The Day I Stopped Trying to Be Impressive

I used to care way too much about looking impressive.

Impressive workouts.
Impressive numbers.
Impressive business results.
Impressive posts.

You know the type.

The kind where you low-key hope someone messages you and says,
“Mate… how are you doing all this?”

But here’s what I realised recently.

Impressive doesn’t build longevity.

Boring does.

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The Problem With Performing

There’s a difference between:

• Training…
  and
• Performing training.

Between:

• Building a business…
  and
• Performing entrepreneurship.

Between:

• Getting healthy…
  and
• Performing health online.

And most people don’t know the difference.

They’re exhausted…

Not from effort.

From performance.

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What Changed For Me

Somewhere over the last couple of years — probably around day 400-something of wearing my Whoop — I stopped trying to “win the day” publicly.

And started trying to win it privately.

No one claps for:

• Going to bed on time.
• Hitting protein targets.
• Drinking water.
• Skipping the extra drink.
• Saying no.
• Doing mobility work.
• Walking when you don’t feel like it.

No one sees the thousands of tiny decisions.

But your biology does.

Your future does.

Your kids do.

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Nearly 50, and Here’s the Truth

I don’t train to look dangerous.

I train to be durable.

I don’t build businesses to look successful.

I build systems so my family feels safe.

I don’t biohack for content.

I do it because I want to feel sharp when I’m 70.

There’s a maturity that comes when you stop chasing applause and start chasing alignment.

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The Shift That Changes Everything

Instead of asking:

“How do I look?”

Start asking:

“Would I respect this if no one knew?”

That question will clean up your life fast.

Would you:

• Still train?
• Still eat well?
• Still study?
• Still build?
• Still improve?

If it never made it to social media?

If the answer is no…

You’re performing.

If the answer is yes…

You’re building.

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Final Thought

The most powerful version of you is boring.

Disciplined.
Quiet.
Consistent.
Calm.

No drama.
No proving.
No flexing.

Just steady improvement.

And ironically…

That’s the version that ends up being the most impressive.

– Dave