Advertise on podcast: Do Hard Things Podcast: Forge Your Mind & Body

Send us Fan Mail In this Field Notes episode, Siegfried “Sig” Tiegs shares how his first backyard ultra ended in an ambulance. Two miles into lap 6, his vision blurred and the nausea hit. A few hours later, he was in the ER with rhabdomyolysis, aka rhabdo. Sig breaks down the story, his numbers, what rhabdo is, how athletes end up with it, and the perfect storm he walked into without realizing it. He does hard things so you don’t have to. In this episode: Why Sig and Lacy went to scout the backyard ultra format for a future Do Hard Things eventHow a backyard ultra works, and why the slow pace is a trapLaps 4 through 6: hitting the wall, the porch, and the blurred vision that wouldn’t go awayPutting pride and ego aside to call EMSHis numbers: blood pressure of 78/50, CK over 1,000, and potassium over 5What rhabdomyolysis is, and what CK, potassium, and myoglobin doHow athletes get it: military recruits, college football, spin class, and CrossFit’s MurphWhy rhabdo pain can show up days after the eventIbuprofen, over-hydrating, and hyponatremiaThe perfect storm: dehydration, drinks, too much caffeine, and poor sleep in the 72 hours before the raceThe warning signs, and knowing when to stop instead of grinding to the finishWhy your crew needs to know your stop signalsRecovery: skipping the next race, follow-up labs, yoga, and a couple of months of taking it easyChapters 00:00 Cold open 02:00 Intro: I do hard things so you don’t have to 03:25 The story: a weekend without the kids 05:30 How a backyard ultra works 07:20 Laps 1 through 5 11:30 Lap 6: hitting the wall 14:50 Calling EMS 16:40 The ER and the diagnosis 18:40 What rhabdo is 20:40 How athletes get it 22:35 What I learned 25:10 The perfect storm 27:15 The signs, and knowing when to stop 29:15 Recovery 30:40 Closing Mentioned in this episode 2nd Annual Backyard Ultra at New Town, Saint Charles, MO, put on by F3MSMDS charity supporting BraxleyBig’s Backyard Ultra and Lazarus Lake (“Laz”)The Barkley MarathonsThe Murph workoutJocko Willink’s “Good”Exertional rhabdomyolysis in the U.S. Armed Forces, 2020–2024 (MSMR): https://health.mil/News/Articles/2025/06/01/MSMR-Rhabdomyolysis-20252011 Iowa football rhabdo hospitalizations: https://www.espn.com/college-football/news/story?id=60616502017 Oregon football rhabdo hospitalizations: https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/oregon-football-strength-coach-suspended-players-hospitalized-schoolSpin class rhabdo report, The American Journal of Medicine (2017)Coming soon: the Do Hard Things Backyard UltraHad rhabdo? Share your story. Add your experience in the comments on the blog post at https://www.dohardthingscoaching.com Sig isn’t a doctor. This episode is for education and entertainment only. Talk to your own doctor about your own situation. If you have dark urine, severe muscle pain or swelling, or nausea after hard exercise, get checked. Support the Show The Do Hard Things Podcast is listener-supported, and we keep advertising out as much as possible. We’ve got a powerhouse lineup of guests booked this season. If you want to put some wind in the sails, become a monthly supporter: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1981380/support Connect with Sig and the Do Hard Things Nation Coaching, retreats, and the Base Camp community: https://www.dohardthingscoaching.comMerch and community: https://www.dohardthingsnation.comJoin the free Do Hard Things Nation Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/developgritdohardthingsGet the book Life on Offense and all links: https://linktr.ee/dohardthingscoachingEmail: [email protected]: https://linkedin.com/in/jaytiegsIf this episode was useful, like, subscribe, and share it with a runner you know. Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail Breathwork, Men's Work & Building Lighthouses with Josh De Jong Josh De Jong is the newest coach on the Do Hard Things team. He's a breathwork facilitator, life coach, and mentor, a retired triathlete and USAT certified triathlon coach, and a sales professional. Sig and Josh met at a men's retreat about eighteen months ago and connected immediately. Josh now leads breathwork, coaches men, hosts fire circles, and helps run Do Hard Things retreats, including last week's Base Camp. In this episode, Sig and Josh talk about why so many men feel alone by their forties, what men need from other men, how to start a men's circle, and how breathwork regulates your nervous system so you can respond instead of react. Josh shares his path from leading the Tri Loco triathlon team to retiring from the sport after three surgeries in one year, and what endurance racing taught him. They close with Jesse Elder's lighthouse vs. tugboat parable and what it means to build lighthouses. In This Episode (03:10) How Sig and Josh met at a men's retreat(06:02) What drew Josh to his first all-men's retreat(10:27) Why men need to get around other men(12:07) The biggest challenge men face: feeling alone(15:47) Why men hit their forties with no one to talk to(17:46) The cost of carrying everything alone(19:58) First steps for a man who feels alone this week(22:45) What a fire circle is and the rules of the circle(26:00) What breathwork is and how it regulates your nervous system(30:08) Breathwork for healing vs. breathwork for performance(33:47) How Josh found breathwork (James Nestor, Wim Hof)(36:20) Josh's triathlon journey, Tri Loco, and retiring after surgery(41:26) What Ironman taught him(42:59) Bonking at Panama City 70.3 and finishing anyway(44:36) Building lighthouses: the lighthouse vs. the tugboat(47:48) Why Josh joined the Do Hard Things Nation(48:43) Rapid fire: morning routine, favorite breath technique, favorite race, book recommendation(53:39) Josh's advice for anyone who's driftingResources Mentioned Breath by James NestorWim Hof MethodThe Four Agreements by Don Miguel RuizLife on Offense by Siegfried "Sig" Tiegs and James E. ThorntonConnect with Josh De Jong Website: https://www.eldrandair.comCoaching with Josh: https://www.dohardthingscoaching.comMen of Standard men's circle (Indianapolis), Thursday mornings and evenings. Reach out to Josh to join.Connect with Sig and the Do Hard Things Nation Coaching, retreats, and the Base Camp community: https://www.dohardthingscoaching.comMerch and community: https://www.dohardthingsnation.comJoin the free Do Hard Things Nation Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/developgritdohardthingsGet the book Life on Offense and all links: https://linktr.ee/dohardthingscoachingEmail: [email protected]: https://linkedin.com/in/jaytiegsSupport the show: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1981380/supportIf this episode was useful, leave a review and share it with a man who needs to hear it. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, US). Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail Field Notes: What Do H.A.R.D. Things Actually Means Most people are doing pretty well in most areas of their life. But there's usually one arena where they're getting crushed, and it's quietly dragging everything else down. The guy killing it at work who hasn't been to the gym in two years. The woman in the best shape of her life who's drowning in credit card debt. The couple with the nice house who haven't had a real conversation in months. In this Field Notes episode, Siegfried "Sig" Tiegs breaks down the Do HARD Things framework from his book Life on Offense. DO means taking action. HARD is the four arenas of your life: Health, Affluence, Relationships, and Development. THINGS are the things that matter, the 20% that make the real difference. Sig also kicks off The Daily HARD Question: 365 days of journal prompts in the Do Hard Things Nation Facebook group, built to give you awareness in each arena and a reason to take one deliberate action every day. In this episode: Why most people end up "looping," living the same year over and overThe Army after-action review, and how to run one on your own lifeHealthspan vs. lifespan, and the four energy centers: physical, emotional, mental, and spiritualWhy sleep is the one thing to fix firstThe screen-time test for anyone who says "I don't have time"Money as freedom of choice, and why "the borrower is slave to the lender"What the 80-year Harvard happiness study foundThe three relationship circles: partner, family, and friendsWhy the number of men with no close friends has gone up five times since 1990The four development questions: What are you learning? Who's coaching you? What hard thing are you training for? Who are you teaching?Swinging singles, and why 1% better every day adds upDay 1 of The Daily HARD QuestionChapters 00:00 One arena dragging down the rest 00:40 What Do HARD Things means 01:25 Kicking off The Daily HARD Question 02:20 Living in reaction and "looping" 02:55 The after-action review 03:40 The HARD framework 04:05 Health: healthspan vs. lifespan 05:45 The four energy centers 07:25 Sleep 08:30 Movement and The Comfort Crisis 09:40 Nutrition 10:25 Mental health 11:05 "Look at your screen time" 11:39 Affluence: money as freedom 13:05 Poverty, middle-class, and wealthy mindsets 13:40 Relationships 14:35 The Harvard study on happiness 15:50 Partner, family, and friends 17:10 Your five people 17:45 Development 18:54 Four questions for development 20:05 Ten pages a day 20:40 Who's coaching you? 21:18 Training for a hard thing: the Misogi 21:55 Who are you teaching? 