In this edition, Joe shares:
Why most resolutions fail at the moment of pressure
How choosing the hard option once eliminates thousands of future decisions
Why identity matters more than motivation
Joe here, writing from a snow-blanketed farm up in Vermont.
Every January, I watch the same pattern repeat. People make resolutions. They mean well. They start strong. And most of them collapse the moment life applies pressure. That is not a discipline problem. It is a design problem.
Resolutions are built on motivation. Motivation is unreliable. When conditions get uncomfortable, motivation disappears. That is why Spartans do not do resolutions. We do resets.
A reset is not a wish. It is a decision about who you are from this moment forward. Resets remove negotiation. Resets remove excuses. Resets remove the easy option. And when the easy option is gone, progress begins.
The Decision Is Made Before the Alarm Goes Off
I live by a simple rule. When there is an easy option and a hard option, I already know which one holds value.
Years ago, on a freezing winter morning in these cold Vermont hills, that rule was tested like it always is. The alarm went off. The room was warm. Outside was dark, cold, and miserable.
I had two choices.
Stay in bed and stay comfortable.
Or get up, pull on frozen gear, and run on icy roads.
I did not feel motivated. I did not feel ready. I got up anyway. Not because I am special. Because I had already decided who I was.
When the decision is made ahead of time, action becomes automatic. That is the power of a reset.
Resets Are Built on Rules Not Feelings
Most people believe change requires complexity. It does not. It requires a few clear rules that remove debate. Here are three reset moves I use and recommend.
1. Move Before Screens
Before the world gets your attention. Move your body. Burpees. Walking. Any movement that raises your heart rate. You start the day by proving to yourself that you can do something hard before you do something easy.
It matters more than people think.
2. Kill One Easy Button
Everyone has something that keeps them comfortable. Pick one. Remove it for seven days.
The snooze button.
Late night junk food.
Alcohol during the week.
Scrolling in bed.
Your mind will push back. That resistance is the signal. If it feels uncomfortable, you are doing it right.
““First say to yourself what you would be then do what you have to do.” – Epictetus
3. Choose A New Discomfort
Every day, do one thing you would normally avoid.
Cold water.
A difficult conversation.
An extra hill.
Speaking up when silence would be easier.
Discomfort is not punishment. It is training. Avoid it long enough and you lose your edge. Practice it daily and it becomes familiar.
The Year of the Wolf
This reset is happening at the same time as a shift across Spartan. As we enter 2026 we embark on the Year of the Wolf.
Wolves do not wait for perfect conditions. They move forward when it is cold and chaotic. They survive through discipline and the strength of the pack. That is how this season is built.
In 2026, we've got a new look across Spartan. A redesigned Hex Coin that rewards consistency. A Trifecta experience that now extends across Spartan and Tough Mudder. 200 days of daily workouts designed to take your body on a mental & physical transformation this year.
One season. One pack. One long test of who you are becoming.
You Ask, Joe Answers
Q: “Q: How do I stay consistent when motivation disappears" – Alex M
A: "Motivation is a feeling. Feelings are unreliable. I never ask myself if I feel like training or showing up. I ask if I am the kind of person who does the work anyway. Build one daily action that happens no matter what. When life gets busy that action becomes your proof. You do not need to win every day. You need to show up every day. Consistency is not about energy. It is about standards." — Joe
I will see you at the start line,
Joe
