Have you ever felt stuck, unable to take that first step towards your dreams? You’re not alone. Many of us grapple with inertia, whether it’s due to fear, uncertainty, or simply not knowing where to begin. But what if I told you that being physically ready could be the key to unlocking your potential and achieving your goals?
Drawing from insights in books like Ego is the Enemy by Ryan Holiday, The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, and The Success Principles by Jack Canfield, alongside personal experiences, we’ll uncover how physical readiness can transform your life. Whether you’re aiming to launch a business, run a marathon, or simply live more intentionally, this post will equip you with the tools and mindset to get started. So, are you ready to discover how being physically ready can help you succeed? Let’s dive in.
The Power of Being Physically Ready: Action and Goals
Being physically ready is fundamentally about taking action. It’s not just about having a toned physique—though that can help—it’s about being mentally and emotionally prepared to move forward. Action, however, doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s deeply tied to two key elements: goals and alignment.
Goals: The Compass for Action
Goals are like a compass—they give you direction and focus your efforts. Without them, you’re wandering aimlessly, unsure of the path you’re on. As Jeff Olson writes in The Slight Edge, “Goals aren’t so much about creating the right plan as it is about taking action and narrowing down your possible options going forward.” This idea is backed by science: a study from Columbia University Business School found that the likelihood of taking action increases tenfold when we have fewer choices. By setting specific goals, you limit your options, making it easier to act.
But setting goals isn’t enough—you have to align them with your values and be willing to do the work. The Success Principles highlights this through Principles 15 and 16: “Face Your Fears, and Do the Work.” Successful people don’t wait for fear to disappear; they feel it and act anyway. They recognize that achieving their dreams requires sacrifice and perseverance. For example, Jack Canfield suggests using the SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—to craft goals that are clear and actionable.
Intentions vs. Goals: Finding Balance
Interestingly, not everyone thrives on rigid goals. Some prefer intentions—a focus on the process and being present rather than fixating on an outcome. In my own life, I’ve found a healthy balance between the two. For instance, when I trained for my first half-marathon, my goal was to finish the race, but my intention was to enjoy the training process and stay present during each run. Letting go of outcome-obsession allowed me to find joy in the journey, not just the destination.
Taking Action: The First Step
Being physically ready means taking that first step, even when it’s small. The Success Principles Principle 13, “Push Yourself to Act,” urges us to identify excuses—like waiting for the “right time”—and address them. Action breeds momentum, and momentum fuels progress. Whether it’s writing a business plan or lacing up your sneakers, the act of starting is what sets the physically ready apart.
The Role of Ego: Friend or Foe?
While action and goals are critical, there’s a silent saboteur that can derail even the best-laid plans: ego. In Ego is the Enemy, Ryan Holiday warns, “Ego says once everything falls into place, I feel peace. Spirit says I will find peace, and everything will fall in place.” Ego tricks us into believing we need perfect conditions before we can act, but true readiness comes from inner peace and acceptance.
Ego’s Traps
Ego manifests in subtle ways. It might convince you you’re not “ready” because you lack experience, or it might inflate your pride, preventing you from asking for help. For me, ego once kept me from pursuing a career change—I thought I needed to know everything before starting. It was only when I accepted my limitations and took action anyway that I began to move forward.
Ego also affects how we respond to challenges. Holiday suggests a passive reaction to others’ aggression, but many psychiatrists advocate for assertiveness—the middle ground between aggression and passivity. Being assertive means standing up for yourself while respecting others, unlike aggression, which prioritizes your needs at others’ expense. I’ve seen this in action: early in my career, I feared being perceived as aggressive, so I stayed silent during conflicts. The result? Stress and resentment. Learning to assert myself—calmly stating my needs—freed me to act without guilt or anger.
Managing Ego for Readiness
To be physically ready, you must manage your ego. This starts with acceptance, a concept from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) outlined in The Happiness Trap. Accepting your current situation—flaws and all—frees you to commit to action. It’s not about resignation; it’s about acknowledging reality so you can move forward. When I accepted that I wasn’t a natural runner, I stopped comparing myself to others and focused on my own progress. That shift made me ready to train consistently.
Personal Experiences: Lessons in Physical Readiness
Theories are great, but real-life experiences bring them to life. Here are two stories from my journey that illustrate the power of being physically ready.
Breaking Career Inertia
A few years ago, I felt trapped in a job I didn’t love. I had big dreams—starting my own business—but I was paralyzed by fear and ego. I thought I needed a perfect plan, a hefty savings account, and expert-level skills before I could begin. Then I stumbled across The Success Principles and its advice to “Act Like You’ve Made It.” I visualized myself as a successful entrepreneur—what I’d wear, how I’d speak, who I’d meet. That mental shift prompted a small action: I updated my LinkedIn profile and reached out to a mentor. That single step snowballed into a new career path. Being physically ready wasn’t about having it all; it was about starting where I stood.
Running My First Half-Marathon
Another lesson came when I decided to run a half-marathon. I wasn’t athletic, and 13.1 miles felt impossible. But I set a SMART goal—train for three months and finish the race—and paired it with an intention: to enjoy the process. There were days when my ego whispered, “You’re too slow,” or fear said, “You’ll fail.” But I reframed those thoughts, picturing myself crossing the finish line, and did the work—running even when I didn’t feel like it. Crossing that finish line taught me that physical readiness is as much mental as it is physical. It’s about showing up, day after day.
A Real-World Example: Martin’s $30M Deal
Consider Jake Harris’s story of Martin, who made $30 million on his first Miami condo deal. Martin didn’t wait for decades of experience; he saw an opportunity, aligned his goals, and acted. His physical readiness—mental clarity, decisive action, and managed ego—turned a vision into reality. It’s a reminder that readiness isn’t about perfection; it’s about preparation meeting opportunity.
Practical Strategies to Be Physically Ready
Ready to put this into practice? Here are ten actionable strategies to help you become physically ready today:
- Set SMART Goals: Craft specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound goals to guide your actions.
- Focus on the Process: Enjoy the journey, not just the outcome, to stay motivated.
- Practice Assertiveness: Stand up for yourself respectfully to overcome passivity and stress.
- Face Your Fears: Reframe fears with positive imagery and act despite them.
- Do the Work: Assess your plan, practice, and persist through setbacks.
- Act Like You’ve Made It: Visualize success to attract opportunities.
- Push Yourself to Act: Address excuses and start now, not later.
- Accept Your Situation: Use ACT principles to embrace reality and commit to action.
- Manage Your Ego: Let go of pride and focus on progress.
- Take Small Steps: Build momentum with consistent, bite-sized actions.
These strategies aren’t theoretical—they’ve worked for me and countless others. Start with one and watch how it transforms your readiness.
`Reflections and a Call to Action
Being physically ready is more than a concept—it’s a way of life. It’s about taking action, setting goals (or intentions), and managing your ego to unlock your potential. As Jack Canfield writes, “Though everyone has fears, successful people learn to feel their fears and do the work anyway.” My own journey—from career stagnation to crossing a half-marathon finish line—shows that readiness isn’t about waiting for the stars to align; it’s about aligning yourself and stepping forward.
Ryan Holiday’s words linger: “Ego says once everything falls into place, I feel peace. Spirit says I will find peace, and everything will fall in place.” Finding that inner peace has been key to my progress, and I hope it can be for you too. Reflect on your own life: What’s holding you back? How can being physically ready—mentally, emotionally, and physically—propel you toward your dreams?
I challenge you to take one small step today. Set a goal, lace up your shoes, or write down an intention. As Jeff Olson reminds us, “Goals are about taking action and narrowing down your possible options going forward.” Every step counts.
