Let Yourself Be Great: The Hardest Choice an Athlete Can Make

A year ago, I had a conversation with one of my longtime athletes—someone I’ve worked with for nearly seven years. The talk was simple but real: “If this is the goal, you’ve got to start making choices to match it.”

And about a year ago, she did. Not because I told her to. Not because it was written in a program. She decided she was going to give herself permission to be as great as she could be inside this sport.

Since then, the results have spoken for themselves. But more than the PRs, what I saw was a shift in identity.

As coaches, we all want to see our athletes succeed. But the truth is, the biggest leaps don’t happen in a training cycle—they happen in a decision. And that decision belongs to the athlete.

It’s one of the hardest things to do in strength sports: choosing to sacrifice comfort, social life, convenience—for something you might achieve. But when that choice is made from within, it doesn’t feel like sacrifice anymore. It feels like purpose.

1. The Shift Starts with Self-Priority

The first thing I noticed? She started prioritizing her recovery. She started saying things like, “Today’s not a heavy day, but I’m still going to get better.” Her approach flipped—from checking boxes to chasing growth. That change in mindset completely rewired her sessions.

2. Stacking Good Days

Before, she was showing up—but not always stacking quality. She never had to say it out loud. I could see it in her patterns. But now? Her good days are consistent. In this sport, that’s rare. And when they start to stack? Progress multiplies.

3. If You're On the Fence, Start Here

To the athlete struggling with this same commitment:

Before you set the goal, understand what that goal will ask of you.

You don’t need to give up everything. But you do need to acknowledge the process. And if the goal is performance at your highest level, it may mean saying “no” to things you’ve always said “yes” to. That doesn’t make you boring. It makes you serious.

4. For Coaches: Support, Don’t Push

I’ll never tell an athlete to skip a wedding or a vacation. That’s not my place. But I will always ask:

Do your choices align with the result you say you want?

If not, that’s okay. But let’s name it. Let’s talk about it. As coaches, our job isn’t to force greatness—it’s to create space for athletes to choose it.

Sometimes that choice comes with sacrifice. And sometimes that sacrifice is what unlocks something massive. In her case? PRs she never imagined. Goals crushed. New standards set. And she came to me and said “Thank you.”

But my answer was simple:

No. Thank you.

You made the choice. You stepped into it. You let yourself be great.

5. What I’ve Learned as a Coach (and Athlete)

I’ve made the mistake of sacrificing everything for training. I’ve put relationships second. I’ve gotten tunnel vision chasing “more.” I’m lucky I have a partner who grounds me and reminds me what balance looks like.

So now, I lead differently. I coach differently. I want greatness for my athletes—but not at the cost of their humanity. When one of them chooses to give fully to their goal? I’ll meet them there. But I’ll never drag them to it.

If you’re reading this as an athlete:

Ask yourself—What are you willing to trade for the version of yourself you say you want?

If you’re reading this as a coach:

Support your athletes’ decisions. Show them the road, but let them choose their own route. Be there when they’re ready.

What’s one goal you’ve set—and what choices are you making to support it?

Write it down. Be honest about what needs to shift. Then talk to your coach. That’s where the breakthrough begins.