Where My Journey Began

When I was 13 years old, my siblings and I joined a youth track club.

I hated it. I wasn't very good.

My little brother was just as fast as me in the short races. And my sister lapped me in the long races.

I was close to quitting. I hated losing. It ate me up inside. I just wanted to be good at something, but I wasn't even close to winning a single race.

I had a predicament...

I couldn't quit the team (my step dad was one of the coaches)

I was risking several years of dish washing duty, if I didn't show up on the finish line (sometimes I would hide and wait for the race to start without me).

So I started taking practice seriously and I I started asking questions...

• "What should I eat to have more energy?"

• "How much should I stretch?"

• "How much water should I drink?"

And surprise surprise, I started improving but I was still quite slow.

At the end of the season, there was a local 5k race. It was further than I had ever run but I wanted to see if I could finish the race.

Because it was such a long race, I didn't have a clue how to pace myself. So I laced up my worn-out Walmart basketball sneakers, and I lined up next to the best distance runner in the school, Brenden Omicioli.

When the race started, I told myself:

I'll just try to keep up with Brenden for as long as I can and no matter how difficult it was, I wouldn't start walking.

As the race developed, I stayed right next to him. I was breathing so heavily, and he was just gliding along effortlessly.

But it was exciting. It was invigorating to have people cheering for me, from the side of the road.

Legs heavy, and hot with sweat, I refused to let him get away from me.

I don't have any photos from the race, so here is a picture:

I couldn't believe it, but as the end of the race came near, we were still neck and neck.

Brendan had begun to nervously glance over at me. I'm sure he was surprised that I was still running next to him. I was breathing so heavily.

But so was he.

I realized that I might have a chance to finish in front for once.

We were shoulder to shoulder, matching each other stride for stride.

As we took the turn for the final stretch, I could hear the crowd cheering. I had never felt anything like it. I was in agony, but I was thrilled by the excitement of the home stretch.

With my face tomato red and my arms flailing, I sprinted as hard as I possibly could through the final meters.

I stumbled across the finish line.

Spinning around, I watched as Brendan crossed the line just a few seconds behind me.

After the race, I was beyond ecstatic.

When I got home, I wrote down the race results on a piece of paper.

21:56 for 3.1 miles

I couldn't stop looking at it.

It is the first time I remember feeling proud of myself.

This tiny success helped me believe that I could become good at something. It was the little push that gave me momentum.

I started obsessing over becoming the best runner and athlete that I could possibly become.

Fast forward...

I ended up earning a full-ride scholarship to a division 1 college, where I eventually ran 4:06 in the mile (just short of my goal of 3:59).

Not bad for a kid that used to hide behind the bleachers, because he was so embarrassed that he might finish last.

No matter where you are in life, you can always improve.

Which leads me to this newsletter...

What can you expect from this newsletter?

Each week, on Saturday morning, I'll send you ONE letter.

I'll deliver you the best advice that I wish someone had given me, at the beginning of my personal growth journey.

I'll cover topics like...

• Habits -> how to build "growth habits" that will actually stick

• Exercise -> how to both look and (more importantly) feel healthy

• Nutrition -> the foods I eat to stay lean without counting calories or starving myself

• Self-belief -> the techniques that I use to lock my confidence in place

• Productivity -> how to be effective instead of just busy

So, if you want to feel healthy, become more productive, and develop your self confidence, then you definitely came to the right place.

I'm putting all of my effort into this letters because now (more than ever) the world needs powerful, proficient people that can make a positive impact.

People like us.

You are capable of great things, you really are.

If you want to move past your failures and become a greater version of yourself, then this newsletter is here to help.

Yes, it can feel like every drop of your energy is being drained by society, but this newsletter is here to give you a breath of fresh air.

And if it feels like the world is falling apart around you, then this newsletter is here to give you a little hope.

There are challenges coming in the future, no doubt about it, but this newsletter is here to give you more confidence. 

Okay.

If you made it this far, then I will ask you for one favor:

Reply to this email with the word "received", so that future letters don't end up being censored by your spam folder.

Thank you for doing that.

And again, thank you for joining me on this journey.

Let's grow,

Cliff

P.S.

One housekeeping note: if this email ended up in the spam, promotion, or social folder, please move it to your primary folder! On Gmail, you can do this by clicking the three dots in the top right corner of this email, selecting “move”, and clicking on “primary”. Thank you!

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