I’ve been working out at Axe Fitness five days a week for a few years now. It’s part of my morning routine.
Well, a few days ago my alarm went off in the morning and I really didn’t want to go.
I was warm. I was tired. My body was heavy, and my brain started doing what brains do best, negotiating.
Maybe I could move a couple of meetings around and go to a later morning class.
Or I could skip the morning classes and hit an evening class instead.
Then reality kicked in. I’m in the newest book in the Never Quit on a Bad Day® series pre-launch phase right now. If I pushed the workout to later, I’d get focused on work. Tasks would pile up. Emails would need answers. Then the evening class would become a “maybe,” and “maybe” often turns into a “no.”
I lay there for another moment, staring at the ceiling.
Then I focused on two things: my fitness goals and how I would feel after the workout.
I said it out loud: “Phebe, get out of bed. Let’s go.”
And I did.
Champions Aren’t Who You Think They Are
We throw around the word “champion” like it only belongs to people with trophies, medals, or highlight reels.
I genuinely believe that we are all champions. This extends beyond scholastic, athletic, or professional accomplishments; we all have wins that deserve to be celebrated. Each of us possesses the capability to be the champion of our own life.
A champion isn’t someone who always feels ready. They’re someone who shows up even when they don’t.
A champion isn’t someone who never struggles. They’re someone who chooses discipline over comfort when it matters most.
Champions don’t wait for the perfect moment. They make the moment count.
When I finally got out of bed that morning, I felt tired and a little annoyed with my alarm clock.
But the choice I made? That was championship thinking.
This is what I teach athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders in my workshops, including resilience coaching for athletes and growth mindset strategies for entrepreneurs: the champion mindset isn’t about perfection. It’s about decision.
Emotion vs. Decision
Here’s the truth we don’t talk about enough: your feelings can lie to you.
Not because they’re bad or wrong, but because they’re temporary. Some days, your feelings will want to protect you, to keep you comfortable, and conserve energy.
But comfort isn’t always what moves you forward.
That morning, my emotions were loud. They told me I could always go later.
Those feelings were just trying to keep me warm and safe under the covers.
The problem? If I let my feelings make every choice, I’d never build resilience. I’d never grow. I’d stay exactly where I am.
Champions understand this distinction. They don’t ignore their emotions, but they don’t let emotions make the final call either.
Emotion says: I don’t feel like it.
Decision says: I’m going anyway.
Showing Up When You Don’t Feel Like It
The gap between how you feel and what you do: that’s where mental toughness lives. These are mental toughness habits, and they matter whether you’re training for a season or building a company.
Showing up when you don’t feel like it isn’t about being superhuman. It’s about being clear on your goals and understanding that your choices either move you closer to them or further away.
Every single day, you’re in motion. Even when you think you’re standing still, you’re either building momentum or losing it.
That morning, I had a choice:
Stay in bed and feel good for 30 more minutes, then feel frustrated with myself all day.
Or get up, do the work, and feel strong, clear, and aligned with who I’m becoming.
Neither option was wrong. But only one moved me forward.
Champions show up anyway.
They understand that setbacks, bumps, and obstacles almost always show up when you have goals. Motivation will fade. Excitement will dip. There will be mornings when the bed feels better than the plan.
That’s normal. That’s part of the process.
What separates a champion from everyone else isn’t the absence of hard days. It’s the refusal to let a hard day become a reason to quit.
What Champions Actually Do
Let me be clear about something: champions aren’t people who never struggle. They’re people who struggle and keep moving.
Here’s what they do differently:
They focus on the why behind the goal.
When motivation fades: and it will: discipline and commitment take over. You need to know why your goal matters. Not surface-level reasons. Deep ones.
For me, working out isn’t about looking a certain way. It’s about energy, clarity, and showing up for my work with strength. It’s about keeping promises to myself. That’s the why that pulled me out of bed.
They expect obstacles.
Champions don’t hope for smooth roads. They expect bumps. They know that growth isn’t linear and setbacks are part of the story.
When something goes wrong, they don’t waste time being shocked. They adjust and keep going.
They make decisions, not excuses.
This one is big. It’s easy to find reasons not to do something. Your schedule is packed. You’re tired. You didn’t sleep well. Someone else dropped the ball.
All of that might be true. But champions ask a different question: What can I control right now?
They take ownership. They make the call. They show up.
Motivation Fades. Commitment Doesn’t.
Motivation is a feeling. It’s the spark that gets you excited about a goal.
But motivation is also unreliable. It shows up on good days and disappears on hard ones.
Commitment is different. Commitment is a decision you make once, then honour every day after.
Motivation whispers: I’m excited to do this.
Commitment says: I said I would, so I will.
That morning, I wasn’t motivated. I was committed.
Commitment is what allows you to build a growth mindset. It’s what creates mental toughness. It’s the foundation of resilience. It’s also a big part of building a growth mindset for business success when the pressure is on and motivation dips.
Don’t rely on how you feel. Feelings shift with the weather, your sleep, your stress level, and other variables that are not within your control.
But your commitment? That’s yours. That’s the part you get to decide. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a champion mindset, this is one of the simplest places to start: decide, then show up anyway.
You’re Already a Champion
Here’s what I want you to know: you don’t need a medal to be a champion.
You’re a champion every time you choose progress over comfort. That’s the champion mindset for personal growth, and it shows up in small moments long before it shows up in big ones.
You’re a champion when you get out of bed on a hard day and do the thing you said you’d do.
You’re a champion when you stumble, pause, and keep going anyway.
Champions have is clarity. They know their goals. They understand their why. They make decisions based on who they’re becoming, not how they feel in the moment.
You can do that too. You’re already doing it in ways you might not even realize.
Every hard day you’ve faced and moved through? That’s championship thinking.
Every time you’ve chosen discipline over distraction? That’s a champion move.
You don’t need permission to call yourself a champion. You just need to keep showing up.
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Meet Phebe Trotman
Phebe is an author, speaker, and resilience coach who shares lessons from sport, business, and life through the Never Quit on a Bad Day® mindset. Her work supports individuals and organizations as they step into their greatness with confidence and intention. Learn more at neverquitonabadday.com.
