Practice Discomfort
I read a book recently that completely blew my mind. Okay—technically, I listened to it. But it was only an hour and twenty minutes on audiobook. Most podcasts I listen to are longer than that, so I gave it a shot. Then I listened to it again. Then I told Jackie to listen to it. Now we both want our son to hear it too.
Why? Because it was written by a 14-year-old named Cole Summers.
The book is called Don’t Tell Me I Can’t, and it completely shattered my frame for what kids—and honestly, anyone—are capable of. It reminded me of stories from Japan about kids taking the subway alone, or stories from earlier generations starting work in a factory at age ten. This book made me want to add it to the required reading list for my entrepreneurship students.
The lessons aren’t groundbreaking—but the stories are. Cole bought his first truck at age 8, even though he couldn’t drive it. He bought and renovated a house at 10. He taught himself lessons from Warren Buffett on YouTube. The takeaway isn’t just about entrepreneurship—it’s about excuses. College students tell me all the time about why they can’t do something. Cole’s life makes those excuses feel pretty thin.
It’s not just what is said—it’s who it’s coming from.
This Substack is reader-supported. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming paid subscriber.
Discomfort
I injured my arm recently. I wish I had a cool story, like not tapping in a jiu-jitsu match or throwing heat at my son’s baseball game.
But no—I was raking leaves in the backyard.
Now I’ve got elbow pain, random aches, and a receding hairline to match. Aging is a cruel tradeoff: just when your health becomes more important, it gets harder to maintain. In high school, you could eat garbage and still gain muscle. In college, a hangover took one Advil and a breakfast taco. Now? A late night out feels like you need a three-day recovery plan.
So if health matters more as we age… why is it so easy to let it slip?
Because we crave comfort. And the more we indulge in it, the more it bleeds into everything we do.
Seeking Discomfort
The more you seek comfort, the more it starts to define your baseline.
Comfort becomes the standard. Discomfort becomes the enemy. And slowly, laziness creeps in—masked as efficiency or “taking it easy.”
It’s like food. The tastier it is, the worse it probably is for you. Comfort works the same way.
But here’s the truth: being comfortable with discomfort is a skill.
It’s not natural. It’s trained. Like brushing your teeth, it becomes automatic—if you build the habit.
I’ve seen it in myself recently. Since the arm injury, I haven’t trained jiu-jitsu in weeks. My gym routine is off do to limitations with certain exercises. I’m leaving early. Not tracking my protein. Skipping vitamins. Drinking way too much caffeine. None of these are huge failures—but they stack up.
Its death by a thousand cuts. And before you know it, you’re staring up at a bigger mountain than when you started.
Shock the System
When I feel myself slipping, I don’t try to ease back in. I hit the reset button. I shock the system.
Here are a few ways I do it—feel free to steal them.
Physical Resets
Cold Plunge: Nothing resets your nervous system like cold water. Even regulars dread it. That’s the point. Discomfort, practiced.
1–2 Hour Ruck/Run/Hike: I used to do this every Sunday at 5am. I need to start again. Moving for an hour+ in Zone 2 heart rate gets your mind right for the rest of the week.
Camping: Sleep outside. It’s not luxurious. It’s dirty. You won’t sleep great. But nature has a way of resetting your energy and drive.
New Workout Class: Yoga, CrossFit, Pilates, bootcamp—doesn’t matter. A new group, new challenge, and movement you’re not used to snaps your brain out of autopilot.
Mental Resets
72-Hour Fast: Yes, it’s physical, but mostly it’s mental. No food for three days forces discipline. Your body gets a break; your mind gets sharper. I try to do 3–4 a year.’
Tip: Do it with friends to commiserate with. Also, plan the fast to end Friday dinner. It’s better to have work to take your mind off of not eating than to watch your family eat all weekend.
Read a Whole Book in a Weekend: Pick a non-fiction book and finish it cover to cover. It’s amazing how much momentum this creates. It’s better than scrolling on your phone.
Wake Up at 4:30am for a Week: You jump out of bed to catch a flight—The pain of missing a flight is so great, the snooze is out of question. Pretend eveyrday that the pain of not getting up will be higher than the pain of sleeping in. Early mornings force intentionality.
Social Media Detox: Delete the apps for a week. They aren’t helping. Every scroll is time stolen from something meaningful. Reclaim it.
Final Thought
As I wrote in The Motivation Factor, motivation needs momentum. And when momentum stalls, sometimes you don’t need a gentle push—you need a jolt.
Know your own signs. Watch for the creep of comfort. And when it shows up?Shock the system.
Connect with Zach
Website • Twitter • LinkedIn • Youtube