“Success is never owned; it’s rented—and the rent is due every day.”
I love that quote.
It really makes you think that what we have accomplished is not permanent. We must work hard every day to maintain our progress, improve, and remain successful.
People love to say, “You’re lucky.”
How many of you have heard other people say this to you?
How many people have told you, "You are lucky," after you have accomplished something positive after years of hard work?
What they don’t see is the grind that built the foundation of that “luck.”
Success doesn’t fall into your lap—it’s forged.
It’s hammered out in early mornings, quiet nights, and lonely moments when motivation is gone, but discipline pushes you to “Keep going.”
Every successful person you admire didn’t just stumble into success—they built systems that carried them there when their willpower faded.
The Forge
Real success is built in the forge of discipline, not the comfort of convenience.
It’s the result of:
Choosing discipline over comfort. You’ll never regret the reps you did; only the ones you skipped.
Showing up when no one’s watching. Quiet consistency beats loud motivation.
Saying no to cheap dopamine and yes to purpose. Social media, junk food, and procrastination steal your energy—purpose multiplies it.
Building systems that push you forward. Systems don’t rely on willpower; they create momentum.
Staying locked in while others drift. Focus is your greatest advantage in a distracted world.
This newsletter is actually based on an X post I recently published:
Every decision either strengthens or weakens your forge.
Every habit either tempers your steel or makes it brittle.
When I reflect on all the times I have failed in my life, it is because I have not maintained these five items in my daily routine.
The goal is not perfection. The goal is to be consistent.
When I am consistent with these five items, my life improves and moves forward. When consistency escapes me, I tend to maintain the status quo or lose ground.
The easiest example is controlling what I eat. When I am consistent at exercise, healthy eating, and intermittent fasting, I feel better, have more energy, and maintain a better weight. When I slack, so does my energy, health, and weight.
My Own Forge
Years ago, I learned this lesson the hard way.
I was working long hours in Asia, building teams across time zones, balancing family life, and chasing professional goals.
There were days I wanted to quit. Days when comfort whispered, “You’ve done enough.” I remember sitting at Narita Airport or Haneda Airport on the way to China, Singapore, or India, feeling bad for myself.
I would text my wife, telling her how sad I was to be traveling. It was even worse because I did make some sacrifices, career over family at that time. I still regret missing my oldest son's first steps because I was out of the country. At that point in my career, I was traveling outside of Japan one week each month, away from my home.
I kept showing up—building systems to stay focused, improve my craft, and keep moving forward.
Those systems became the blueprint I live by today.
They’re why The Day Warrior exists—to share that discipline and purpose with others walking the same road.
Some of those sacrifices I made earlier in my life were worth it. I did miss some important memories when my boys were first born and enjoying their first years of life. It does create some regret in my heart, but it also positioned me for a role today where I do not miss baseball games, school events, parent-teacher conferences, or any of the family drama that goes on every day.
The Reminder We All Need
If you’re struggling right now—if the grind feels endless—remember this:
The moments that feel the hardest are the moments your forge is working.
That heat you feel? That’s growth.
That resistance? That’s your transformation.
Keep hammering.
Keep refining.
Because every small, consistent act of discipline adds another layer to your armor.
When I moved back to the U.S. in 2020, I thought I had everything planned.
I had accepted a job with one of the top manufacturing companies in the country. My wife and kids would stay behind in Japan for a few months to finalize the sale of our home, and the plan was for them to join me in January so the kids could start the new school year fresh.
Everything was lining up perfectly—until it wasn’t.
Halfway through the process, we were told that my wife’s visa might take another twelve months to process. That meant we’d be separated for a year, paying two mortgages, living on two continents, and holding our family together through a screen.
My first reaction was frustration. Maybe this move isn’t worth it, I thought. But my wife and I both knew that growth doesn’t happen without sacrifice. We made a choice—to reframe the challenge not as a setback, but as an opportunity to become stronger as a family.
So we got to work.
We researched, studied immigration law, and built a case for expedited processing. We hired a lawyer, assembled fifty pages of supporting documentation, and even reached out to Senator Portman’s office for help.
After months of work—and about ten thousand dollars later—we received the news: the visa was approved. My family landed in the U.S. in February, just a few weeks behind our original plan.
That experience taught me something powerful:
Success isn’t something you plan and wait for—it’s something you forge in the fire of uncertainty.
Plans will fail. Obstacles will appear. But when you stay disciplined, adapt your systems, and keep pushing forward, you’ll often find yourself right back on track—stronger, wiser, and more grateful than before.
The forge is never comfortable, but it’s where your true strength is revealed.
Wrapping Things Up With Some Action
This week, find some opportunities to challenge yourself.
Build your forge where you can start to shape your success:
Wake up 30 minutes earlier.
Replace one comfort with one discipline.
Work on one system that pushes you forward.
Start today.
Repeat it tomorrow.
Repeat it the day after that.
That’s how success is forged.
Not with luck. Not in comfort.
It is forged with a daily dose of discipline.
The Day Warrior
Hey everyone, first off—thank you so much for being part of this community and loving the content I create. Your views, likes, and comments mean the world to me and keep me motivated to bring you more of what you enjoy.
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How to find more content from The Day Warrior: https://thedaywarrior.bio.link (this includes links to my newsletter signup, store, and more).
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