When Fitness Became the Framework for My Work

Before I got more organized, more disciplined, and more impactful in my work, I got serious about walking. That’s where it all started. I didn't look at it as a strategy. I didn't look at it as a rebrand. I was desperate for a change and didn't know what I would do or how I would make it happen. But it started with putting one foot in front of the other every single day.

Years ago, I made a quiet commitment to walk every day. I wasn’t chasing a six-pack. I was trying to rebuild trust with myself. I had lost that trust after too many false starts and unkept promises to myself. The walk became a daily appointment that didn’t depend on motivation or convenience. It had to happen...rain or shine, tight schedule or not.

That decision didn’t just change my health. It changed how I think. How I lead. How I manage energy and execution. It became the framework for how I work.

Here’s how fitness transformed the way I show up:

1. I learned to schedule what matters.

Walking taught me to protect time and to stop hoping I’d find time. Now I schedule writing time, follow-ups, and even creative thinking the same way I schedule movement.

2. I stopped negotiating with myself.

When I walk, there’s no debate. That discipline carried over. I no longer wait for the “perfect moment” to send a pitch, lead a session, or close out a proposal. I act.

3. I got clear on what fuels me and what drains me.

Certain foods slowed me down. So did certain meetings. Just like I eliminated what didn’t support my body, I started eliminating what didn’t support my purpose.

4. I built momentum through repetition.

A good walk doesn’t always feel good at first. But doing it anyway gave me consistency. Now, even when the project is slow, the inbox is full, or the audience is small, I keep showing up.

5. I unlocked new energy and new ideas.

Movement gave me mental clarity. Some of my best ideas for coaching, content, partnerships, and presentations came while walking. When my body is in motion, my brain processes faster. When I move, I think. When I think, I build.

This isn’t about fitness advice. This is about alignment. Sometimes, the best thing you can do for your work is step away from your desk and do something that strengthens your discipline, your focus, and your mindset. For me, that something was walking. The results weren’t just physical. They were mental, spiritual, professional, as well as personal.

And it all started with one quiet, consistent decision.

If you live in the D.C. area and you’re looking to build consistency, clarity, and connection through movement, come walk with us. The One Step Walking Club will have its next walk on Saturday 8/2/2025 at 9:30 am at the Metropolitan Branch Trail (8th and Edgewood Streets, N.E.)