So I was at a diner with my family eating breakfast. We could call it brunch. It was a day off and we were enjoying ourselves.

A few tables over, I saw three of my old co-workers from my last job. It had honestly been a while, but once we were finishing up our meals, I knew it was them. I excused myself from my family and quickly approached them.

It was one of those situations where a “cool” supervisor was treating two of his good guys to lunch. You do not see that kind of stuff that much these days. I thought that was pretty nice.

I said, “Excuse me, sir,” to the supervisor in a sarcastic customer voice.

A little backstory: they are cable guys, so pretending to be an annoying customer asking a random question in the middle of lunch was hilarious to me.

They turned around and just looked at me seriously.

I was stunned.

I did not actually have a question. I was expecting immediate dap and hugs, but they just sat there waiting for a question.

I said, “Rudy! All that stuff I did for you, and now you going to do me like that?” with a big smile and my arms up.

He said, “Is that JR?”

Then we all gave each other the original greetings we should have had from the start.

It was Kevin, Walter, and Rudy. Three guys who were always cool when I worked at the old job. They always treated you like you treated them, and I appreciate consistency.

I had not seen them since right after the pandemic. Back then, I was taught a lesson about business from that company. They are valuable. That is why they are still there. That company saw me a little differently. I was seen as essential. Afterward, I was seen off in a downsizing.

So it has been at least three years.

They told me they had just left a crazy job, so when I walked up to them, they had no idea who I was or what to expect. I was 80 pounds heavier the last time they saw me, so they made a few jokes about my old size.

We caught up for a few minutes. I asked how life and the job were treating them. They asked about my job, my music, and if I was ever coming back.

I told them about the few songs I released before my severance ended and I started working again. Then I told them I found a job.

Yeah, I make less, but the freedom that came from that change turned the page to an exciting chapter in my life.

I am a whole different person now.

One of them grabbed one of my biceps and said, “I can tell.”

After we finished talking, my wife, daughter and I wrapped things up and went home. Something about seeing those guys stayed with me.

Later, that had me thinking about timelines.

For instance, there is a timeline where I stayed at that job and chose to commute two hours every morning and evening. Still stuck following orders. Still standing at a station. Still 240 pounds. Possibly even 250. Still being a company man.

Would I be happy?

Would some other miracle have happened to make me fall in love with fitness?

Would I have found a new purpose and passion for life?

Would I still be in that same negative loop?

Would I appreciate my family as much as I do right now?

Would I have eight fitness certifications or my own LLC?

Would IntraConversions even be a thing?

Would you even be reading this right now?

That is why I look at choices differently now. I think long-term. Trickle effect. Lagging indicators. Consistency over perfection.

I want you to think for a second.

If you started something big before, something grand for yourself, something you really wanted and were working hard for, but then you stopped, just remember it for a second.

Do not worry about why you stopped. That part is okay for right now.

Just remember.

Now I want you to exhale or sigh.

Release it.

Now close your eyes for a second and imagine a timeline where you did not give up. It might take a few tries, and each try might take you to a new place.

What I am saying is, there are infinite timelines and scenarios in which you finish or win. The only thing you have to do is restart.

Do something small every day and build on it.

It applies to anything big you have been stopping or stalling on. Start small and implement it into your day, every day.

People think consistency is having a huge checklist with 10 boxes and checking all of them off.

That is perfection.

Consistency and growth is making sure at least one box is getting checked every day, then building up to two, and so on.

There is no point in checking off 10 boxes if you are only going to last a week.

Accountability is built on patience and grace, not unrealistic expectations.

Until next time, folks.

Thank you.

JR