In this episode of the Dunn On Purpose Podcast, I answered questions submitted by people in my Facebook network.

The questions went a lot of different directions.

Some were funny.
Some were philosophical.
Some were about business, money, mindset, roofing, networking, and project management.

That is part of what made this one fun.

I didn’t prepare a perfectly polished keynote. I just sat down, answered the questions, and tried to share what I actually think based on what I have experienced so far.

A few things I talked about in this episode:

• Why I don’t believe life is a simulation, but I do believe we were created by a Creator

• How movement, fitness, and intentional inputs help me control my mind

• Why my greatest accomplishment may simply be continuing to get back up after failure

• The truth about my first $10,000 month and the fact that I have not had a $100,000 year yet

• What I would do first if I moved to a new city and needed to build business from scratch

• Why relationships are still one of the most important business development strategies

• Whether paid ads work and why organic content can help you test what actually connects

• What makes Project One Roofing different in a crowded roofing market

• The most challenging part of project management

• Why a quick phone call today can save hours, days, or headaches later

The answer I probably enjoyed the most was the question about what I would do if I moved to a new city tomorrow and had to generate leads and sales.

Because I’ve actually done that.

When Chelsey and I moved to Longview, I had to learn the community. I had to figure out who the connectors were, where relationships were being built, and how to become an active participant instead of just another person trying to sell something.

That led me into running groups, the Chamber, Leadership Longview, BNI, local business circles, and a deeper understanding of how community actually works.

The more I reflected on it, the more I realized this:

No matter what business you are in, you are in the relationship business.

That does not mean you manipulate relationships for business.

It means you build trust, show up consistently, serve people well, and become the kind of person others are comfortable connecting to opportunities.

This episode is not me pretending to have everything figured out.

It is more of a snapshot of where I am right now, what I’ve learned so far, and how I’m continuing to build a life and business on purpose.

I hope something in this conversation encourages you, enriches your thinking, or empowers you to take your next step.

Today is the day to live on purpose.

— Aaron

The Pathways program serves students whose journey through school looked different than the traditional path. Some faced difficult family situations, setbacks, instability, behavioral struggles, or simply needed a different environment to succeed.

After speaking with Lauren Thrasher, the Principal for Pathways Academy, the virtue of Hope felt important to highlight. Power Acronym 3: G.A.P. immediately came to mind.

Life is a game of closing the gap between who you are and who you’re capable of becoming.

GAP — Goals. Agency. Pathways.

This is the bridge that gets from here to there.

Goals give you direction.
Agency reminds you that you control what you do next.
Pathways remind you that there is rarely just one road forward in life.

This speech became less about having life figured out and more about learning how to keep moving forward when plans change.

I’m grateful for the opportunity, the experience, and the lessons that came from preparing and delivering it.

“You can get there from here.”

— Aaron

Power Acronym | The Language of Leadership

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In this episode of Dunn On Purpose, I sit down with Luke Nelson, a coach with The Elliott Group, for a grounded conversation about leadership, identity, and the W.A.R.R.I.O.R. framework taught by Andy Elliott.

Rather than breaking W.A.R.R.I.O.R. down as a theory, this conversation explores how the framework is lived—in business, fitness, relationships, faith, and daily decision-making.

We talk about:

Why W.A.R.R.I.O.R. is a code, not a checklist

The role of physical discipline in mental and emotional leadership

Awareness as responsibility, not information

ReCreate as whole-life transformation, not escape

Why most growth fails without integration

Ownership as a daily decision

Reach as meeting people where they are and helping them grow

This episode isn’t about motivation.

It’s about standards, responsibility, and becoming the kind of person who can sustain success.

The W.A.R.R.I.O.R. framework comes from Andy Elliott’s book Total Recreation, and this conversation serves as both an introduction to Luke and a practical walkthrough of how the framework is coached and applied.

👉 Companion piece: Power Acronym 247: W.A.R.R.I.O.R.

If this conversation resonated, consider subscribing for more conversations on leadership, purpose, discipline, and personal growth.

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That commitment is why we traveled to Scottsdale, Arizona last weekend. We spent an anniversary in Sedona several years ago, and Chelsey has wanted to return ever since, so this trip was as much a birthday celebration as it was a reset and realignment for what we want to build together.

The impact we’re aiming for in 2026 will rely heavily on our leadership and sales skills, so we also attended a Sales & Business Summit hosted by The Elliott Group.

Over the course of a few days, we saw incredible desert views, hiked mountains, reflected on 2025, made new connections, and learned a lot.

In Total Recreation, Andy Elliott shares the W.A.R.R.I.O.R. Framework — a powerful acronym for personal transformation.

I also had the chance to interview Elliott Group coach Luke Nelson to go deeper into the framework and how it’s implemented. You can listen to that conversation here or on Apple and Spotify.

And if you’re a reader, here are a few notes on each pillar — not as definitions, but as observations based on Chelsey and I’s experience inside The Lion’s Den.

W — Workout

We began the weekend with an easy hike at Pinnacle Peak the day before the event officially started. Day one ended with a sunset workout in The Elliott Group parking lot.

After a challenging uphill run and back, we were led through a fast-paced bodyweight workout designed to push everyone past their comfort zone.

The lesson wasn’t about fitness alone. It was a reminder that when you voluntarily put your body under stress, your mind follows. Training the body is often the fastest way to train discipline, resilience, and self-trust.
(For more on this idea, see Power Acronym 210: G.Y.M.)

A — Awareness

The first day of the event was led by Jacqueline Elliott, CEO of The Elliott Group.

Her session centered on stories and questions that exposed common leadership blind spots. Rather than offering easy answers, she assigned “homework” — questions we were meant to wrestle with after the day ended.

Chelsey and I took those questions back to our room and talked through them together. They sparked conversations we hadn’t had before, conversations that felt especially timely as we continue to grow in both our marriage and our work.

Awareness wasn’t treated as information. It was treated as responsibility.

R — Relationships

The value of being in the Lion’s Den in person can’t be overstated. Watching clips online doesn’t fully capture the energy, standards, and accountability the Elliott Group team embodies.

Being there puts you in proximity to people who take personal and professional development seriously — and who are actively working to live out those standards.

That environment naturally deepens existing relationships and accelerates new ones.

R — ReCreate

Before the event, I thought I understood what Andy meant by ReCreate. Being there expanded that definition.

What became clear is that the Elliott Group isn’t interested in transformation in just one area of life. Their coaching and support extend across sales and business, fitness, romantic relationships, and spiritual life.

