Beat yesterday™, every day.

Controlling the Controllables Frustration

I'm supposed to be in Washington, D.C. right now.

Literally, I should be at the starting line by the time you're reading this today, getting ready for the start of my heat at the Rock N Roll Half Marathon.

Instead, I'm in Frisco, Texas.

I trained for months for my race. Had the trip planned. Was looking forward to seeing the monuments, walking the city, doing things I haven't done in 20 years.

But in early February, I started experiencing knee pain that wrecked me. Each time I went for a run (or did a Hyrox-style workout), I would get through the workout but within two hours, my knee was swollen and I'd be in pain and limping for days.

Like hobbling across the stage to do keynotes, bad. (My Kansas clients saw it!)

So instead of chasing a new PR in the Capitol, I got an MRI last night and had cancelled my trip. Which also meant pulling out of next week's HYROX in Houston.

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't frustrated.

I was. (And I still am.)

And that's actually the point of this email.

Controlling the controllables gets thrown around a lot. But I want to be honest about what it actually means - because for a long time, I misunderstood it myself.

It doesn't mean suppress the frustration. It doesn't mean slap a good attitude on a bad situation and pretend everything's fine.

It means you let yourself feel it, and then you process it with a framework instead of marinating in it.

Here's what I do when something outside my control goes sideways.

I pull out a piece of paper and draw two columns:

1.Left Side (Strong Side! IYKYK): Let Go.

2. Right Side: Lean In

The Let Go column is exactly what it sounds like. I write down everything I need to stop griping, the frustration, the disappointment, the things that aren't going to change no matter how long I stay annoyed at them.

For me today, that list looked like this:

• Months of training I don't get to use on Saturday
• Missing DC — a city I haven't visited in two decades
• A lifting schedule that's now on hold
• Houston HYROX crossed off the calendar

I write them down. I acknowledge them. And then I consciously decide to stop feeding them energy.

Because on the other side of the page is the Lean In column — and that's where my focus belongs.

• Since I can't race Hyrox Houston, I'm now flying to New York to do press on my newest book and work with my coach on a keynote instead (maybe even catch a Broadway show - have a recommendation?)
• I now have time to properly rehab before I need to be ready for 29029 Snowbasin mountain climb in June
• I get a full weekend with the dogs and...
• I'll be home to watch TCU play its second round March Madness game against #1 Duke.
• Oh, and my upcoming Monday's keynote gets extra prep time it wouldn't have had otherwise

Same weekend. Completely different relationship with it — depending on which column I'm reading.

That's what controlling the controllables actually looks like in practice.

You don't skip the frustration. You process it, and then you make a conscious decision about where your energy goes next.

The Let Go list gives your emotions a place to land.

The Lean In list gives you somewhere to go.

Before you finish your weekend, try it. Think about whatever's been eating at you - a deal that fell through, a plan that changed, something you worked for that didn't go the way you wanted.

1. Write the two columns.
2. Let the frustration live in the first one.
3. Then build your next move from the second.

Win your weekend Reader,

I'm cheering for you.

Your Chief Encouragement Officer
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I was recently on the Athletics of Business Podcast to discuss the new book and their upcoming event that I'm keynoting May 5 in Omaha. If you want to join, here's a link to grab a ticket!

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