You have to put in the reps. There’s a story behind that. This is your daily message from Chad number 659 to upgrade your mental game so you can tell yourself a better story today, because the most important story you hear is the story you tell yourself. This message is dedicated to the only Brion I know spelled with an “O”, the birthday boy, Brion Levine. Happy birthday Brion!

Arnold Schwarzeneggar’s life is like a movie. Born outside of Vienna, Austria, just after WWII in 1947, his beginnings were humble. He had no plumbing, no shower, and no flushing toilet. As a teenage,r he saw a magazine with Reg Park, Mr. Universe, on the cover. Inside was an article about Reg’s life story of growing up poor in England, getting into weight lifting, going to America, winning Mr. Universe, becoming a Hollywood actor, and marrying a movie star. The article became a blueprint for Arnold.

At 15 he started pumping iron; by age 20 he was Mr. Universe. He won the title seven times. The discipline he used he has applied to every goal he has reached. At the core of Arnold’s philosophy is his understanding that mastery comes through consistent, focused repetition. He famously stated, “No matter what you do in life, it’s either reps or mileage… If you’ve done the reps, you don’t have to worry.” This mindset guided him through bodybuilding, acting, business ventures, and politics.

Perhaps most importantly, Arnold found genuine enjoyment in the process of repetition. He once said, “I find joy in the gym because every rep is getting me one step closer to my goal.” This ability to find satisfaction in the grinding process of improvement – not just the end result – allowed him to sustain his extraordinary work ethic. As he noted, “It’s important that you like what you do, and we loved it.” This love for the process transforms difficult repetitions from punishment into passion.

Arnold’s approach to “reps” offers valuable lessons for whatever you’re pursuing – are you embracing the process, are you focusing on one rep at a time, and are you finding joy in the journey toward your goals?

You’re always welcome to email me at fromchadsmith@gmail.com. You can find these messages on YouTube by searching @fromchad. You can read the transcript of this message and hundreds of others at fromchad.com.