The goal isn’t surface-level improvement — it’s whole-life transformation.

Seeing this reframed recreation for me. Not as escape or indulgence, but as the intentional rebuilding of a life that’s aligned, healthy, and sustainable.

It reinforced the idea that real success isn’t just material or professional. It’s integrated. It’s lived across every domain.

I — Integration

Over the last decade, I’ve attended many trainings, webinars, and conferences. This was the first one Chelsey and I attended together.

That mattered more than I expected.

Instead of trying to summarize insights days later, she was there — hearing the same messages, taking her own notes, and applying the ideas in real time alongside me.

Integration became personal. I realized how often I’ve made the mistake of compartmentalizing growth, assuming that what I was learning didn’t need to be shared.

Now I know better. Regardless of whether we work in the same business, integrating what I’m learning with her changes everything.

O — Ownership

The training materials created awareness, but ownership wasn’t assumed.

Ownership showed up in the repeated acknowledgment that growth is uncomfortable — that facing mistakes, uncertainty, and daily effort is hard.

Every speaker spoke openly about the cost. And every one of them emphasized that the cost is worth paying.

Ownership isn’t inspiration. It’s a decision made again and again.

R — Reach

While The Elliott Group is known for sales training, being there made it clear that their vision goes further than closing deals.

Reach showed up in how intentionally the team supported each attendee. The coach I worked with, Luke, stayed in regular communication before and during the event — making sure we had what we needed, welcoming us with a gift, offering restaurant recommendations, inviting us to private dinners, workouts, church, and community.

The message was consistent: meet people where they are, and help them grow where they’re ready.

Reach wasn’t about forcing change. It was about facilitating impact — whatever form that impact takes.

At the start of the event, The Elliotts said their intention was to shift each individual’s belief, perception, and identity.

W.A.R.R.I.O.R. doesn’t promise results on its own. Like any Power Acronym, its power only exists to the extent that you act on it.

What W.A.R.R.I.O.R. requires is commitment — to train when it’s inconvenient, to notice what’s uncomfortable, to invest in people, to rebuild areas of life that need attention, to integrate growth instead of isolating it, to take ownership without excuses, and to extend what you’re learning beyond yourself.

Frameworks don’t change lives.
People do — when they decide to live by them.

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Rather than breaking down W.A.R.R.I.O.R. as a concept, this episode explores how the framework is lived, coached, and applied—inside business, relationships, faith, fitness, and everyday decision-making.

Luke shares his personal journey, what drew him to the Elliott Group culture, and what he’s learned coaching people who want change but struggle with consistency. Together, we walk through each pillar of the W.A.R.R.I.O.R. framework and discuss where people most often resist growth—and what happens when they stop avoiding ownership.

This conversation isn’t about hype or motivation.
It’s about standards, responsibility, and building a whole life that can sustain success.

What We Cover

• Luke’s path into coaching and personal development

• Why W.A.R.R.I.O.R. is a code, not a checklist

• The role of physical discipline in mental and emotional leadership

• Awareness as responsibility—not information

• Why relationships and proximity accelerate growth

• ReCreate as whole-life transformation, not escape

• Integration: why most growth fails to stick after events

• Ownership as a daily decision, not a personality trait

• Reach as meeting people where they are and helping them grow at their pace

Key Takeaways

Frameworks don’t change lives.
People do—when they’re willing to live by them.

W.A.R.R.I.O.R. doesn’t promise results.
It requires commitment, humility, discipline, and follow-through.

About the Guest

Luke Nelson is a coach with The Elliott Group, working closely with individuals who want to elevate their leadership, sales performance, and personal standards. His approach centers on accountability, identity, and helping people integrate growth across every area of life.

If this episode resonated with you, you may also enjoy the written companion piece:
Power Acronym 247: W.A.R.R.I.O.R.

And as always—take what you hear, reflect on it, and act on what matters.

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She shared a goal she has this year—to get into the gym more consistently. That’s a familiar goal for me too.

I prefer running or alternative training modalities like F3 or kettlebell work to machines but if I'm honest, I know I would benefit from moving heavier weight.

As I reflected on today's workouts and why they important, I realized that the primary reason I get up and work it isn't really for my body. It's for my mind.

Physiology Drives Psychology

I heard this phrase years ago from a coach, and it stuck with me:

Physiology drives psychology.

Most people try to get their mindset right first then they’ll go to the gym. Then they’ll start moving.

But it works better in reverse.

• What we do physically changes how we think.

• What we eat affects our mood.

• When we eat affects our clarity.

• How we move affects our confidence.

Movement shifts perspective.

When I work out early—before work—I show up differently. For a long time I avoided early workouts because I thought they would exhaust me. But the opposite has been true.

Working out at 5am has become a mental advantage.

By the time most people start their day, I’ve already:

• Moved my body

• Kept a promise to myself

• Created momentum

That changes how I carry myself through the rest of the day. There’s more speed. More efficiency. More confidence.

Not because the day is easier—but because I’m already in motion.

Morning movement also controls my night.

If I plan to get up early, I go to bed earlier.

I eat differently.

I make different choices.

The day doesn’t start in the morning.

It starts the night before.

And when I start my day with movement, it removes other things automatically—scrolling, distractions, mental noise. There’s simply no room for them.

That’s how the gym guards my mind.

Guardrails, Not Goals

This is where it has really clicked for me.

While I do enjoy setting stretch goals, like my first marathon and trail ultra marathon last year, I’ve learned installing guardrails is what makes them possible.

Goals are outcomes.

Guardrails are structures.

Guardrails help me become the type of person who trains and can achieve a specific result instead of drifting once it’s achieved.

Guardrails protect you when motivation fades—because it always does.

They keep you moving forward even when:

• The routine gets boring

• Life gets unpredictable

January turns into February… then June

Discipline isn’t about performance.

It’s really about protection.

Protection from drifting. Protection from decision fatigue. Protection from becoming inconsistent without noticing.

And one of the most powerful guardrails of all I just learned recently:

Don’t do it alone.

Shared accountability matters. Knowing someone else is showing up changes everything. It guards your mind when you’re tempted to negotiate with yourself.

You don’t need more willpower.

You need better rails.

More Mental Guardrails

Morning movement (in the gym, outside, or at home) is a guardrail, but it is a powerful one.

Here are a few other practices I’ve implemented. These aren't strict rules, just protections.

• Create before Consumption

• Limited or No News

• Delete Social Media Apps

• Set Up App Usage Limits

• Exchange Information for Music

The Quiet Return

If you’ve been drifting from your physical goals, this isn’t a call to intensity.

