When people ask me what the key to my success as an online entrepreneur has been, they often expect me to talk about business strategies, market trends, or financial acumen. While those things certainly play a role, there’s another factor that I believe is just as crucial, if not more so the discipline I built in the gym.
You see, long before I launched my online ventures, I was pushing myself in the gym—day in and day out, sweating through tough workouts, and challenging my limits. At the time, I didn’t realize it, but those hours spent lifting weights, running sprints, and pushing through fatigue were teaching me some of the most important lessons of my entrepreneurial journey. Here’s how working out hard in the gym helped me hone my discipline and ultimately led to my success as an online entrepreneur.
The Early Days Finding Strength in Struggle
I wasn’t always a fitness enthusiast. In fact, there was a time when just the thought of stepping into a gym filled me with dread. But I knew I needed a change. I wanted to be healthier, stronger, and more confident, so I made a commitment to start working out. At first, it was tough. Really tough. My body ached, my motivation waned, and there were countless moments when I wanted to quit. But I kept showing up, day after day.
Those early days in the gym taught me the value of consistency. I learned that change doesn’t happen overnight, and progress is often slow and incremental. But I also learned that every little effort adds up. Even on days when I felt like I wasn’t making any progress, I reminded myself that simply showing up was a victory in itself. This mindset of persistence became the foundation of my discipline, both in fitness and in life.
Embracing the Process The Power of Small Wins
As I continued to train, I began to see the power of small wins. Maybe I lifted a little heavier than the week before, or I ran a mile a bit faster. These victories weren’t earth-shattering, but they were enough to keep me going. Each one was a reminder that I was capable of more than I thought, and that progress is often a series of tiny steps forward.
This lesson was invaluable when I started my online business. Building a business is a lot like building a stronger body—it takes time, effort, and a willingness to celebrate small wins along the way. In the gym, I learned to appreciate every step of the journey, no matter how small, and this mentality carried over to my entrepreneurial pursuits.
When I first launched my business, there were plenty of challenges—times when sales were slow, when marketing campaigns didn’t perform as expected, or when technical issues seemed endless. But instead of getting discouraged, I focused on the small victories a new customer here, a positive review there, a successful partnership. Each win, no matter how small, was a reason to keep going. And, just like in the gym, those small wins started to build up into something bigger.
Building Mental Toughness Pushing Through the Pain
One of the biggest lessons I learned in the gym was how to push through discomfort. Hard workouts are, by nature, uncomfortable. Whether it’s the burn in your muscles, the sweat pouring down your face, or the voice in your head telling you to stop, working out is a constant battle against your own limits. But over time, I realized that this discomfort wasn’t something to be avoided; it was something to be embraced.
The gym taught me to lean into the discomfort, to push a little harder when I felt like giving up, and to find strength in the struggle. This mental toughness proved to be one of my greatest assets as an entrepreneur. Running a business is rarely smooth sailing—there are always obstacles, setbacks, and moments when things don’t go as planned. But instead of shying away from these challenges, I learned to face them head-on, just as I would a tough workout.
I’ve faced plenty of “pain” points in my entrepreneurial journey—tight deadlines, difficult decisions, and unexpected roadblocks. But because of my experience in the gym, I knew that discomfort is often a sign of growth, not failure. I knew that pushing through the tough times was the only way to get stronger, smarter, and more successful.
Creating a Routine Discipline Over Motivation
One of the most important things I’ve learned in both fitness and entrepreneurship is that motivation is fleeting, but discipline is steadfast. There are plenty of days when I don’t feel like working out—when the bed is too warm, the weights are too heavy, or the run seems too long. But I’ve learned that if I only worked out when I felt motivated, I’d rarely get anything done.
The same principle applies to running a business. Motivation can get you started, but it’s discipline that keeps you going. It’s easy to feel excited about a new project or venture at the beginning, but when the initial excitement fades and reality sets in, that’s when discipline becomes essential.
In the gym, I created a routine that became non-negotiable—a daily habit that I committed to, rain or shine, good days or bad. This routine taught me the value of showing up consistently, even when I didn’t feel like it. When I transitioned to building my online business, I applied the same approach. I set a schedule, created a routine, and committed to showing up every single day, no matter how I felt.
This consistency, born from discipline, was a game-changer. It kept me moving forward, even when things were tough, and it helped me build momentum over time. I learned that success is not about big leaps but about consistent, deliberate steps in the right direction.
Learning to Set Goals From Fitness to Business
Working out also taught me how to set and achieve goals. In the gym, I learned to set specific, measurable goals for myself—whether it was lifting a certain weight, running a certain distance, or achieving a particular body fat percentage. These goals gave me something to strive for, a target to aim at, and a way to measure my progress.
When I started my online business, I applied the same goal-setting principles. I set clear objectives, broke them down into actionable steps, and tracked my progress meticulously. I learned to set both short-term goals to keep myself motivated and long-term goals to keep myself focused on the bigger picture.
Just like in the gym, there were times when I didn’t hit my goals right away. But instead of getting discouraged, I used these moments as opportunities to reassess, adjust, and keep moving forward. I learned that goals are not static; they are dynamic, evolving as you grow and learn.
Transforming the Body, Transforming the Mind
At its core, my journey in the gym was about more than just building physical strength; it was about transforming my mindset. I learned to embrace challenges, to push through pain, to show up consistently, and to set and achieve meaningful goals. These lessons have been the foundation of my success as an online entrepreneur.
Today, I continue to work out not just to stay fit but to stay sharp, disciplined, and ready for whatever challenges come my way. The gym has become a training ground not just for my body, but for my mind—a place where I continually hone the skills that make me a better entrepreneur, leader, and human being.
So, if you’re looking to build a successful business or achieve any big goal, I encourage you to start with yourself. Find a challenge that pushes you, a routine that keeps you disciplined, and a mindset that sees every setback as an opportunity to grow. Because at the end of the day, success is not just about what you achieve, but about who you become in the process.
Stay strong, stay disciplined, and keep pushing forward.
Until next time,
Harvey Manzel
Manzel
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