22:20 1% better every day 22:45 Why every day 23:31 Pole pole: slow is smooth, smooth is fast 24:00 Day 1: What does "healthy" actually mean to you? 24:25 Your challenge 25:53 Closing Day 1 Question What does "healthy" actually mean to you? Is it strength? Energy? Peace of mind? Keeping up with your kids? Still having adventures at 75? Answer it in the group. Mentioned in this episode Life on Offense by Siegfried Tiegs and James E. ThorntonThe Comfort Crisis by Michael EasterThe Top Five Regrets of the Dying by Bronnie WareAtomic Habits by James ClearThe Harvard Study of Adult Development75 HardThe Misogi challengeSupport the Show The Do Hard Things Podcast is listener-supported. If this episode meant something to you, become a supporter and help us keep bringing these conversations to you. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1981380/support If you're struggling: Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Veterans, press 1. Connect with Sig Join The Daily HARD Question in the Do Hard Things Nation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/developgritdohardthingsCoaching, Base Camp retreats, and Summit adventures: https://www.dohardthingscoaching.comCommunity and merch: https://www.dohardthingsnation.comGet Life on Offense: https://linktr.ee/dohardthingscoachingEmail: [email protected]: https://linkedin.com/in/jaytiegsWelcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail On September 11, 2001, Chris Meek was on the 19th floor at Goldman Sachs. He heard what sounded like a garbage truck hitting a pothole. A colleague looked out the window and thought it was a ticker-tape parade. Then they saw the paper was on fire. Chris and ghostwriter Dave Jarecki join Siegfried "Sig" Tiegs to talk about their book, Keeping Our Nation's Promise: 9/11 and the Stories That Still Shape Us. They interviewed close to 60 people for 38 profiles: a soldier who personally tagged more than 60 bodies at the Pentagon, two fighter pilots prepared to ram Flight 93, a mother still carrying the story of her son, the man in the red bandana, and two brothers who worked their way onto the pile to find their father. One became a West Point graduate. The other is now a lieutenant in his father's firehouse. Chris also shares how a Marine's request for tube socks and baby wipes became SoldierStrong, which has now donated 31 exoskeletons that let paralyzed veterans stand at eye level with the world again. The conversation turns to PTSD, veteran suicide, and what separates people who find hope from those who don't. Sig shares his own fight through depression, and Dave shares what finally pulled Port Authority officer Will Jimeno back from the edge. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 01:46 Chris on the morning of 9/11 05:00 Dave watching from Milwaukee 06:35 Sig at Fort Leonard Wood that day 08:28 Twelve families on one cul-de-sac 09:46 What 9/12 felt like 13:50 A nation united 15:15 Inside the book 18:14 Chris Braman at the Pentagon and Col. Marilyn Wills: "Why him and not you?" 20:16 Alison Crowther, the Dowdell brothers, and Flight 93 23:00 38 profiles and 44 voices 23:35 How the book was built: leadership, resiliency, legacy, remembering 28:09 A sign in a Pittsburgh bar 29:09 Ambassador Nicholas Burns and NATO's Article 5 31:37 The Dowdell brothers 35:02 How 9/11 changed the Army 36:25 Tube socks, baby wipes, and the start of SoldierStrong 38:22 Exoskeletons and being eye level again 40:37 BraveMind: VR therapy for PTSD 42:36 Army Sgt. Dan Rose 43:23 Why some people find hope and others don't 45:08 Will Jimeno's story 47:57 Did telling their stories help them heal? 50:30 Writing the book 52:27 The 9/11 Legacy Foundation's national curriculum 53:25 The boatlift: the largest maritime rescue in history 57:24 Only 14 states require 9/11 education 58:43 Where to find Chris and Dave Links Keeping Our Nation's Promise: https://ournationspromise.comBuy the book at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/keeping-our-nations-promise-chris-meek/1150424729The 9/11 Legacy Foundation: https://the911legacy.orgShare your 9/11 story: https://the911legacy.org/mystory/SoldierStrong: https://soldierstrong.orgDr. Chris Meek on Substack: https://drchrismeek.substack.comMentioned: Saved at the Seawall by Jessica DuLong and the documentary BoatliftSupport the Show The Do Hard Things Podcast is listener-supported. If this episode meant something to you, become a supporter and help us keep bringing these stories to you. https://www.buzzsprout.com/1981380/support If you're struggling: Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Veterans, press 1. Connect with Sig Coaching, the Do Hard Things Nation, and Life on Offense: https://linktr.ee/dohardthingscoaching Join the Do Hard Things Nation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/developgritdohardthingsEmail: [email protected]: https://linkedin.com/in/jaytiegsWelcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail Embark on a quest to conquer the wild and unpredictable