What Fuels You?
“The guy on top of the mountain didn’t fall there.”
- Vince Lombardi
What gets you out of bed every day?
No, seriously. Not the alarm. Not the caffeine. Not the obligation. I’m talking about that deeper pulse—the fire that actually pulls you into the day with intention. What gets you moving?
What gets you dressed, in your car, or to your workstation? And once you're there… what flips the switch? What makes the hours mean something? This is of great importance. Studies show that the average worker typically works for only four hours during an eight-hour shift.
Instead of coming to work with a passion, they drift. They punch in and survive the day. But you? You’re not reading this because you’re fine with survival. You’re here because something inside you wants more.
So, let’s get to the heart of it:
You need to know what fuels you—because if you don’t, you’ll burn out, not break through.
Passion or Paperwork?
Let’s get one thing straight. Passion isn’t just excitement. It’s conviction. It’s the refusal to coast.
I remember when I built my training program—not the first version, but the one that worked. The one where there was no wasted movement, no empty drills, no “let’s just kill time.” Every rep had purpose. Every drill or lift had a reason. Every day had a goal. That kind of precision doesn’t come from checking boxes. It comes from obsession. From fire. From fuel. The desire to build things differently. To build them better. To build them to last for the long run.
I wasn’t just preparing athletes. I was preparing warriors. And if I didn’t get my work right, we didn’t win. That’s how seriously I took it.
“This wasn’t a job I did—this was a passion that burned inside me.” I knew that if I did my part, then we had a real chance to win, not just a few games, but to win them all.
What if everyone you worked with treated their role like the company depended on them doing it right?
What if every person on your team brought the same fire to their role that you expect from yourself?
That’s fuel. That’s a mindset. That’s leadership.
From Motion to Meaning
We don’t fall to the top of our profession. We climb. Only the most focused, disciplined, and driven individuals make it.
So, take a breath and ask:
· Do you find pride in your work?
· Do you see each new task as progress, or just another tedious job?
· Are you moving with intention, or are you just staying busy?
I have found that where there is no fuel, there is no fire. And where there is no fire, mediocrity sets in. If those questions don’t spark something in you, maybe you’re chasing the wrong thing.
I thought my path was as a football coach. After eleven years, my record was 33-77-1. I did find pride in my work, but I was not progressing along my path. I knew my weaknesses, and no matter how hard I worked, I wasn’t going to get much better at what I lacked.
I made a significant change; I pivoted from being a football coach to becoming a strength and conditioning coach. I had to take a step back, but I was still able to help people realize their potential. I had great pride in my work. I was progressing faster than ever. And I was moving with intent. Check – Check – Check!
The Psychology of Fuel
I found my life fuel in two sources: Internal Fuel and External Fuel. The internal fuel was something that I controlled. I had to be the fire starter and see my way through. The second was the external fuel, which was built upon my ability to work with others and to motivate those around me.
The key takeaway is that if either one is missing, you’re running on fumes.
Internal Fuel:
· Purpose and Passion: If you know why you do what you do, you’ll keep showing up when it’s hard. Passion gives you lift. Purpose gives you direction.
· Self-Awareness: Know your strengths and your blind spots; this will keep you grounded and dangerous in the best way.
· Integrity: Want to lead? Be someone worth following. People don’t follow titles. They follow trust. Earn it.
· Resilience: Setbacks are part of the climb. Resilience is refusing to unpack and live in the valley.
· Confidence: Believe in yourself, but stay coachable. Hungry & Humble. That combo? Unstoppable.
External Fuel:
· Strong Relationships: Trust fuels performance. Period. Build it, protect it, and never let your ego outrun it.
· Communication: Say what you mean. Mean what you say. And for God’s sake—listen. Great leaders talk with their people, not at them.
· Continuous Learning: Complacency is quicksand. Stay curious. Stay sharp. Stay in motion.
· Positive Influence: Your energy is contagious. If you bring fire, they’ll feel it. If you bring excuses, they’ll live in them.
· Accountability: Own your role. Own your wins. Own your misses. When you do, the team follows your lead without question.
Fuel Your Focus
You’ve been on your path a while now. You’ve taken hits. You’ve won some. You’ve learned more. So, pause. Look up. Can you see your goals more clearly now than when you started? That’s not just motivation: that’s fuel. And fuel isn’t hype. It’s vision. It’s momentum. It’s why the grind still matters.
We need to fuel your day with positive imagery. Look at where you’re going, yes. But also look at how far you’ve come. If you don’t stop and track your progress, you’ll forget what you’re made of
If you don’t stop and track your progress, you’ll forget why you are working so hard.
This fueled me every day as I climbed the career ladder. My goals were lofty: to win a Super Bowl, and I was a high school coach. No one has won the NFL Super Bowl from the sidelines of a high school football field. I had so far to climb.
As I entered the college ranks, I could look back and see that I had taken two giant steps forward on my journey to succeed at the highest level.
Ask the Harder Questions
Still not sure what fuels you? Try these:
· What would I still do if I weren’t getting paid?
· What kind of leader would I follow into the fire?
· What part of my job gives me life, not just a paycheck?
· Who would suffer if I stopped showing up with full effort?
If you don’t like the answers, change them. That’s the work. That’s the climb. That’s what makes the day matter. When your days matter, time passes more quickly. No longer are you slogging through your work day. Dreading your week ahead. Questioning your path.
When you know your passion, your purpose, your reason, the clock disappears. You become focused on being the best you can be. Those around you see your intensity and your drive; they will either join with you or fall to the wayside.
Why Be a Butterfly?
Let’s end on this. Butterflies are beautiful. But they drift. They float wherever the wind takes them. You weren’t built for that. You were built to lead. Built to rule your world. So, ensure your fuel aligns with the scope of your vision.
“Why be a butterfly… when you can rule your world?” This isn’t poetry. This is a war fought inside of you. You want fulfillment? You want impact? You want to win? Then get clear on this question every day:
What fuels you?
And when you find the answer, never let it go empty.
