The Unbreakable Egg: Lessons in Anti-Fragility

I had a profound realization during a conversation in Nashville that I just had to share with you all.

Have you ever heard of being "anti-fragile"? It's not just about bouncing back from challenges—it's about becoming stronger because of them. This concept hit home when someone told me I wasn't just resilient; I was anti-fragile.

Think about this: a fragile vase shatters when dropped. A resilient vase might survive the fall. But an anti-fragile "vase" would somehow become better, stronger, more beautiful after hitting the ground.

The Mile 20 Phenomenon

Marathon runners know about "the wall" at mile 20. The science is fascinating—your glucose levels drop, your body screams to stop, and you hit a mental and physical breaking point. Statistically, this is where many runners quit.

But here's the secret: if you push just a little further past that wall, something magical happens. The pain often begins to subside. The body finds reserves you didn't know existed. And most importantly, you discover something about yourself that you couldn't have learned any other way.

I experienced my own "mile 20 moment" after tearing my ACL. As an athlete, I felt my identity crumbling. There was a point where I questioned if I even wanted to continue. I hit my wall—hard.

The Two Choices We All Face

When you hit your wall, you have two choices:

1. Stop and break under the pressure
2. Take a deep breath and say, "What if I just keep going a little longer?"

That second choice—that moment of deciding not to quit—is where the magic lives.

I see this pattern everywhere now. My clients in my Pull-Up Revolution program hit their wall around week six. Their progress seems to stall. They question everything. They want to quit.

But those who push past that moment? They get their first pull-up not long after. The breakthrough was waiting just beyond their breaking point.

How to Be Anti-Fragile

So how do we develop this quality? How do we become the egg that won't crack no matter how many times it's dropped?

• Zoom out: When you're in the struggle, you can't see progress. Step back and look at your entire journey.
• Look for examples: Find people who have pushed through similar walls.
• Get a pep talk: Sometimes we need someone else to remind us of our strength.
• Lean into discomfort: Start viewing the pain as a signal you're about to breakthrough, not break down.

I'm still in my own "hallway" transitioning from athlete to speaker. There are days when I question this path. But I'm committed to being anti-fragile—not just surviving the pressure but thriving because of it.

So I ask you: Where are you on your journey? Have you hit your wall? Are you in the hallway between who you were and who you'll become?

Whatever you do, if you're at mile 20, don't stop now. The magic is just ahead.

What if it all goes right?