It’s an invitation to return.

Not to perfection.

To structure.

If you're in East Texas and would value some encouraging accountability partners, I'd be happy to introduce you to some people who hit the G.Y.M. daily!

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In this episode, I revisit Power Acronym 24: W.I.N., an idea I originally shared in January 2025 and felt compelled to return to as 2026 begins.

W.I.N. is more than a motivational phrase—it’s an orientation.
A way to decide how you show up when things get hard, uncertain, or demanding.

The original version of W.I.N. comes from Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps and asks a simple but demanding question:

What’s Important Now?

In this episode, I expand that idea with a second posture that’s become necessary in this season of life:

Whatever Is Next.

Together, they form a true win–win mindset—one that grounds you in present action while keeping you ready to adapt to what’s coming.

This conversation is about focus, presence, execution, readiness, and calm anticipation—not hype, not prediction, and not spectacle.

It’s about orientation.

In This Episode

• Why most people want a better year—even if they reject New Year’s resolutions

• What it actually means to “win” day by day

• How What’s Important Now sharpens focus, presence, and execution

• Why progress is built through process, not just goals

• How to reverse-engineer big 2026 goals into daily action

• Why staying present is a competitive advantage (especially in endurance and leadership)

• How Whatever Is Next builds readiness without anxiety

• Adapting early when the year brings unexpected challenges

• Why growth requires letting go of what’s comfortable or “normal”

• Leadership as proactive orientation, not reaction

Key Ideas & References

• The original W.I.N. framework from No Limits by Michael Phelps

• Presence and endurance insights from Chadd Wright

• Quotes and ideas referenced from Grant Cardone and Andy Elliott

• Power Acronyms as tools that only work when action follows belief

Core Takeaway

Keep a steady focus on the action you need to take today.
Hold a calm, confident readiness for whatever comes next.

That’s how you W.I.N.
That’s a win–win.

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If this episode resonated with you, subscribe at PowerAcronym.com and join me each week as we explore leadership, discipline, and intentional living through the language of Power Acronyms.

“Who is that—and what was I thinking?”

And then there are other memories. Even old ones.

You see them and immediately cherish the moment—and the person you were back then.

Ideas are like that too.

Some age out.

Others deepen.

This week felt like the right time to revisit Power Acronym 24: W.I.N., originally posted on January 24, 2025.

The pursuit of wisdom isn’t about constantly chasing new ideas.

More often, it’s about returning to old ones—and practicing them again in a new phase of life.

W.I.N. is about making your best your new baseline.

It’s about closing the gap between who you’re capable of being and who you’re actually being.

There are two breakouts for W.I.N.

The first comes from Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps.

The second comes from me.

What’s Important Now

Focus · Presence · Execution

What’s Important Now is a powerful redirection back to your priorities.

The practice of W.I.N.-ing is less about achievement and more about process.

You probably have things you want to accomplish by this time next year. Holding that vision matters—but it can also feel daunting, especially when the goal is new or big.

W.I.N. brings you back to the small steps that move the needle today.

Have you identified the specific actions that actually move you closer to your goal?

Execute on those—and over time, progress becomes inevitable.

Whatever Is Next

Readiness · Adaptability · Calm Anticipation

Recently, I spoke with a friend and business owner who’s navigating significant changes in his work.

Those changes have required him to show up differently. If he didn’t adapt, not only would his business suffer—so would his family.

While I’m not a business owner, I know what it feels like to let go of what was “normal” in order to keep moving forward.

We can’t predict the future.

But we can make informed judgments by paying attention—to our industry, the market, our environment, and the signals around us.

Whatever Is Next isn’t about being reactionary.

It’s about being proactive—so we’re ready to adapt when new challenges arrive.

What’s Important Now grounds us in the present.

Whatever Is Next prepares us for the future.

We’re only days into 2026, and it has already required a new version of me to show up.

I know I’m not the only one.

That’s why I wanted to return to what it truly means to W.I.N.

A steady focus on the action I need to take today.

And a calm, confident readiness for whatever comes next.

That's a W.I.N.-W.I.N.!

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UNICORN isn’t a personality type or a motivational idea.
It’s a leadership standard.

In this episode, I unpack what it means to lead in a moment where standing out is easy—but standing up is rare. UNICORN is an acronym that describes a way of governing yourself when pressure, noise, automation, and low standards make it tempting to drift, conform, or perform.

UNICORN leaders are:

• Unleashed — not reckless, but no longer self-censoring

• Nonconforming — calm, grounded, and unwilling to live by default norms

• Intentional — choosing direction over drift

• Creative — shaping meaning and solutions in a changing world

• Optimistic — engaging possibility instead of retreating into cynicism

• Rare — consistent, dependable, and decent in a low-trust culture

• Necessary — because people aren’t starving for content, they’re starving for examples

This episode isn’t about being special.
It’s about being responsible.

If you’ve felt the quiet tension of knowing it’s time to stand up—this conversation is for you.

If you’re watching this replay, you’re not late.
You’re here.

This first Day 1 Coaching Call was recorded live on January 1, 2026. The purpose of this session wasn’t to teach a system or delive…

Read more

The Day 1 Coaching Call is a live, monthly coaching space held on the first of each month.

It exists to interrupt drift, restore clarity, and help people recommit to what matters most without shame, urgency, or performance.

This is not content consumption.

This is a return.

Every call is live.

Every call ends with a decision.

The Frame

Every day is Day 1.

Progress isn’t linear. Discipline isn’t constant. What matters is the willingness to get 1% better each day.

1 vs 1.

This is not about comparison. It’s about responsibility.

You versus the version of you who knows better and avoids it anyway.

1 of 1.

Your role is specific. Your responsibility is personal.

No one else can do it for you.

No one else can lead like you.

What happens on the call

• One focused idea or principle

• Real coaching, no lecturing

• Honest inventory of where drift has occurred

• A clear recommitment before the call ends

If you miss a month, you don’t fall behind.

You come back.

Welcome back to Day 1.

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Who this is for

This is for people who are committed to making a change for the better in 2026.

People that don’t need more motivation. Just a place to return, reflect, and recommit.

It is for people willing to practice consistency by returning.

The Structure

• Monthly live coaching call (1 hour) on the 1st day of the month

• Replay access for paid members

• Private group chat for accountability and reflection

Ready?

I’m excited to host these 12 hoursand serve in this way.

I’ll continue sharing Power Acronyms and episodes of the Dunn On Purpose podcast each week for free to Power Acronym subscribers.

