Lately, I’ve been flirting with the idea of stepping back into the world of bodybuilding competition—not just to win or for a trophy, but as a personal science experiment in physical precision and mental mastery. Most people see bodybuilding as pure aesthetics. I see it differently. I see it as a laboratory of human discipline, a reflection of what happens when systems, consistency, and self-responsibility collide.
At The Amplified Life Company, we believe in this deeply: discipline and systems are the unlock to the freedom you’re craving. That’s not just branding—that’s biology, psychology, and soul truth.
I remember my first bodybuilding show day so clearly. I was standing backstage at Chinook Winds Casino, bronzed from head to toe, wearing the tiniest rhinestone bikini you’ve ever seen. The spotlight was just minutes away. I had trained for this moment—not just in the gym, but in my mind. This wasn’t just a competition. It was a reclamation. A declaration. A moment of, “I did this.”
What most people saw was the glam: stage lights, glutes, and glossy hair. What they didn’t see was the decade of hesitation before that moment—the voice inside that said, “You’re not ready. Your body doesn’t look like that. What if you fail?”
And here’s the truth: I never said those exact words to myself. It was more subtle. “You need more time.” “It’s not the right season….”
I started lifting weights in high school—5 AM sessions before class, long before “wellness” was trending. In my late twenties, I shifted from “working out” to training. There’s a difference, and if you’re a leader, you should care about this, here’s why:
Working out is physical activity without precision. It’s checking a box.
Training is intentional. It’s built on vision, metrics, and pushing your edges.
It’s designed to break you down in order to rebuild you stronger.
Sound familiar? It should. It’s exactly what effective leadership looks like.
At age 33, after a decade of imposter syndrome, hesitation, and “not yet” excuses, I competed in my first bodybuilding competition—and I won my division.
Bodybuilding will reveal every crack in your mindset. It demands radical ownership over sleep, food, training, thoughts, emotions. There’s nowhere to hide. You either followed the plan, or you didn’t. You’re either playing full out, or playing pretend.
It’s the same in leadership. And here’s the truth most aren’t willing to say out loud:
Most leaders are not actually leading—they’re managing safety, optics, and perception.
They’re working out, not training.
They’re chasing comfort instead of capacity.
The most transformative part of my fitness journey wasn’t the physical shifts. It was the identity shift. I went from “maybe someday” to “I fully commit.”
I had to stop being addicted to readiness and start being obsessed with growth. I had to fail—on purpose, over and over again—inside the gym so I could win on stage. That exact same principle applies in your leadership:
- You have to be willing to fail fast and recover faster.
- You have to build resilience, I mean anti-fragility, like a muscle.
- You have to train for discomfort, not avoid it.
If you’re not regularly reaching failure—mentally, emotionally, spiritually—you’re not leading at your edge. You’re maintaining, and sooner or later you’ll fall behind.
It took me ten years to build up the courage to get on that stage. Ten years of thinking, doubting, waiting. But one moment changed everything: I joined a CrossFit gym. That community lifted me out of my own head and challenged me to play bigger. I saw what was possible. I made a promise:
“If I win this transformation challenge at the CrossFit gym, I’ll finally compete.”
And guess what? I won. Then I kept my word. That’s commitment.
Let’s talk straight. If you’re reading this and feeling a twinge of discomfort—good. That’s your edge. That’s where your growth is hiding.
Are you playing it safe? Coasting on credentials? Avoiding the failure that will build your next evolution?
Here’s your new plan:
- Be the beginner again.
- Surround yourself with those further ahead.
- Fail fast. Learn. Return. Repeat.
Leadership isn’t about control. It’s about conscious responsibility. It’s about showing your team what’s possible by first pushing your own limits. That’s what creates trust. That’s what creates culture. That’s what creates results.
Your team doesn’t need another motivational poster. They need a leader who’s actively choosing to live and lead above the line. They need a leader willing to walk on stage—metaphorically or literally—and say: “I built this, let’s build the next level together. Come with me.”
And if you’re still afraid to fail? Then you haven’t trained hard enough yet.
But what about your team?
Last month, I posted a simple infographic that still makes me laugh—because it’s painfully true. It asked: “What does your team actually think about your training programs?”
And it hit a nerve. Because one of our corporate clients had just received less-than-stellar results on their latest employee engagement survey.
The feedback?
“Leadership training feels like a checkbox.” “We’re being promoted but not prepared.”
This company has been named a Forbes Top Workplace three years running. And yet—their people were calling for something deeper.
Why? Because training once is not enough.
Promoting strong individual contributors into leadership roles without any real leadership development? That’s not a success strategy—that’s a setup for turnover.
Operating from a “business as usual” mindset in a world that’s constantly evolving is a recipe for stagnation. You cannot innovate externally if you’re not transforming internally.
And here’s the kicker: fear of failure in leadership isn’t a red flag about your abilities. It’s a red flag about your willingness to grow.
If you’re afraid to fail in your leadership, you’re not willing to train. You’re not willing to stretch. And over time, you’ll begin to feel the cost:
- You’ll look successful, but feel empty.
- You’ll be surrounded by people, but still feel alone.
- You’ll check all the boxes—and still wonder, “Why does this feel off?”
Sustainable success is built on intentional failure. On reps. On breakdowns that create breakthroughs.
Whether it’s stepping onto a literal stage or owning your leadership stage, here’s the truth:
You have to be willing to train harder, fall harder, and rise with more clarity than ever before.
You have to build the kind of internal strength that lets you say:
“This is just the beginning. Let’s rise together, fail together, learn together—and build what’s next with discipline, commitment, and purpose. I’m not calling you out, I’m calling you up. Join me.”
Ready to lead like you train?
If this resonated, here’s your next rep:
Join a growing community of leaders who are choosing clarity over comfort, discipline over default, and bold leadership over burnout.
Join a growing community of leaders who are choosing clarity over comfort, discipline over default, and bold leadership over burnout.
Visit The Amplified Life Company to explore leadership intensives, coaching, and team development that doesn’t just inspire — but transforms.
You’ve built this far. Let’s train for what’s next — together.