The worst advice I ever got (Dave’s Newsletter)

WHAT WE'RE HEARING

Family, Fitness, Work. You Can’t Have All 3…Or Can You?

Editor's Note: Hey. It's Dave. Live from the couch; in that weird week in between Christmas and New Years. We’re off this week, but our newsletter doesn’t stop. But figured we’d switch up from marketing lessons this week. Since we’re leading into a new year, it’s a great time to revisit habits and routines; so I asked a bunch of marketers in our community: what does your workout routine actually look like? How do you balance work, family, and fitness?

I can remember the WORST advice I ever got.

A boss of mine once told me that balance is impossible. And you can only choose two of three: family, fitness, and work. One of those three will always be out of balance.

But you’ll never be able to be great at all three things at the same time.

Bullshit.

It’s bad advice because it becomes a self fulfilling prophecy. An excuse.

To get out of shape because you’re building a startup.

To let relationships lapse because work is busy.

Not to get woo woo here, but you can do it. Not everything is urgent.

Is it hard sometimes? Absolutely. I often want to scream and throw my phone away. Delete LinkedIn. Get rid of my emails and Slack.

And yes. It sucks to wake up early. When it’s freezing. And dark.

But man, it’s a hell of a gift to be here, to be alive, to healthy - and for what it’s worth, it’s usually the guy that doesn’t have all three things that’s giving the advice that you can’t have them all at once.

Plus I am a huge believer that the family and fitness stuff end up making you better at work; so they should all work together. You can be a better marketer if you have the other things going for you.

Anyway…enough about me and my POV. Here’s a recap of some of the best lessons we got from the marketers in our world (you, reading this email right now).

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Motivation Only Goes So Far

Here's the pattern: people who stick with fitness long-term don't rely on motivation. They build accountability into the system.

This can look like…

• Working out with a personal trainer. No phone. No Slack. One marketer started out and couldn’t squat 45 pounds. Now they're hitting 240-pound squats and chasing new PRs.
• Reserving a lap lane at the pool a week ahead. The pool manager becomes this marketer’s accountability coach. The lane is reserved. Someone's expecting them. This is how they went from the couch to swimming a mile three times a week.
• Tracking macros and calories with a friend. Another marketer sends a friend everything she eats every day. This is how she lost 10 pounds and got her confidence back.

The lesson? You might need someone or something holding you accountable. A trainer. A class you prepaid for. A friend. A reservation you can't cancel.

Motivation fades. Systems stick.

Make Phone Calls OK Again

One of the greatest crimes of remote work: having to sit in front of a screen and do video calls all day.

Here's a perk for you to consider for your team: trade as many video calls for phone calls as you can. I'm serious. We need to cut back the need to be on video, it's too much.

If we can make it a phone call, let's do that.

More walking and talking. Less sitting all day, staring at the computer.

That is one thing I miss about the office - we used to walk.

Easily 15-20k steps a day around Boston like it was nothing.

Every 1:1 was a walk. Taking a call on a walk. MOVE! You get way more creative ideas. Less stress. Better sleep.

Find What Will Keep You Consistent

Make it a lifestyle. Find what's fun. Don't treat it as a temporary solution.

One marketer does strength training and rock climbing with their son. It's not just about the workout. It's about time together doing something they both enjoy.

Another runs trails because they love being outside. No treadmill. No gym. In summer they hit the trails. In winter they run up a steep dirt road wearing micro-spikes. Being outside is non-negotiable.

Someone decided after 40 they're doing an unassisted handstand by next year. Thirty minutes of deep squats and long free hangs. They also play soccer, basketball, and frisbee golf with their kids. Movement became integral to life.

Here's what else is working: 4-day powerlifting programs. Walking 3-5 times a week with a virtual trainer app. Waking up at 4am for gym sessions. Treating exercise as physiological hygiene.

The pattern? Nobody's doing the same thing. But everyone found something they can stick with.

If you hate running, don't run. If you love lifting, lift. If walking your dog gets you moving, walk your dog.

Just pick something you won't quit.

Winter Doesn’t Have To Be An Excuse

For those in cold climates (Vermonter over here!): winter exercise can actually be fun.

One marketer hikes fast enough in winter that they're barely wearing layers even in the 20s. Once you get moving, you warm up quick.

Others discovered hot yoga hits different in cold months. Sauna visits become more valuable. Indoor group classes fill the gap.

If you're in snow country: cross-country skiing is an incredible workout. Snowshoeing uphill is brutal in the best way. Ice skating is low-impact and almost meditative.

One marketer spent a few weeks in Finland and discovered a whole new routine. The Finns don't just survive winter. They thrive in it. Sauna and cold plunge. The cold plunge is a shock every time. But it does something for your body and mind.

Your routine might shift when the weather changes. That's fine. Just don't let winter become the reason you stop moving.

The Stuff That's Not Sexy (But Really Works)

Some of the best advice was the most straightforward:

• Treat workouts like meetings. Put them on your calendar. Don't skip them. One person hits the gym every weekday at 6am because it's usually the hardest thing they'll do that day. Everything after feels easier.
• Make it about more than looking good. One marketer lost 45 pounds in 13 months and said it gave them a new lease on life. Getting back to what they could do as a college athlete impacted them personally and at work.
• Add meditation or breathwork. Multiple people said daily meditation has had an incredible impact on mental health in burn-out-prone roles. Some do it twice a day.
• Prioritize sleep. The more consistently people hit 8 hours, the better they do at everything.
• Build discipline, not just muscle. You're proving to yourself you can commit to something hard. You're managing stress better. You're thinking more clearly. All of that shows up in how you show up every day at work.

Here’s The Thing About Discipline…

The best part of having a family and kids? I can just lock in. No one to impress. Nothing to work on but myself and my business.

Some people will tell you this is toxic. Grind culture. Hustle culture.

But a bit of discipline and focus never hurt anyone. Let’s not combine the two.

I wake up at 5:30. In bed by 9. I read 10 pages. I get my 10k steps. I work out daily.

This isn't about being a hero. It's about showing up for yourself so you can show up for everyone else. But also because I want to be a role model for my family beyond having 180,000 followers on LinkedIn (KIDDING!)

Every morning I write this down:

Good things happen to me.

And they do. And they will for you, too. 2026 is going to be amazing.

– Dave

P.S. I believe that you can increase your surface area for luck. Working out early? I've met incredible people at the gym. Blocking time to work on a side project every day? That compounds. Going out of your way to talk to other humans? That's where opportunities come from. When I retreat and hide on Zoom calls, fewer good things happen. When I show up in person, say yes to more stuff, good things come my way. So here's my question: what's one thing you're committing to in 2026?

Reply and tell me. Let's hold each other accountable.

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