Looking back on the greatest skills I’ve gained in life, there’s a common thread running through all of them: I didn’t learn them alone. I didn’t just read a book or watch some YouTube videos—I had a guide, a mentor, someone to show me the way. From my time as an apprentice electrician to working with coaches in sports and hiring mentors in business, the most valuable lessons I’ve learned have come from working under someone’s expertise.

It’s an early morning, and the streets of Salem, Oregon, are alive with possibility. You’ve been thinking about making a change for a while now. Maybe you’ve tried going it alone, cycling through workout apps or running programs, only to feel stuck or unsure if you're doing it right. You’re not alone.

When you feel the urge to stop, it’s essential to pause and ask yourself: Is this because I’m truly exhausted, or am I just uncomfortable with the challenge? The answer isn’t always obvious. In the same way that a money changer becomes adept at spotting counterfeit coins, we too must train ourselves to recognize the subtle differences between feelings—the desire to quit versus the need to rest. This isn’t something we’re born knowing; it’s a skill we develop through experience

Time after time I have been caught off guard by a client that is making tons of progress, I am witnessing it, and they’re telling me they are frustrated by the progress they aren’t seeing. Mind-blowing.

However, over time I have understood better- we are looking at very different pieces of the puzzle.

As a coach, I am looking for a pattern of compounding behaviors and markers of sustainable growth. As a client they are looking at a specific measurement, sometimes a subjective one, sometimes an objective one.

Here’s the problem: Success (or failure) is a lagging indicator.