But if the Day 1 Coaching Call resonates with you, I’ll see you on the 1st.

If you have any questions, feel free to message me here on Substack or Instagram @dunnonpurpose

When I started considering what word I should use for the Power Acronym that would close 2025 and open 2026, I knew I wanted something that could function as more than inspiration.

I wanted something that could be returned to months later and still hold weight.

Something that could serve as a measure for the year.

At one point, H.O.R.S.E. was the idea.

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse in the Chinese New Year, and that energy resonated.

But then I heard this quote:

“In a world full of horses, be a Unicorn.”

I didn’t jump to UNICORN immediately.

Seven letters felt heavy. And my mind went straight to My Little Pony and Lisa Frank—images that don’t typically speak to adulthood, responsibility, or leadership.

But the more I sat with the quote, the more curious I became.

What does it actually mean to be a Unicorn?

Setting aside the glitter, rainbows, and pop-culture caricatures, is there any real power to draw from this image?

The quote is often agreed with in passing—be different—but rarely explored.

Different how?

Different why?

And what does that look like in real leadership?

Power Acronym 209 is my answer.

U.N.I.C.O.R.N. is not about being different for difference’s sake.

It’s not about plastering a horn on your head and saying look at me.

It’s about standing up in a world where few people do.

Being ready to answer a need when no one else is answering it.

U.N.I.C.O.R.N. is a leadership standard, not a personality trait.

Power Acronym 209: U.N.I.C.O.R.N.

U — Unleashed

Unleashed is about removing internal brakes, not creating chaos.

Chelsey’s parents live on a farm with a lot of acreage. We love visiting because there’s space—quiet, open space.

Our Shih Tzu, Jig, loves it even more.

When he’s there, he gets the zoomies. Full-speed circles. Boundless energy. Not because he’s reckless—but because he feels safe.

That distinction matters.

The U.N.I.C.O.R.N. leader is Unleashed not because they lack restraint, but because they’ve removed unnecessary internal governors.

Speed limiters exist for safety.

But many leaders limit their actions, questions, and speech not for safety—but to preserve the status quo.

Being Unleashed is not recklessness.

It’s recognizing what’s blocking honest movement and removing it.

Psychological safety is a prerequisite for high-performing teams.

Without it, people don’t just hold back—they eventually shut down.

Unleashed leadership creates motion because it creates safety first.

N — Nonconformist

In his 1841 essay Self-Reliance, Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote:

“Whoso would be a man, must be a nonconformist.”

“Insist on yourself; never imitate.”

Emerson’s point is simple:

To be yourself at all requires nonconformity.

But he also warned that the world would resist you for it.

Nonconformity creates friction by definition.

That friction is not an excuse for rebellion, ego, or unprofessionalism.

Nonconformity is not about attention.

It’s about standing up rather than standing out.

The first time I was promoted was at Panera Bread. I showed up on time. I did my job. I cared about the people and the brand. That alone looked like nonconformity.

Sometimes the most nonconformist thing you can do is execute with excellence when mediocrity is the norm.

The UNICORN is not the bull in the china shop.

The UNICORN is the light in dark places.

I — Intentional

Intentional means doing something on purpose.

This Power Acronym bridges 2025 and 2026—a season filled with resolutions and intentions.

But the U.N.I.C.O.R.N. leader does not depend on the calendar to change.

People don’t fail resolutions because resolutions don’t work.

They fail because consistency ends before change compounds.

Intention gives the Unleashed Nonconformist direction.

Without it, drift is inevitable.

A rhythm of intentional, positive action reinforces belief in what’s possible.

If you want to practice intention, start here:

• What do you want?

• What daily actions move you closer?

• Who knows your intention and can hold you accountable?

C — Creative

Creativity is how leaders shape meaning before solutions appear.

The Unicorn became powerful not because it was seen—but because it was imagined.

Stories gave it form long before evidence ever did.

Leadership works the same way.

Creativity is not artistic self-expression.

It’s using resources, people, environment, and vision to bring the future forward.

U.N.I.C.O.R.N. leaders use imagination responsibly to create solutions others can’t yet see.

As Rick Rubin writes in The Creative Act:

“Creativity is not a talent. It is a way of operating.”

O — Optimistic

Optimism is often misunderstood as wishful thinking.

It’s not.

Optimism is engagement with possibility—not denial of difficulty.

I’ve heard it many times:

“I appreciate the optimism, but I’m a realist…”

Usually followed by something that quietly drains morale.

Optimism asks a harder question:

What if it did work?

Don’t resist reality.

Resist retreat.

R — Rare

The Unicorn became legendary because it was rare.

But the U.N.I.C.O.R.N. leader’s rarity doesn’t come from special DNA.

It comes from consistency.

I recently helped a homeowner who had paid three people in advance for backyard work—each took the money and disappeared.

When I connected him with someone reliable, he said it was the first good deal he’d made in a long time.

Being Rare isn’t about doing what others can’t.

It’s about doing what others won’t.

As Marcus Aurelius wrote:

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be. Be one.”

N — Necessary

John Maxwell wrote that leadership is influence.

That’s true.

But the influencer age we live in can make attention seem like a prerequisite for leadership.

Attention is not leadership.

Attention is a by-product of being worthy of it.

The quality of being Necessary comes from recognizing when it’s your turn to lead—and doing so with courage.

In a world of endless content and people we can let influence us, the leaders who matter most are the ones we experience every day.

Now is the time for the U.N.I.C.O.R.N. leader.

The one who is Unleashed, Nonconforming, Intentional, Creative, Optimistic—and understands what’s Necessary.

They also operate with other values like honesty, love, gratitude, and curiosity.

But the standards of the U.N.I.C.O.R.N. serve as the the tip of the spear…or, horn?

This is not about declaring who you are.

It’s about declaring what you refuse to abandon.

What did you think about this Power Acronym?

Leave a comment

Day 1 is approaching.

On the first day of each month in 2026, I’ll be hosting a live, Day 1 Coaching Call for paid subscribers — a space to reset, recommit, and realign.

If this resonates, I’ll see you on the 1st.

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It’s Christmas Eve-Earl.

That’s the funny name my mom gave December 23rd.

Growing up, I thought it was an actual part of the holiday week.

Not an official holiday.

Just a mom-ism. 😅

I’m writing this while the 6-year-old and 4-year-old we’re keeping for a few days are watching a Christmas movie—post-park, post-lunch, pre-Yesterland Farm.

It’s one of those rare moments during the crescendo of the holiday week that reminds you silence does exist.

