes.

For example, if your goal is to lose 25 pounds, you don’t need to worry about a complicated carb cycling plan to lose the last stubborn few pounds of belly fat.

That comes later.

Instead, your first step might be to join a gym. Or find an online calorie calculator to get your target numbers.

Whatever it is, make sure it is achievable and congruent with the goal you have set. 

With the person you want to become.

Because although a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, it helps to ensure you’re going in the right direction.

Stay Hungry,

Adam