Don't Wait to Be Ready. Be Willing.

Lately, I’ve been tapping back into something I thought was gone by the wayside—my competitive edge.

After high school and college sports, I figured that drive had faded. But recently, I’ve felt that fire return—stronger and more intentional than ever.

It kicked off with the Charity for a Cause race at City Gym a few weeks ago, where I competed in several categories. That rush—the challenge, the push, the moment of “let’s go”—lit something back up in me. Plus watching my colleagues Emily and Elisha absolutely CRUSH a sprint off was SO inspiring.

Since then, it’s been one thing after another:

– A kickball tournament fundraiser for the Rainbow School Summer Camp

– A rec sand volleyball league with friends

– A Pride workout burpee-off, where my client Natalie and I kept going for over six minutes straight (yes, nonstop burpees). Once we were the final two I gave her that look like, “Are we really still doing this?” before we both came to our senses. I collapsed on the floor and she just walked off no problem. LOL.

– And most recently: a deadlift competition at the Supplement Superstore BBQ. I had to rep out as many unbroken deadlifts as I could at my bodyweight (160 lbs). I hit 51 reps and won a Blackstone grill. She hyped me up the whole time, and let’s be honest, she will be the one using it. 

At the Supplement Superstore BBQ, I got to catch up with Lexi Johnson of Lexi J Wellness, and honestly, it meant a lot. Lexi has been a huge inspiration to me as a trainer and business owner. She started out in her basement during the pandemic, filming 28-minute dumbbell workouts, and now she’s absolutely blown up—running a thriving business and is now a 1st Phorm athlete (which, if you know the fitness world, is a huge deal—especially here locally). Watching her growth reminds me of what’s possible with consistency, heart, and hustle. I admire the way she and her husband work as a team, and it resonates deeply—because I’m lucky enough to have that same support in my corner. My wife is my biggest cheerleader, and having a partner who builds you up behind the scenes makes all the difference. If you’re going after something big, having someone who believes in you—day in and day out—can be the quiet superpower that keeps you going. 

None of this was part of a “plan.”

Not perfect. Not planned. Just ready to step in when life hands you a moment.

Lexi’s rise from basement workouts to respected coach and athlete shows what can happen when you start before you’re ready, trust the process, and lean into support. She’s proof that you become ready by showing up—whether you’re a trainer, athlete, or anyone chasing a dream.

Helping Others with this Mindset Shift

This mindset has been showing up in so many ways lately. Just last week, I convinced Ryan—one of our members who was warming up on his own on the turf—to jump into boxing class minutes before it started. After class, he told me, “My goal was to do this by the end of the year, but I was waiting to hit a goal weight first.” I called that BS out, real quick.

👉🏼 You don’t need a finish line to take your first step.

👉🏼 You become ready by showing up—not by sitting back.

👉🏼 Let go of the timeline. Just take the next brave step.

Waiting until you’re “ready” is one of the biggest lies we tell ourselves.

Don’t wait to be a certain weight. Or feel confident. Or have it all figured out.

Just start. Willingness moves you forward. Waiting keeps you stuck.

So this is your sign to say yes.

✔️ Join the class.

✔️ Enter the competition.

✔️ Say yes to the last-minute invite.

✔️ Take the first step—no matter how small.

Right now, I’m more inspired than I’ve been in a long time—in life, in business, and in my own body. I’m riding this momentum hard, and I want to bring as many people with me as I can.

You don’t need to be ready—just be willing. Let’s go.

Stop waiting. Start moving.

—Justine