I’m grateful for the hundreds of bids for attention since they've been with us.

Questions.

Requests.

Soft-spoken, “Can I tell you something?”

This is Chelsey’s and my second time having these two over for a weekend, and it has only increased the amount of grace and respect I have for parents everywhere.

With no kids of our own, adding two more brains and bellies into our home is a blessing—one that can feel a bit chaotic (in the best way).

Christmas Eve-Earl—the day before the day before the holiday—is the last chance to grab that one forgotten gift, remember the batteries, wrap up whatever work still lingers, and get ready for the big day.

We’re about to head to the next destination on our holiday calendar.

And here’s what I’m keeping in mind—and want to share with you:

You’re the best gift you can bring your family.

Be the present.

Don’t let the getting-ready keep you from experiencing the already-available magic of this season.

Merry Christmas,

Aaron

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Some Power Acronyms for continued reading…

Reflection has a shelf life.
Eventually, it must turn into action.

Being set apart isn’t about isolation or superiority.
It’s about intentionally becoming someone different through the actions you take.

In this episode, I introduce A.P.A.R.T., a five-part framework for turning intention into identity:

• Affirm who you’re becoming through action

• Picture a clear self-image to guide behavior

• Actualize by doing the work, not just thinking about it

• Reinforce new habits through structure and repetition

• Transform as effort becomes identity over time

We explore why affirmation and visualization matter — but only when paired with action — and how real growth happens when behavior aligns with purpose.

This is about choosing your direction instead of drifting into default patterns.

ALONE prepares you.
A.P.A.R.T. reveals you.

If you enjoyed this and are interested in receiving more Power Acronyms to your inbox, consider subscribing!

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In the first Power Acronym in this Separation Season guide, we went A.L.O.N.E.

Through Awareness and Love, we started crafting a new Origin story, established boundaries through clear No’s, and began to Emerge beyond our old habits.

Now it is time to shift from internal reflection toward external activation.

In the movie 300, the narrator briefly describes how Spartans initiated their children into their warrior spirit. A young boy is sent into the wilderness to hunt a wolf—alone.

Through practice, observation, self-control, and mentorship, he learned everything he could learn inside the walls of home.

Eventually, there is nothing left to do but step out and face the test.

Becoming the person you want to be requires being set apart, and we set ourselves apart by the actions we take.

You are ready to set yourself A.P.A.R.T.

Power Acronym 208: A.P.A.R.T.

A — Affirm

In A.L.O.N.E., the E stood for Emerge, and I used the analogy of a kid who just took the training wheels off.

With A.P.A.R.T., we take that same image and bring it into motion. Every time you push the pedal and stay on the ride, you affirm yourself. You grow in your ability to maintain balance and increase speed.

The rider might say, “I can ride a bike,” or “I’m a bike rider.”

Before you dismiss the power of affirmation, let’s ground this in science.

Power Acronym 6 — A.B.C. — comes courtesy of BJ Fogg, author of Tiny Habits. In brief:

• A — Anchor the new habit to something you already do.

• B — Make the Behavior tiny.

• C — Celebrate when you do it.

Celebration is the focus here.

Fogg’s whole point is that emotion creates habit, not repetition alone.

One micro-celebration he suggests is saying:

“That’s like me.”

Why? Because when you affirm yourself in the moment of action, you’re not cheering the task — you’re reinforcing the identity.

Even something as simple as “That’s like me” teaches your brain, I’m the kind of person who does this.

So remember to affirm yourself and the new identity you are creating with every action that aligns with the person being set A.P.A.R.T. from the rest.

P — Picture

“The self-image is our own conception of ‘the sort of person I am’… Once an idea or a belief about ourselves goes into this picture, it becomes ‘truth’ as far as we personally are concerned.”

— Maxwell Maltz, Psycho-Cybernetics

You are who you imagine yourself to be.

Maltz goes on to say that our self-image controls our behavior the way a thermostat controls temperature.

Which begs the question:

What is your self-image set to?

In A.P.A.R.T., the P stands for Picture — because you must carry a clear mental image of the person you are striving to become.

So — who do you see yourself becoming?

This is not a one-time exercise.

Picture yourself at your absolute best:

What do you look like?

What do you feel like?

What are you doing?

Who are you with?

How do you move through the world?

Be as detailed as possible.

Holding this picture in your mind on a routine basis naturally leads to behaviors that match. Maltz explains that you are creating new “memories” — new internal experiences — that support the self-image you want.

In doing so, you build the underlying system that guides your actions.

A — Actualize

Affirm → Picture → Actualize.

Meaning: actually do it.

Affirmation and visualization matter, but nothing replaces action.

At some point, like the young Leonidas facing the wolf, you have to step forward. No one is coming to save him. He must use his training, his thinking, and his own hands to kill the beast.

So — what must you do?

Do you know?

Even imperfect action is better than inaction.

Now is the time to behave as the person you pictured — in word and deed.

This life is not a dress rehearsal. You only get one.

Make it count.

This A in A.P.A.R.T. could also stand for Accountability, because taking new actions requires responsibility.

Do you have someone who can hold you accountable?

Have you written down your commitments?

Are they on the calendar?

These are small supports, but as you actualize, your decisions will begin to affect others. You are no longer simply A.L.O.N.E. — you are being set A.P.A.R.T.

That doesn’t mean you get everything you want on your timeline. It doesn’t mean special treatment.

It simply means you’re doing something new, something not part of your old ways.

It means you are setting yourself up to show how you are truly 1 of 1.

R — Reinforce

Day 1 is exciting.

New routine. New energy. Quick wins. Momentum.

Then — life happens.

A busy week. A tough day. A sacrifice you didn’t expect.

You skip the habit. You fall back. Momentum stalls.

Sound familiar? I’ve lived this cycle myself more than once.

It happens to all of us, but that’s not an excuse — it’s a signal.

Knowing what to expect helps us prepare.

This is where Reinforcement comes in.

To reinforce means “to strengthen or support with additional material.”

While A.L.O.N.E. taught that Separation Season requires distance from old environments, relationships, and routines, it doesn’t mean this is a solo journey.

One of the best ways I stay committed is by reinforcing my goals through:

• reading books by people who’ve done what I’m trying to do

• listening to podcasts

• joining communities of people on the same path

• teaching the algorithm what to feed me by searching and consuming content around my goals for several days

• investing money into the pursuit

• bringing someone along with me for mutual accountability

I want to end Reinforce with this line from Emerson’s Self-Reliance:

“What I must do is all that concerns me, not what the people think. This rule, equally aduous in actual and in intellectual life, may serve for the whole distinction between greatness and meanness.. It is the harder, because you will always find those who think they know what your duty is better than you know it. It is easy in the world to live after the world’s opinion; it is easy in solitude to live after our own; but a great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude.”

