The Amazon Day 1 Mindset: Your Key to Fitness Consistency

I remember it vividly. Standing before the pull-up bar, my mind brimming with visions of effortless strength. I imagined myself gracefully gliding upwards, rep after rep, a picture of athletic prowess. The reality? My feet barely left the ground. My first attempt at a pull-up was, to put it mildly, a humbling experience.

That was my Day 1. And it was far from glamorous.

The Universal Day 1 Experience

We all have our "Day 1" moments – the first day of a new job, the first step into a gym, the first attempt at a new skill. These beginnings are often fraught with anxiety, uncertainty, and the very real possibility of failure. It's easy to feel overwhelmed, to question our abilities, and to wonder if we're even capable of achieving our goals. This is especially true when it comes to fitness.

The desire to improve our health is almost universal. We know the benefits: increased energy, improved mood, reduced risk of disease, and a greater sense of overall well-being. Senior leaders, responsible for the well-being of their employees, understand this perhaps better than anyone. Yet, even with the best intentions, starting – or restarting – a fitness journey can be incredibly daunting.

Why is Starting So Hard?

Part of the problem is the sheer volume of information available. We're bombarded with conflicting advice, countless workout programs, and "expert" opinions. Do you join a gym? Download a fitness app? Hire a personal trainer? Follow the latest Instagram influencer? The choices are endless, and the pressure to make the "right" decision can be paralysing.

Then there's the fear of failure. We've all started fitness routines before, only to fall off the wagon weeks, days, or even hours later. The memory of past setbacks can create a mental barrier, making it even harder to take that first step. Even those of us who achieve high levels of mastery in other areas of our lives, like a successful career, can feel like complete beginners when it comes to fitness.

The Power of the Day 1 Mindset

But what if the key to lasting fitness success wasn't about avoiding failure, but about embracing a different kind of beginning? What if every day could be Day 1? I've completed over half a million pull-ups. Many people look at that number and assume I was born with some natural talent. The truth is, every single one of those pull-ups started with a Day 1 – and many days after that were Day 1s again. It's about showing up, even when you don't feel like it, even when you're tired, even when you're facing setbacks. Especially when you're facing setbacks.

High levels of mastery don't negate the need for Day 1s. In fact, they reinforce it. Because mastery isn't a destination; it's a continuous process of learning, adapting, and refining. It's about recognising that every day presents a new opportunity to improve, to push your boundaries, and to reaffirm your commitment to your goals.

Applying Amazon's Day 1 Philosophy to Fitness

This "Day 1" mindset isn't just a personal philosophy; it's a core principle embraced by some of the world's most successful organisations. Take Amazon, for example. Jeff Bezos, in his famous 1997 letter to shareholders, declared, "This is Day 1 for the Internet, and, if we execute well, for Amazon.com." This "Day 1" mentality has been a driving force behind Amazon's relentless innovation and customer focus.

But how can we apply this powerful concept to our own fitness journeys? Let's reframe Amazon's core Day 1 principles through a fitness lens:

Reframing the Principles

• 1️⃣ Customer Obsession: In the context of your fitness journey, you are the customer. Your health, your well-being, and your goals are paramount. This means listening to your body, prioritising your needs, and making choices that support your overall well-being. It's about being "divinely discontent," as Bezos puts it, constantly striving to improve and find what works best for you.
• 2️⃣ High-Quality, High-Velocity Decisions: Don't get bogged down in endless research and analysis paralysis. Make informed, but quick, decisions about starting. Choose a workout program, a gym, or even just a single exercise, and commit to it. The key is to take action, not to find the "perfect" solution (which doesn't exist). Trying a new workout class? That's a two-way door decision – reversible. Signing up for a year-long gym membership you never use? That's a one-way door.
• 3️⃣ Embrace External Trends, but Find What Works for YOU: The fitness industry is full of trends. Keto, CrossFit, HIIT, yoga – the options are endless. While it's good to be aware of these trends, don't blindly follow them. Experiment, explore, and find the activities that you genuinely enjoy and that align with your goals.
• 4️⃣ Resist Proxies: Don't get fixated solely on external metrics like weight or appearance. Focus on how you feel. Are you experiencing more energy? Are you sleeping better? Are you feeling stronger and more confident? These internal indicators are often more meaningful and sustainable measures of progress.
• 5️⃣ Two Pizza Teams: In the world of pull-ups and personal fitness, the concept of "two-pizza teams" translates beautifully to the power of small, supportive groups or even a single, dedicated workout partner. I've experienced firsthand how crucial this kind of connection can be.
• 6️⃣ One-way and Two-way Doors: Think of joining a gym with a long-term contract as a one-way door – a decision with significant and often irreversible consequences. It requires careful consideration, research, and a commitment. On the other hand, trying a new workout at home, experimenting with a different exercise routine, or even testing out a new pair of running shoes are two-way door decisions. The consequences are limited and reversible.

Overcoming the Anxieties of Day 1

The anxieties of Day 1 are universal, whether it's your first day at the gym or your first day in a new leadership role. The fear of the unknown, the pressure to perform, the potential for judgment – these are all natural human emotions. But the key is to not let those anxieties paralyse you. Acknowledge them, understand them, and then take action anyway.

In my journey to over half a million pull-ups, I've had countless Day 1s. Days where I felt strong and unstoppable, and days where I struggled to complete even a single rep. But each of those days, regardless of how "successful" they felt, contributed to my overall progress.

Learning from People and Personal Experience

I've worked with individuals from all walks of life, from seasoned athletes to complete beginners. And one thing I've consistently observed is that the most successful people are those who embrace the Day 1 mindset. They're not afraid to start small, to ask for help, to admit when they're struggling. They understand that progress isn't linear, and that setbacks are inevitable. But they keep showing up, keep learning, and keep pushing forward.

The Essence of Mastery

Mastery, in any field, is about showing up, even when you don't feel like it. It's about embracing the process, the learning, the growth that comes from consistently challenging yourself. It's about recognising that every day is an opportunity to learn, to improve, and to get closer to your goals.

Connecting Fitness to Business Leadership

This links back to the core of business, leadership, and team dynamics. A leader who understands the "Day 1" experience – the vulnerability, the learning curve, the need for support – can better connect with their team members, foster a culture of growth, and drive innovation. It's about creating an environment where everyone feels empowered to take risks, learn from mistakes, and continuously strive for improvement. A pull-up is just a pull-up right? Wrong. Ask someone who has never done a pull-up, and you'll see a persons face change. Ask someone who smashes pull-ups, and you'll see confidence and swagger. The mentality, work ethic and focus required to master a pull-up, or any fitness goal, is easily transferable into business.

The Journey, Not Just the Outcome

As I often reflect, is the journey or the outcome more important?

The answer, as I discuss in the video, is unequivocally the journey. The outcome – whether it's completing 100,000 pull-ups or achieving a business goal – is simply a marker of completion. The real value lies in the process, the lessons learned, the growth experienced, and the connections made along the way.

Embrace Your Day 1

So, embrace your Day 1. Embrace the uncertainty, the challenges, and the opportunities for growth. Because every day is a chance to start anew, to recommit to your goals, and to live the Day 1 mindset. And that, ultimately, is the key to a fulfilling and successful life, both in fitness and beyond.