world of adventure racing with us, your guides, through the rugged terrain of the Castlewood 8-Hour Adventure Race. Feel the rush of adrenaline as we reveal the crucial strategies and uncharted paths that make this sport an electrifying challenge distinct from triathlons and obstacle courses. With Lacey Teiggs by my side, we dissect the sport's multidisciplinary nature, from trekking and biking to canoeing and orienteering, delving into the essence of teamwork and the pivotal role of navigation skills that elevate adventure racing to a game of endurance and wits. Whether you're a seasoned athlete or a curious newbie, this episode serves as your entry pass to the adventure racing community, proving that anyone can get their start with sprints before graduating to the big leagues. We lay out a treasure map of essential gear—much of which you can rent to avoid breaking the bank—and share insider tips on how to sharpen your navigation prowess through local orienteering clubs. Be ready for our next episode's race report from Castlewood, but for now, stash this comprehensive gear checklist and prepare to lace up your shoes for an expedition that could redefine your limits and ignite your passion for adventure. Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail I got invited on a podcast with a significant following. Real show. I was excited about it. Ten minutes before we go live, I get a message. Feeling under the weather, need to reschedule. Fine. People get sick. We reschedule two weeks out. This morning, ten minutes before the show, another cancellation. No explanation this time. I'm not outing anybody. He's just the example that showed up on my calendar. And once I got past being annoyed, I realized it wasn't a character problem at all. It was a difference in standards. He was operating exactly to his. I come from a world where if you're on time, you're late. So this episode is about your word — what it's worth, what it costs you when you break it, and how to call somebody out when they break theirs. ------------------------------------------- THE FIRST AGREEMENT A lot of you have read The Four Agreements. The first one is "be impeccable with your word." Most people read that and hear "don't lie." That's not what it says. Ruiz breaks the word apart. Impeccable comes from the Latin for "without sin," and he defines a sin as anything you do against yourself. The first agreement was never about the other guy. Being impeccable with your word is about what breaking it does to YOU. ------------------------------------------- THE TWO COSTS Every broken word costs you twice. OUTSIDE YOU, and you never see it. Most people won't tell you. They get annoyed, they write you off quietly, and the invite doesn't come back. The referral goes to somebody else. Nobody sends you a bill for a broken agreement. Your reputation is a pile of decisions other people made about you and never told you about. INSIDE YOU, and this is the one that compounds. Every time you say you'll do something and you don't, some part of you files it away. Then you go set a real goal — the business, the race, the hard conversation — and some part of you won't buy in. You'll call it fear or bad timing or lack of motivation. It's none of those. It's an accurate risk assessment. The man making the promise has a track record, and you've read it. ------------------------------------------- YOUR WORD: HONOR IT. OWN IT. CLEAN IT UP. HONOR IT — starts before you say yes. Most broken words start as a yes you should never have given. "I can't commit to that" is a real answer and people respect it more than a yes you don't mean.  OWN IT — when you break one, name it in one sentence with no "because" in it. The second you add traffic or the kids or how busy it's been, you've stopped owning it and started defending yourself. CLEAN IT UP — an apology is free, so it isn't a cleanup. Do something that costs you. Reschedule on their calendar. Deliver early. Eat the expense. The cost is the point WORK WITH ME If you're good at what you do and can't figure out why it isn't compounding — if you keep making promises to yourself in January and quietly renegotiating them by March — if your team says yes and you can't count on it and you suspect it starts with you — that's not a discipline problem. That's a self-trust problem. And you don't fix that one alone, because you're the one who's been keeping the record. Coaching: https://www.dohardthingscoaching.com Speaking: https://www.dohardthingscoaching.com/speaking ------------------------------------------- Siegfried "Sig" Tiegs is a keynote speaker, high-performance coach, and co-author of the Amazon best seller Life on Offense: A Tactical Guide to Dominate Life and End Mediocrity. A retired Army Major with 27 years of service, he hosts the Do Hard Things™ podcast and coaches high performers at dohardthingscoaching.com. GRIT. PURPOSE. PEACE. Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail At 2:03 in the morning I woke up to the light on and the shower running. Our dog Koda had taken a direct hit from a skunk. My first coherent thought, standing in the hallway in my shorts, was that we didn't have any tomato juice. Because that's what you do. Everybody knows that. My grandmother knew it, your neighbor knows it, and Google will still tell you so this morning. It doesn't work. It never has. And what got me wasn't being wrong. It was how sure I'd been. Tomato juice wasn't a guess I'd have defended if you pushed me — it was a fact I had, the same way I know a stop sign is red. I couldn't tell you where I picked it up or when. And in forty-some years it never occurred to me to check. So this episode is about the things you've never checked. EVERYTHING YOU DO IS EITHER INHERITED OR CHOSEN. Inherited means somebody handed it to you and you never checked it. Chosen means you tested it and kept it on purpose. From the inside, those two feel exactly the same. That's the whole problem. Three questions to tell them apart: SOURCE — Where did I get this? If you can't name the source, you inherited it. MECHANISM — How does it actually work? Walk the steps out loud. EVIDENCE — What has it actually produced? Left column what it was supposed to do, right column what it has done. Then give it a verdict. Keep it. Kill it. Or test it — set a date and a number and go look when the date comes. There's no fourth option where you keep doing it and don't think about it. That's the one that got you here.------------------------------------------- THE SKUNK FORMULA (Paul Krebaum, 1993) 2 cups of 3% hydrogen peroxide 1/4 cup baking soda 1–2 teaspoons Dawn dish soap Mix it fresh in an open container. Never seal it in a closed bottle — the reaction releases oxygen and a capped container can burst. Keep it out of the eyes. Work it into the fur, let it sit five minutes, rinse, repeat as needed. It works because skunk spray is made of compounds called thiols. The peroxide and baking soda oxidize them into something odorless — the molecule itself changes. Tomato juice never touches the thiol. It sits on top of it and waits to wear off.------------------------------------------- WORK WITH ME If you're running a life you didn't actually pick — the career you fell into, the routine you inherited, the version of yourself somebody else decided on — that's not a motivation problem. That's a life full of inherited defaults nobody ever audited. That's what The Forge is. Twelve months, a rope team of men doing the same work, and somebody in your corner asking you question two about the things you can't see by yourself. Coaching: https://www.dohardthingscoaching.com Speaking: https://www.dohardthingscoaching.com/speaking ------------------------------------------- Siegfried "Sig" Tiegs is a keynote speaker, high-performance coach, and co-author of the Amazon best seller Life on Offense: A Tactical Guide to Dominate Life and End Mediocrity. A retired Army Major with 27 years of service, he hosts the Do Hard Things™ podcast and coaches high performers at dohardthingscoaching.com. GRIT. PURPOSE. PEACE. Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail Two months before the Missouri River 340, we lost the boat. High water, a headwind we hadn't planned for, and a log. My partner Joe and I spent forty-five minutes in the river swimming for a dike while my canoe went downstream with my sunglasses and my Bose speaker. We walked back down the Katy Trail covered in mud with paddles in our hands and nothing else. That night we were done. Not weighing our options. Done. This episode is about what happened next, and about the curve that explains it. The Emotional Cycle of Change was mapped in the 1970s and it has five stages, and stage three is where almost everybody quits. Not most people who fail. Most people, period. I've taught this curve for years and it still put me at the bottom of my own diagram. Knowing the name of it didn't take an ounce of weight off. What it did was show me the decision point. In this episode: • Why day one feels great and why that never lasts  • The five stages of the Emotional Cycle of Change, and how to find yourself on the curve  • The b******t belief that takes more people out than the difficulty ever does  • Why flow feels like ease but never is, and what inspiration actually means  • Scoring lead indicators instead of lag when the results have gone silent  • The one test for telling a valley from a dead end  • Five tactics for getting through the part where it gets worse before it gets better Stage three doesn't end with a feeling. It ends with a decision. Here's how to make that call on purpose. Do Hard Things Coaching: www.dohardthingscoaching.com BLOG on this topic: https://www.dohardthingscoaching.com/blog/%2Fwhy-it-gets-harder-before-it-gets-better Life on Offense on Amazon: Amazon.com :Life on Offense GRIT. PURPOSE. PEACE. Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail Why You Keep Breaking Promises to Yourself and 5 Tactics to Help You  Become Sovereign I got caught by a bag of Doritos. Standing in my pantry at nine o'clock at night, hand in the bag, not hungry — scared of a presentation I hadn't given yet. Twenty-seven years in uniform. Marathons, ultras, a 340-mile paddle race. And a program running underneath all of it that I never authorized and never noticed. It took a 72-hour fast to show me that. Day two, I found myself standing at the pantry door with my hand on it, having made no decision to walk in there at all. This episode is about a word: sovereign. What it actually means, why almost nobody examines their own life, and how to take back ground you didn't know you were losing. In this episode: • The promise-break-quiet-repeat cycle, and why breaking it is so easy it doesn't even register  • The b******t belief that stops most people from ever looking — you either have a problem or you don't  • The 31-day test that tells you the truth about what has a grip on you  • The four costs every comfort habit charges: self-trust, energy, presence, and peace  • Five tactics for taking the ground back, including the four obstacle effects I learned as a combat engineer — disrupt, turn, fix, and block  • What to say at the cookout when somebody gives you a hard time The question underneath all of it: what percentage of your choices are actually yours? Fast and Focused 31 Day Challenge: Do Hard Things™ — Grit, Peace & Purpose Life on Offense on Amazon: Amazon.com: Life on Offense: Do HARD Things; A Tactical Guide to Dominate Life and End Mediocrity: 9798299067798: Tiegs, Siegfried "Jay", Thornton, James E.: Books Full written version:  Why You Keep Breaking Promises to Yourself  GRIT. PURPOSE. PEACE. Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail You can be “crushing it” and still feel like something is breaking inside. That tension is where our conversation with Nicole Ward lives and it gets practical fast. Nicole is an executive leader at Aon, host of the Executive Athlete Podcast, and author of Biohacking for the Sales Athlete. Together, we unpack why so many capable leaders run on adrenaline, caffeine, and willpower while quietly drifting out of alignment physically, mentally, and spiritually. We make the case that recovery is training, not a reward you earn after you’re exhausted. Nicole shares real recovery tools that high performers can actually use: walking outside for sunlight, short breathwork and box breathing breaks, yoga and mobility, red light therapy, and simple sensory resets that calm the nervous system. We also call out “empty-calorie recovery” like doom scrolling, late-night screens, and drinking as a default off switch, and we talk about how circadian rhythm and sleep hygiene change everything. Nicole opens up about a near-fatal car accident that became her wake-up call, plus what she learned rebuilding her health from the ground up. If you’ve been tempted by supplements, peptides, and the latest biohacking trends, we’ll help you start with fundamentals first: dial in sleep with two or three changes, track your food for a week or two to find macro and micronutrient gaps, then consider wearables for biofeedback and accountability. We close with a powerful mindset shift: your personal “stack” of experiences and tools can become your superpower as a leader. If this conversation helps you, subscribe, share it with a high performer who needs a reset, and leave a review so more people can find the show. Connect with Nicole Ward: [email protected] Linked In: Nicole Elizabeth Ward | LinkedIn Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail Two hours into what should’ve been a normal MR340 training paddle on the Missouri River, our canoe flipped and everything got real fast: cold water, whitecaps, drifting gear, and a current that wouldn’t let us “just kick to shore.” I’m Sigfre J Teagues, and I’m walking you through what happened with my buddy Joe, moment by moment, because the details are where the real lessons live. When you’re training for the Missouri River 340, it’s easy to obsess over cadence, nutrition, technique, and grit. Then the river hands you a test you didn’t schedule. We talk about how wind plus current changes the entire equation, why overconfidence turns into cut corners, and how incomplete preparation shows up when chaos hits. You’ll hear the hardest call I had to make: letting thousands of dollars of canoe and equipment float away so I could stay in position to help my partner. “People over possessions” sounds like a slogan until you’re forced to prove it. After we get out, we debrief what we got wrong, what we got right, and why humility and community matter as much as toughness. If you’re into endurance racing, river safety, resilience, or mindset training for hard things, this one lands. Subscribe, share this with a friend who trains hard, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway: what would you let go of when life flips your canoe? Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail When life throws a curveball, some strike out, while others, like Nick Klingensmith, turn it into a home run. With over 100 Spartan races under his belt, Nick's story isn't just about athletic prowess—it's a raw, unfiltered look at overcoming cancer, addiction, and the universal quest for purpose. Step into our latest episode, where determination meets vulnerability, and discover how Nick transformed his lowest point into a starting line for a life of resilience. Nick's candid conversation takes us on a rollercoaster of emotions and achievements. From the eye-opening ejection from a Las Vegas hotel to the adrenaline of obstacle course racing, his journey is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for growth and reinvention. As you tune in, feel the grit and passion that propelled him through the challenges, and let his experience be the catalyst for questioning your own boundaries and what lies beyond them. Wrapping up, we reflect on the broader implications of Nick's personal odyssey. Whether it's battling chronic health issues or facing the mental hurdles of daily life, his insights offer a blueprint for tapping into our inner reserves of strength. This episode isn't just a narrative—it's a call to action, inviting you to embrace the disciplined mindset needed to carve out a meaning-packed path, no matter what obstacles loom ahead. Join us for an invigorating discussion that might just change the way you approach your own life's race. Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events

Send us Fan Mail Embark on a journey to empowerment and vigilance as we engage with Alan Earl, a law enforcement sage with 30 years of hard-earned expertise. Discover his profound insights into the world of personal safety for outdoor enthusiasts—runners, cyclists, and solo adventurers. Alan's rich background, from African beginnings to shaping the minds at the US Army Military Police School, provides a unique lens through which we can learn to protect ourselves. By blending high-level protective strategies with practical self-defense tactics, this episode arms you with the knowledge to become a hard target for potential predators. Every step outside our door can be an unpredictable venture into the unknown, but fear not, as we dissect the mindset of criminals and explore the decisive role of situational awareness. We discuss the imperative of being your own bodyguard in today's landscape, where swift police responses are not a guarantee. From the wisdom of group dynamics to the psychological combat in violent encounters, our conversation with Alan offers strategies not just for self-defense but for transforming daily routines into opportunities to sharpen your instincts.  Wrapping up, we share heartfelt appreciation for the collective dedication to service and education in keeping our communities safe. Alan's guidance reminds us of the importance of being 'sheepdogs'—ever watchful and ready. Take these lessons and anecdotes with you, integrating them into your life's playbook for personal security. Be sure to tune in for a wealth of actionable tips that will leave you feeling more prepared and confident as you face the world's challenges head-on. Welcome to the Do Hard Things Podcast with your host Jay Tiegs, Are you ready to amplify and improve your life? Then you are in the right place.  On this podcast we have unfiltered conversation with inspiring people who take on challenges and share with us, the wisdom from their journey. We talk about how doing hard things adequately enable all of us to deal with life's struggles and challenges and ultimately improve the quality of our lives.  Support the show Big things are happening inside Do Hard Things Nation, and I want you with us. Want more support? Join the Do Hard Things Wellness Academy. Four coaches. Weekly mindset training, movement, breathwork, meditation, book club, and challenges. Join as a member here: 👉 skool.com/dohardthings/about Our book, Life on Offense, is now an Amazon Best Seller!  Grab a copy and leave a review.  👉 Get the book on Amazon Grab Your Do Hard Things Gear and Apparel. Show the world you Do Hard Things with high-quality apparel!  👉Gear — Do Hard Things Nation And don’t forget—the Do Hard Things 5K, 9.11 Mile Run, and 9.11 Mile Ruck is happening in September. There’s even a virtual option—so no excuses. Sign up here: 👉 dohardthingsnation.com/events