Reinforcement keeps you steady on that path.

T — Transform

What does it mean to transform?

Sit with that for a moment.

Think about the journey from A.L.O.N.E. to A.P.A.R.T.

From internal reflection to external activation.

Transformation is the outcome of being set apart long enough — and consistently enough — that you no longer resemble who you were when the season began.

This is what happens when your actions reshape your identity.

When the behaviors you’ve been practicing become your default operating system.

From forcing → to becoming.

From trying → to embodying.

From discipline → to identity.

Transformation is the moment people notice the change.

(Not that you needed their approval… but hey, thanks for noticing).

Put simply:

Transformation is the proof that the work worked.

Now is the time to celebrate this milestone.

And then: set a new target.

Aristotle believed humans are teleological — always moving toward a purpose.

The question is whether we choose that purpose or let life choose for us.

Today is the day to make your choice.

Your purpose.

Your direction.

Your next transformation.

And once you arrive?

Start again.

Because it’s always Day 1.

1 vs 1.

And you are 1 of 1.

In Closing

I hope you have gotten value from this two part Guide to Separation Season.

If A.L.O.N.E. and/or A.P.A.R.T. has made an impact on you, I would love to hear from you.

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There's time for one more post in 2025 and it's coming soon:

It's a Word of the Year / 2026 Mantra.

A single word to carry you into the new year — and set the course for who you are becoming.

Subscribe so you don't miss it!

I also share why I believe prompts are power, and why the G.R.O.W. framework is perfect for preparing for 2026—not by accident, but on purpose.

In This Episode:

• Why scribing is one of the most transformational habits from S.A.V.E.R.S.

• The origin of G.R.O.W. and how it became Power Acronym 207

• How prompts accelerate breakthroughs

• The breakdown of G.R.O.W.:

  • G — Goal: Where do you want to go long-term?

  • R — Reality: What’s true right now?

  • O — Options: What opportunities open when you explore possibility?

  • W — Will: Where does your momentum begin?

• Why December is the “practice run” for 2026

• How these questions apply whether you’re leading yourself, your business, or your chapter

Questions Featured in This Episode:

Goal:

1. What do you want to achieve long term?

2. Is that positive, challenging, and attainable?

3. Will that be of real value to you?

Reality:

1. What is working well at the moment?

2. What obstacles are in your way?

3. What is within your control here?

Options:

1. What could you do that would help you achieve your goal?

2. What do you think would happen if you did that?

3. What do you think would happen if you did nothing?

Will:

1. What will you do?

2. What resources or support will you need?

3. When should we review your progress?

BNI Gilmer Event

If you’re in East Texas, join us for the BNI Gilmer Buckeye Business Network Interest Meeting on Wednesday, December 10th.

Meet founding members, grow your network, and learn how BNI can grow your business through structured referrals.

👉 Register with the link
👉 You can also find the event on Facebook

👉 Or reach out to me directly via his Substack, PowerAcronym.com

Let’s Connect

I’m available for 1:1 conversations (in person or virtual) to walk through your G.R.O.W. reflections or explore deeper coaching questions.

Growth happens in conversation. Let’s talk.

Christmas parades, parties, and family get-togethers.

Having a full calendar is a blessing—but it’s also just plain busy.

One of the Life S.A.V.E.R.S. I shared a few weeks ago I’m treating as a non-negotiable this season is Scribing, or journaling in other words.

If you’re curious about it’s power, you’re in the right place to begin to see what growth it can create in your own life.

Scribing can bring about breakthroughs, and recently I’ve found that prompts are powerful accelerators.

As many of you know, I currently serve as President of the World’s Richest BNI Chapter in Kilgore, TX, and as a Launch Director Consultant for BNI Northeast Texas, helping launch new chapters and support existing ones.

While digging through the BNI Toolbox this season, I came across a resource that instantly clicked for me—and it also happens to be a perfect Power Acronym. So I’m officially designating it as Power Acronym 207: G.R.O.W.

The BNI G.R.O.W. Coaching Model is built around intentional questions designed to guide your personal and professional growth.
Simple. Practical. Transformative—if you take the time to sit with them.

As we move through these final weeks of 2025 and prepare for 2026, I’m sharing a curated set of my favorite questions from each part of the G.R.O.W. framework.

There is no rush.
Answer them honestly.
Answer them without judgment.
Consider it an early gift to yourself.

Power Acronym 207: G.R.O.W.:

G — Goal

Define the long-term direction.

• What do you want to achieve long term?

• Is that positive, challenging, and attainable?

• Will that be of real value to you?

R — Reality

Get clear on where things truly stand.

• What is working well at the moment?

• What obstacles are in your way?

• What is within your control here?

O — Options

Explore what could move you forward.

• What could you do that would help you achieve your goal?

• What do you think would happen if you did that?

• What do you think would happen if you did nothing?

W — Will

Clarify your level of commitment.

• What will you do?

• What resources or support will you need?

• When should we review your progress?

Take your time with these.
Write in a way that feels true.
Let your answers inform the way you walk into the new year.

There are more, but I hope you enjoy some of my favorites.

And if you want help sorting through any of this, I’m more than happy to sit down for a one-on-one conversation—either in person or on a virtual call. Sometimes clarity comes faster when someone is listening with you.

BONUS: My friend Keri Rieger of Green Monkey Promotions (also a BNI Ambassador & World’s Richest BNI Membership Committee member) sent me this powerful question when I posted on my story that I was writing this post.

Her question:

“If you skip a few traditional events or fancy parties, but you keep your peace, isn’t it worth it? We are here to celebrate the Christ child not please the masses.”

My answer? Absolutely.

A Quick Invitation

If you’re local to East Texas and want to take this reflection into community, we’re hosting an in-person Interest Meeting for the BNI Gilmer Buckeye Business Network on Wednesday, December 10th in Gilmer, Texas.

This new chapter is already more than halfway to launch, and this meeting is a great opportunity to:

• meet the founding members,

• expand your network,

• and learn how structured referrals can grow your business in 2026.

If you’d like to visit, connect, or learn more about how BNI works, you can register using the link provided, reach out to me directly, or find the event on Facebook.

I’d love to see you there!

