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How One Lazy Guy Outperformed a Hard Worker

Years ago, as a personal trainer, I had two clients with different approaches to fitness. Thomas was highly motivated, seeking the most efficient exercise routine to gain muscle and lose fat quickly. John, on the other hand, was more laid-back. He knew he needed to exercise for his family’s sake and wanted the simplest routine possible.

Author

Benjamin Knight
July 11, 2024

I designed tailored exercise routines and diet plans for both. Five years later, at a random wedding, I encountered them again. To my surprise, John was fit, while Thomas had gained 10kg of fat.

How did this happen?

The Path of Relentless Effort

Thomas put 110% effort into his plan initially and achieved remarkable results.

But he wanted more and switched to more intense training and trendy diets. This led to injuries and setbacks.

He recovered and repeated the cycle of extreme effort and injury several times. Despite his dedication, he ended up worse than when he started.

The Power of Consistency

John, meanwhile, made minimal changes. He often did less than the original plan and never trained during holidays.

For him, exercise was just an inconvenience. Yet, his consistency paid off. Over time, his physique and health improved steadily.

The Real Difference

John’s success boiled down to focusing on what matters. He consistently executed the bare minimum, leading to gradual but sustained improvement.

Thomas, in contrast, tried to do everything perfectly, leading to frequent setbacks. In the end, he spent more time recovering from injuries and overeating from depression.

He didn't execute on what really mattered consistently enough. He made things harder than they should have been.

Focus on what matters

This principle applies beyond the gym. It’s about the Pareto principle—focusing on the 20% that brings 80% of the results long term.

Instead of striving for perfection and hard work, we should ask:

  • How would this look like if it were easy?

  • What’s the bare minimum that yields the desired results?

  • What drives the output?

  • How can I make this habit sustainable long term in real life with vacations and unexpected events? 

As Socrates famously argued: The true understanding in any field means knowing how to make things better within that domain.

And to make things better you first need to understand what is that 20% that makes the real differernce.

Your Challenge

This week, pick one area where you exert the most effort.

Examine what you’re doing and ask yourself how to simplify it for better results. By focusing on what truly matters, you’ll likely find an easier, more effective path.

Embrace this approach and watch how it transforms everything you do.

Good luck, and have a productive week!

Ben