In a world where we could have just about everything we want at a moment’s notice, we have to pick and choose where we allocate our energy and always remember that while good things are fleeting,

Great Things Take Time

Whether you’re seven days into new goals, or years along the road, let’s talk assumptions getting in the way of your Great Things, and maybe I’ll let you in on a few surprises about things you might have assumed about me…

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Table of Contents

• The Assumptions I Almost Let Win

• Moments with Maurice

• What's Got Me Smilin'

The Assumptions I Almost Let Win

Say you pass me on the street, take a class with me, or get served my content on social media, you might have some assumptions about me. In fact, you probably have assumptions about most people you meet; it’s only normal. But the danger is when those assumptions keep you from doing something you want.

Maybe you don’t go for the promotion, the relationship, or the workout because you assume the people who belong there have something you don’t. And maybe you walk away from your Great Things altogether because you don’t think you look, think, or act like everyone else. That’s when assumptions become a problem, when comparison takes you out of the game.

With all the 2025 recaps floating around and intentions for 2026 being presented, it might seem like everyone has their stuff figured out; they know what they got wrong and where to improve. If it looks like I’ve got things figured out, I’m sure my therapist has some things to say on that topic! That’s why today I want to share some of the assumptions I’ve heard about myself, not to prove anything, but to be honest about what the journey has really looked like and how assumptions almost put me on a different path.

Assumption: I’ve always known my place in life and my journey. 

Originally, I thought I’d follow in my dad’s footsteps and get a union job, perhaps firefighting. Until a firefighter shared his side of things: firefighting is extremely rewarding, but you have to be prepared to run into a burning building for every reason under the sun. Hesitate, and someone’s life is on the line. Then I thought about being a chef because I love food and love to cook. But I didn’t think I could commit the hours to the business needed. Just because you love to do something doesn’t mean it needs to be your career. Then I set my sights on being a pediatric cancer nurse, until my father got cancer and passed away. I knew I wasn’t strong enough to watch children go through the same things. The people who can are incredible, but that’s not me.

When I was working as a doorman, I got into personal training, almost by accident. Prior to that, I had worked at bars, deli counters, in nursing homes, as a caterer, a delivery boy, and, of course, at Abercrombie. I was still figuring out who I was and what I wanted, and making mistakes, A LOT of mistakes, but I was still learning and keeping an open mind. It meant that while I was literally opening doors for others, I wasn’t afraid of the open door that presented itself and introduced me to the world of fitness.

Assumption: Fitness made sense because I was good at all of it.

We’ve already established that it took me many years before I had a career path I was interested in pursuing in the fitness world, but perhaps I saw the signs before? I was good at track (short distances), but when it came to basketball or soccer, common things played as a kid to judge your aptitude at fitness, I was atrocious. I also didn’t subscribe to what I thought was a “rah rah” attitude needed to be a fitness instructor or personal trainer. There was no way I could instruct like that! When I’m telling you I was thisclose to not trying out personal training, I mean it. I didn’t fit the mold of what I assumed a personal trainer needed to be, and it was that assumption that drove my behavior.

Now, there are some days I can barely do my own class. I’m on the tread, in front of a studio of participants, coaching live and praying my legs don’t fail me. I’ve also dealt with injuries over the last 10 years that recur because I let my foundation slip, causing me to need to take time off or get surgeries. I’ve also stopped rollerblading (my movement of choice) because of a few bad accidents that made me realize I could be one accident away from a life-changing injury. If I had pursued fitness because I was the best at every aspect of it, well, I’d never have pursued it.

Assumption: I’m always positive

This is a common thing I hear from people, thinking that I’m so positive I must vomit sunshine and rainbows even when I’m sick. That’s very much not the case. The most negative I am is when it comes to myself and my self-talk. It can get pretty negative and critical, thinking I need to do more and be better because I’m trash. Oh, how fun is that internal little voice? It beats me down and tells me that I should just give up, that I’ve amounted (and will amount) to nothing. That I’m not working hard enough. Imposter syndrome is my biggest battle and one that I fight daily. 

But even when I excel at positivity, I have to catch myself going too far. There is nothing wrong with a positive attitude, but not at the cost of being realistic and honest. Sure, I can say I’ll take care of ten things in a day, but is that possible? Or am I just being optimistic with my time?

Assumption: I’ve learned from my mistakes

One might say that the whole Great Things Take Time brand is built on honoring my biggest mistake: being so focused on career growth, I missed out on the last chance to spend time with her. Her words to me have always been, “Never give up, Maurice, because great things take time.” Had I been more patient with my growth, I would have made time to see her, and the next time I was with her wouldn’t have been in the hospital, saying goodbye and wondering if she knew I was there. 

With something like that in my past, you’d think I would have learned from my mistakes. Unfortunately, making more time for loved ones is still something that comes up frequently when talking about changes I need to make. I haven’t perfected it, and I’m far from being close to getting it right, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to throw in the towel and give up on making time for people. It means I have to choose every day to make it a priority until I can safely say I get it right all the time, which is probably never.

Skip the Assumptions About The Journey

It can be easy to watch someone from the outside and decide they were always meant for what they have or that they’ve excelled at every moment of their life. If you’ve been holding yourself back because you don’t feel ready, qualified, positive enough, disciplined enough, or healed enough, consider this your reminder that things are never going to be perfect. If your journey doesn’t look like everyone else’s, don’t assume you should throw in the towel. In fact, the way you’re going about things might be the better way! Just keep at it, even if the actions are small and the progress is minimal, you’re still on your way there.

Moments with Maurice

If you only pause to reflect on your life for one moment today, do it now.

If you’ve been journaling along with me, take the time to pause on the reflection and write down your answer to the prompt. Even if it feels silly in the moment, looking back on what you’ve written down can be eye-opening when you start to see patterns form.

Because no matter what, there is always something to smile about.

An Empty Camera Roll

This week, it turns out I didn’t take a lot of pictures, which brings the biggest smile to my face. Why? Well because it means I was unplugging and relaxing. Getting time to be present… something I still struggle with. It was a great way to start 2026.

Okay, I take that back… almost no photos except one of Frankie, because how can you not save an image of this face forever!?!

Words From Shay

My mom loves to send an uplifting message or screenshot in the family group chat. I figured our family isn’t the only ones who need to hear some of these reminders

Remember:

-Adrian