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Together, we’ll dive deep and find the strength to never give up because Great Things Take Time.

It’s Monday, time to take stock of what you need to get done for the week ahead. Who are you listening to to help guide you?

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Here's what's in today's email

• Your Watch Told You To Read This

• Moments with Maurice

• What's Got Me Smilin'

Your Watch Told You To Read This

Ever find yourself winding down on a Sunday night when your smart watch or biometric tracking app pings you?

You had a relatively easy day today compared to your regular schedule. Consider incorporating high-intensity interval training to help deplete yourself before bedtime.

Okay, maybe that’s a bit of an over exaggeration for a message you could be receiving, but you get the point. These devices love to make you scoff.

I’m sure there have been many times you’ve received a notification from an app, a device, or even just a message in a plan about your energy levels. Sometimes it’s helpful insight, and reaffirms something that you’re probably already feeling; other times it’s so out of touch that if it were a loved one giving you the feedback, you’d probably respond with an “Excuse me?”

The point isn’t that you don’t need technology; it’s that you should view it as another tool on your journey to Great Things. Technology can be lifesaving, literally. It can pick up on things before you even show signs, but it can also take away the ability to think for yourself.

One of the biggest obstacles I see in people’s paths to achieving their Great Things is their unwillingness to listen to what THEY truly need. Instead of making a plan and then tweaking it based on what works best for them, they focus on what the instructor does, the person next to them, the strict plan, or the individual with the picture-perfect results.

For me, technology is similar to social media, a tool to accomplish something (distraction, entertainment, growth, etc.). It’s not your end-all, be-all. This is why, when I do workouts, I don’t use a famous tracking/social media app; I want to go based on feel or my plan, and that app gives me neither.

Maybe you had drinks last night, and your alert is that you had a poor night’s sleep. Maybe you tweaked something and took a rest day, but are being told to get up and move. Physical issues aside, what if you’re just not feeling motivated and don’t want to do anything?

You don’t need AI to tell you that you feel like shit. You should know that already.

Have you ever done a workout where your mind wasn’t in it due to something impacting you, and then, after the fact, the data told you that it was awful, or you felt worse? You knew that, you didn’t need the feedback. You should know when drinks will leave you feeling tired the next day, or when pushing through the pain will make it hard to walk.

Motivation isn’t connected to your device. Your device can be helpful to see patterns, but if you need something to call you out, then you need to refocus. If motivation is lacking, it might be that you’re body needs a break… or that you don’t really want to be doing something to begin with. 

I think a lot about the stories I’ve heard over the years (or experienced myself), about how when the going gets tough, people can fall back on the vision they have of their goal. It’s what gets them up at the crack of dawn, keeps them going late into the night, or makes sacrifices worthwhile. 

The body is also amazing at giving you cues when you shouldn’t be doing something. You get subconscious messages, pain, or physical reactions to things. If every day you go into something feeling unmotivated or sluggish, it could be your body’s way of telling you something.

Let me be clear, it is hard to listen to your body and ignore outside sources. How do you know if you’re giving yourself too many breaks? Or do you feel guilty taking a rest day because it makes you feel like you’re slacking? This is where it is helpful to go inward before using outside sources as a tool. 

Meditation, sitting quietly, or finding an activity that lets you go inward and self-reflect are great options. For me, that’s journaling or long solo drives. A coach or training buddy can also be helpful to bounce your symptoms off of. But at the end of the day, you’re the only one who truly knows what’s going on in your mind. 

No person or device knows what it mentally feels like for you to go through a loss, traumatic event, or rejection, and how that affects you. Outside sources can’t hear the internal conversations going on in your head, or how something feels to your body. Only you know if you need time for an emotional lap and how long it is.

Use the data to help you get to know yourself better, but trust yourself. You have everything you need in that big, beautiful brain of yours. You know when it’s time to go hard, you know when it’s time for some rest, and you certainly know when it’s time for a dance break.

Side note: I am very curious about the funniest AI-generated message you’ve received from a device/app. If you’ve got one, send it to @greatthingswith_adrian on Instagram or reply to this email.

Moments with Maurice

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

Happy Hour

Being around my niece and nephews is one of the most joyful times of my life. Their unrestricted love and joy are completely contagious (among other things), and I look to them for guidance. Not only did they come from my siblings, who I love dearly, but they also see the world in such a pure and excited light.

Because of what they’ve taught me, I’ve become more present and hopeful, to enjoy the challenge or the fun. It makes me look back on my first few months of coaching virtually during the pandemic. I was worried about how I was showing up, but in the end, it led to a beautiful connection with the community. It became one of the most joyful moments of my life and it is always important to find the joy.

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

The Downshift

Shout out to Adam M. and Emily G for this name. It truly reflects what cars mean to me; a way to ease the pressure and stress of life and enjoy something that truly makes me happy. For the longest time, cars and driving have been something that have given me solace and allowed me to think through things; they also connect me to my dad.

This weekend, I spent time at the J&B Cars and Coffee, debriefing on the week and geeking out over various builds. I highly recommend finding something you enjoy that is slightly, if not more, disconnected from your 9-to-5.

Damn, They Put Their Foot In This

Opening at Yacht Club (drinks so good you’ll get your sea legs real fast)

Breakfast pancakes with a friend at Friend of a Farmer. (My friend is not a farmer, in case you were wondering.)

Flyfish Club for some seafood. Shocked I had time to get a photo because this meal was so tasty.

The Jim Hogan Memorial Foundation x Good Sports

Did you ever think you’d see me play golf? Well, you might never, but if I am, just know it’s for a good cause. Always inspiring to be in a room hearing about the work the Jim Hogan Memorial Foundation is doing for Good Sports.

Remember:

-Adrian