Leave a comment

If you’re feeling the pull to check out, wait for January 1st, or just “get through” the holidays, my hope is that this conversation gives you a simple framework to separate from your old patterns and quietly become someone new.

In this episode:

• What “Separation Season” is and why this time of year quietly pulls us onto autopilot

• A = Awareness – why you can’t leave where you won’t admit you are, and 3 journaling prompts to assess your energy, work, and relationships

• L = Love – using data as a flashlight, not a hammer, and changing the tone of voice you use with yourself

• O = Origin – Joseph Campbell, Frodo, and how to see yourself as an Overcomer (loss, betrayal, failure, trauma, rejection)

• N = No – how being a high-I/S “mutual yes-machine” wrecks your boundaries, plus Tim Ferriss’s practical tools for saying no

• E = Emerge – performance = knowledge minus leashes, the elephant and the tiny stake, and how to know when you’re quietly becoming someone new

Reflection prompts:

• Where am I really—in my energy, work, and love?

• How do I usually talk to myself after a mistake—and would a friend stick around if I talked to them that way?

• What kind of Overcomer am I right now: loss, betrayal, failure, trauma, or rejection?

• What’s the #1 thing I need to start saying No to this season?

• What’s one escape hatch I’m willing to feel through instead of use at least once this week?

If this episode resonates, you can read the full Power Acronym 206: A.L.O.N.E. post on Substack and watch for Part Two, A.P.A.R.T., dropping December 17.

None of that is necessarily bad—until it starts to impact your personal and professional goals in negative ways:

• Salespeople walk into the office and explain every deal with, “It’s slow,” and therefore behave slow.

• The lack of sunlight and pleasant temperatures makes exercise and time outdoors just uncomfortable enough to skip.

• A calendar filled with holiday parties and get-togethers provides ample opportunities to turn cheat meals into cheat weeks.

• Not to mention the emotional ups and downs that family can be, and the things we humans do to just cope and “get through it.”

We all deserve a bit of rest and relaxation.

But winter creates an environment where that R&R can become habit—habits that cause us to lose momentum and go on autopilot.

And unfortunately, autopilot is usually reactionary. It pulls us back into behaviors that don’t serve us or lead us toward being and becoming the person we want to be.

And so, Separation Season is for the people who refuse to let their environment dictate their life.

While everyone else lets the holidays and the winter lull them into a soft slumber, the Separators keep their edge, continue to push toward their goals, and stack massive gains over their competition and their old selves.

I have been the couch-surfing, binge-watching, slow-biz-accepting guy before.

That is not who I am today.

Because I know that the 2026 I’m looking to have—one that’s impactful and life-changing—is not going to be accomplished by waiting for the clock to strike midnight in 30-something days.

It starts today. It starts now.

And so it is time to separate.

From the person I’ve been. From the behaviors that don’t align with me at my best.

How?

I decided to answer this question in two parts—in two acronyms.

The first is an internal exploration. An introspection. A discovery and understanding of what must change.

To effectively separate, we must strategically and thoughtfully go A.L.O.N.E.

Power Acronym 206: A.L.O.N.E.

A — Awareness

If you’re ready to separate—from your competition, from environments that no longer serve you, and from the old version of yourself who’s ready for change—it begins with Awareness.

Imagine this: You’re blindfolded and taken deep into a massive theme park you’ve never visited. Before the blindfold comes off, every exit sign and every “You Are Here” map is removed.

How would you get out?

You’d feel lost. You’d feel overwhelmed.

And that’s exactly what it’s like when we move through life without an accurate assessment of where we are.

Without Awareness you’re the blind leading the blind—and the person you’re leading is yourself.

Humans have a unique ability: we can step outside ourselves and see our life from a second-person perspective. That’s power. But only if we use it.

So this is where Separation Season starts:

Step away from your regular rhythm.

Silence your phone.

Get out of the house if you need to.

Give yourself space to be with yourself long enough for the truth to rise.

What comes up?

Write it down.

Awareness forces you to see three things:

• Who you are

• Who you pretend to be

• and Who you’re becoming

And once you see it, you can’t unsee it.

Now take inventory. Honestly. Without judgment.

How are your energy levels?

(Physically. Mentally. Emotionally.)

How is your work?

(Financially. Purposefully. Fulfillment-wise.)

How are your relationships?

(Romantic. Family. Friends.)

This time of year is the perfect time to stop, look around, and say:

“This is where I am. And now I can decide where I’m going.”

L — Love

From the moment I heard this quote, it stuck with me:

“To say ‘I love you’ one must know first how to say the ‘I’. - Ayn Rand

If we don’t love ourselves, it’s much harder to give love to others. Going A.L.O.N.E. doesn’t mean you’re by yourself all the time. Yes, it’s important to do the introspective work on ourselves, but we humans thrive in community with others.

Love, in the context of A.L.O.N.E., is about how you treat yourself while you’re doing that work. It’s the tone of voice you use with yourself when you notice you’ve missed the mark.

One frame I’ve heard from a Heroic +1 is to “use data as a flashlight, not a hammer.”

That means when we become aware of something we need to work on, we don’t beat ourselves up over it. We don’t turn Awareness into another weapon against ourselves.

Instead, we shine the flashlight on it long enough to accept and understand it, and then we make a plan of action to course-correct.

That’s Love here: not letting yourself off the hook, and not putting your head on the chopping block either.

Think about it this way: If you talked to a friend the way you talk to yourself after a mistake, would they stick around?

O — Origin

The work of Awareness and Love is all in service of reframing your Origin story.

The act of Separation is just that: a story where you choose to stand alone, so you can eventually come back with something new to share. Joseph Campbell described it this way:

“A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: The hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.” ― Joseph Campbell, The Hero With a Thousand Faces

Like Frodo in The Lord of the Rings, you can be perfectly comfortable in your own Shire. But once you understand the stakes of staying, you have to decide whether you’ll leave.

So, how do you go about crafting your Origin story?

If Campbell gives us the mythic pattern, Brian and Gabrielle Bosche give us a practical way to name our story. In their book, The Purpose Factor, they list five types of Origin stories that you may find helpful when writing yours:

• The Loss Overcomer has experienced personal loss in life.

• The Betrayal Overcomer knows what it means to be used.

• The Failure Overcomer has experienced a self-inflicted failure.

• The Trauma Overcomer has experienced a deeply impactful trauma.

• The Rejection Overcomer has been pushed away by people they care about.

Now is the time to step into the role of the Overcomer and begin telling the sstory of how and why you are making the change.

What part of your Origin are you finally ready to own?

