Showing Up for the Process

Do you have a goal or an idea? Personally, I’ve always been a dreamer. For years, I kept notebooks on the side of my bed, filling them with short films, business plans, apps, t-shirt slogans. I used to think that was the important part, just having the ideas.

Years go by and a lot of those ideas are still sitting in that notebook. Sometimes I bring them to life, but honestly, most of the things I thought were worth writing down never made it past the page. Not every idea was worth pursuing, sure. But the point is, most of the time, I never even tried.

So many things go unfinished. As a developer, there’s always something new to learn or build, and that constant flood of possibilities can get paralyzing. I’d feel like a sloth playing Frogger, trying to get across the road. And when you’re frozen, even great ideas don’t go anywhere. I felt like I was halfway done with ten different projects or training sessions but finishing none of them.

I’m a huge Timberwolves fan, and something I’ve heard the players talk about is this idea: when the game presents a big moment, you don’t rise to the occasion, you fall back on the work you’ve already put in. You stay grounded in the moment because you’ve prepared for it.

That idea hit me. Because for years, I thought I could grind my way into progress. Pull all-nighters, catch bursts of motivation, wait for inspiration or opportunity to strike. But when things got busy or I lost focus, I had nothing to lean on. No routine. No structure. No foundation.

That’s why I started building a system. I think about that scene in Moneyball where Brad Pitt keeps saying, 'It’s a process.' That stuck with me. Because that’s what this really is, not a shortcut but a process I’m learning to trust. One week at a time. I’m finally starting to understand what sustained progress looks like and what it takes to achieve it. The goal isn’t to push myself to the edge of burnout. It’s to create a rhythm I can return to. A structure I can lean on, one that helps me get the most out of myself. Not through intensity, but through consistency.

One thing that’s helped me stay grounded is thinking in quarters. I’ve started setting quarterly goals instead of chasing huge transformations. Three months is long enough to make real progress, but short enough to stay focused. It forces me to break goals down into pieces I can actually finish. That’s been a big mindset shift, from 'how do I become successful' to 'how do I make progress this week.'

One of the biggest shifts has been making Saturday morning non-negotiable. That’s my protected time. Two hours minimum for focused work, learning, or building something that I find meaningful. And honestly, I think everyone should ask themselves: what are you really doing where you can’t carve out two hours on a Saturday morning, afternoon or evening for your own growth? That block is sacred for me now. You know why I’m up for Saturday mornings?

I cut out alcohol. Nothing dramatic, just a decision to stop doing something that was slowing me down. I feel like I don’t lose momentum. Mondays are more tolerable, weekends more productive. I am clear headed and don’t have lagging recovery time. That one switch made it easier to stick with everything else.

My workouts are essential to my focus and productivity as well. If I sat in a chair all day, grinding through tasks without moving my body, I don’t think I’d be making the kind of progress I am now. Lifting, sweating, moving. That’s how I reset my mind and refill my tank. I’ve had so many mental blocks be cleared during a workout session.

Of course, it’s not perfect. Tuesday nights are usually gym nights for me, but life happens. Plans shift, things come up. I’ve learned that sustainability doesn’t mean rigid. If I can’t make Tuesday work, I’ll shift things to Wednesday. The key is not abandoning the plan, just adjusting the schedule.

My system is more complex than what I’ve shared here, but that’s not the point. The point is to start small, stay consistent, and build something that supports your life.

This doesn’t feel like sacrifice. It feels like alignment. Things are finally clicking. The structure I’ve been working toward is starting to support me back.

You don’t have to be perfect. You just have to keep showing up.

Have I arrived? No. I’m still chasing goals. I’m not at the point where I can say, 'Damn, I made it.'

I don’t know if this system is building toward anything relevant. But it’s building something. And for now, that feels like enough.

I’m still showing up.

Broncos’ country, let’s ride.