Why I chose pain over a Porsche

Hi Reader,

My mid-life crisis is in full swing.

I took part in an Ironman in Cascais, Portugal, last month.

It’s an insane event.

2.4 miles of swimming.

112 miles of cycling.

And a 26.2-mile run.

I clocked a personal best for the race–that’s 12 hours and 15 minutes for those keeping score!

The race wasn’t the hardest part, though. You see, racing is a reward for training.

And to train for an Ironman, I spent upwards of 15 hours a week swimming, cycling, and running.

That’s before factoring in time spent getting ready for a session, driving to the pool, stretching, and recovering.

Two of my kids are teenagers, and my business works when I take time off. So I’ve time for longer training sessions.

A friend asked me, “Why are you putting yourself through this?”

“My mid-life crisis is full-swing.”

My mid-life crisis didn’t cost as much as a Porsche but it wasn’t cheap. A race entry costs about $500, and I spent much more on energy gels, running shoes, a wet suit, and a bike.

I also hired a coach. Every Sunday, he loaded up the TrainingPeaks apps with sessions for the week ahead.

Did I need one, though?

Google “Ironman training plan” and you’ll come across dozens of websites for triathletes. I built these websites for a few years and got millions of pageviews. So, I love stumbling across a good one.

But information is cheap. I get better results when I work with a coach. Over the years, I’ve hired a few different coaches.

In my corporate copywriting days, I presented regularly to senior directors. So, I hired a coach who helped me with my public speaking skills.

When I started my business, I didn’t know what monetization model to pick. So, I hired a coach who taught me the basics of blogging, writing online and making offers.

The work never stops, though.

This year, I changed business models. I’m working with a new coach who is helping me refine my new offer for business owners needing help with their content strategy.

Coaches aren’t cheap. You can save money by figuring out this stuff on your own.

But paying someone who’s achieved your goal is faster and easier. Their insights eliminate the guesswork and random YouTubbing and Googling at two a.m.

All you have to do is create a realistic plan, show up daily, and work your numbers.

Write on,
Bryan Collins