If you know me, you know I’ve taking cold showers for years. You may also know a big part of my inspiration was Joel Runyon, whose posts on cold shower therapy (search for my name at that link) motivated me to take cold showers every day for thirty days, which I now do every fourth day. I’ve sponsored his tremendous 777 challenge, to run 7 ultramarathons on 7 continents to[…] Keep reading →

Yesterday was the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth. I’ve waited to share something I discovered reading his autobiography a few months ago. First some context. It’s the day of your release. You’re a revolutionary, fighting Apartheid, imprisoned for 27 years, much of it in an 8 foot by 7 foot cell or, if outside, breaking rocks. Meanwhile, you’ve become a global celebrity. Over 200 million people watched your London[…] Keep reading →

My Independence Day post on Inc. today, “A Millennial Making America Clean Again,” begins A Millennial Making America Clean Again He’s doing a simple, small, short term act that makes a difference and is leading to more. Will you follow? I love Independence Day. I don’t eat hot dogs, nor do I care that much for fireworks. I celebrate July 4th by reading and writing about influential Americans and American[…] Keep reading →

People describe the burpees I do as a lot and hard. While the number, approaching 100,000, is big, for six-and-a-half years, it’s not that many. I keep trying to reconcile the disparity. Here’s how I look at it. If burpees are the single best exercise, which fitness experts have said, and if they aren’t the best, they’re close, then doing them is an efficient way to stay fit. In other[…] Keep reading →

My Inc. post Monday, “I Do Burpees Daily Because I’m Lazy and Full of Excuses,” began I Do Burpees Daily Because I’m Lazy and Full of Excuses Not having a skill so useful as discipline is a reason to do them, which transformed my life. When I tell people about my burpee habit, their most common response is to suppose I was born with superhuman discipline. I do them daily,[…] Keep reading →

Dave found this page a while ago and got in touch with me. He gets the sidcha concept and has been implementing it. In particular, he’s posted in his blog for the past 100+ days and counting. The other day he wrote me: Hey Josh, I recently wrote and published 100 blog posts in the first 100 straight days of my blog, and it’d mean the world to me if[…] Keep reading →

Interviewers tend to ask me two questions: What’s with all the burpees? How did you do all the accomplishments? They don’t realize that doing the sidchas is what achieves the accomplishments. I wouldn’t have expected that connection before starting the sidchas. I can’t really explain it now, but I know that doing the sidchas gets the other things done. From the outside you might see sidchas as taking time and[…] Keep reading →

Tathra Street hosts the Tall Poppy podcast. Today she posted our wonderful conversation, which covered leadership, burpees, competition, and important things we all wish we talked about more. The top of her page says: Change – Leadership – Wisdom The top of mine used to say: Meaning – Value – Purpose You can tell we’d complement in interests. Anyway, she listened and sounded like she took what I shared to[…] Keep reading →

There are plenty of books on habits. Too many, if you ask me. You don’t need books to start habits. In my experience, self-awareness will get you farther. In particular, starting new behavior creates new emotions and reactions. Paying attention to them will guide you how to follow up to improve them more than reading—if you pay attention to everything you can. That level of self-awareness takes time and effort[…] Keep reading →