N — No

I’ve taken a handful of DiSC assessments in professional environments over the years, and they all typically peg me as high I/S—which essentially means I’m a connector in the context of a group. The “let’s connect, let’s get along, let’s find the win-win.” A mutual yes-machine.

I’ve found that wiring is great for relationships.

Terrible for boundaries.

My experience is that I will Yes myself into multiple competing commitments, which not only stresses me out, but also my wife and others—because my calendar, or my mind, is too full.

I’ve also found that Separation Season is less about implementing new habits and behaviors and more about saying “no” to the people, places, and things that don’t contribute to the vision you have for yourself.

I admit it: saying no is hard for me.

Thankfully, author and investor Tim Ferriss (with co-author Neil Strauss) is working on his first book in seven years called The No Book, and he’s been sharing several of the “chapters” on his blog. Tim hasn’t announced a release date for a physical book yet, but each “Step” for saying no is available for free.

If you struggle with how to say no, I highly recommend you check them out. They’re full of insight and practical exercises.

Here are three Steps to start with:

Step 1 - The Wilson Letter and Beyond

Step 2 - Big Rocks and The Nothing

Step 3 - Finding Big Rocks - The Past Year Review

“The only people offended by your boundaries are the ones who benefited from you not having any.” - Tim Ferriss

In Separation Season, No is how ALONE protects what Awareness, Love, and Origin have already started.

E — Emerge

Emerge is the moment your shoulders drop and you realize you’re no longer holding yourself back.

I recently heard a coach say, “Performance = Knowledge minus Leashes.”

You can have all the knowledge in the world, but if you’re still leashing yourself, it won’t help you. Think of the elephant in the zoo with a leash tied around its leg attached to a small post in the ground. The elephant is massive and powerful, but stuck because it believes it can’t break free.

Emerge isn’t a victory lap, however. It’s more like a kid who just took the training wheels off - still a little wobbly, but with a long road of uninhibited free riding ahead. If Awareness is seeing and Love is accepting, Emerge is walking with the quiet confidence of a new direction and new decisions.

The latin root of ‘decision’ literally means ‘to cut off.’ Decision is not just choosing; it’s cutting away what you’re not longer willing to be. But new decisions can be difficult to make, especially in stressful situations.

For me, stress feels like it rises up to my ears. That’s when the old escape hatches call the loudest: scrolling, smoking, snacks, drinking…anything to make the feeling go away. I’ve tried them all. They don’t work. They just mute the feeling for a while and tax your performance later. Emergence is choosing to feel it all instead of numbing out. It’s the moment you notice what the old you would have done…and you take one step beyond that person.

When you go A.L.O.N.E., you begin to own a new routine. Not a total life overhaul - just one meaningful change that shifts how you see everything else. For me, it was getting up early to journal, stopping nicotine, and swapping entertainment podcasts for music or focused education. You’ll know you’re starting to emerge when you catch yourself not doing something you used to do automatically - and you don’t miss it.

Important reminder: There’s no glory or fanfare here.

Your internal transformation is for your own development, not external applause. It might feel small, repetitive, even pointless at times. That’s okay. The old me was more frantic than focused, more dependent than disciplined, more reactive than responsible. Emerge is the steady shift away from that old self toward someone who can carry the weight of who they’re becoming.

Go A.L.O.N.E.

If you fully commit to a personal Separation Season, you’re starting to become the type of person who accepts and takes ownership of all you are and all you are not - and is ready to start doing something about it.

You’ve done the inner work; now you’re ready to live it out.

Start experimenting. What’s one thing you can stop doing? One thing you can say no to just for today?

In Part Two, APART, we’ll implement new actions and start new habits. ALONE is about who you are when no one’s watching. APART is about how you show up when they are.

Abraham Maslow said, “What one can be, one must be.” If that’s true, who must you be?

Know this: while you separate and practice A.L.O.N.E., you are not by yourself. At the very least, be encouraged that I’m rooting for you. And remember, there are family and friends who are looking forward to your emergence—they just don’t know it yet.

Power Acronym 207: A.P.A.R.T. will publish December 17.

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It stands for:

• Grit

• Relentless Effort

• Integrity

• Now

• Dependability

Elko introduced this philosophy as part of his program-building approach — first at Duke, then embedding it deeply at Texas A&M. The letters are displayed inside the team’s facility and repeated as a daily standard, not just a motivational slogan.

UTSA v Texas A&M | Maria Lysaker/GettyImages

After hearing it thrown around by many student-athletes throughout his career, he decided to turn it into an acronym and make it a core component of his coaching philosophy.

The acronym gained national attention during A&M’s historic 31–30 comeback win over South Carolina, where the Aggies erased a 30–3 halftime deficit at Kyle Field, where the acronym is emblazoned. When asked how his team pulled it off, Elko said:

“We won that game six months ago with what we did in the Winter. We didn’t win that game because I went in at halftime and said something. We built a culture, we built a character, we built a commitment to doing things the way we want to do them back in January and February.” - Mike Elko

Elko wasn't referring to physical conditioning; he was referencing the mindset the team had been cultivating for months.

Success is built long before game day — in the offseason, in the winter months, in the unseen commitment to fundamentals, discipline, and identity.

It also demonstrates that Acronyms are only useful when their meaning are embodied and acted upon - which is what Power Acronym is all about.

If you're looking for the real meaning of A&M’s G.R.I.N.D., where it came from, and why it matters, this post breaks it all down — and shows how it applies not just to football, but to leadership, personal growth, and the work we put in when nobody is watching.

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Separation Season

The media wanted a dramatic halftime speech.

But Elko shut that down fast.

The win didn’t happen in the locker room.

It happened six months earlier.

It happened in January.

In the weight room.

In quiet parts of the calendar where nobody is watching and nobody is cheering.

Because that’s Separation Season.

Winter — literal or figurative — is the season most people slow down.

They rest. They coast. They settle.

But competitors don’t.

Winners use Winter to separate.

Winners win where quitters quit.

They use the slow months to become the person their future demands.

They build capacity, discipline, and identity when it’s easier not to.

This is the season where the new you separates from the old you.

And the wins of 2026?

They begin today.

Just like the Aggies’ comeback didn’t start at halftime — it started months earlier in the G.R.I.N.D.

Power Acronym 205: G.R.I.N.D.

The A&M coaching staff and players know what the G.R.I.N.D. truly means within the walls of the locker room but I thought I'd include some of my own thoughts as well as insights from scientific researchers and subject matter experts to support the strength of Mike Elko’s coaching philosophy.

I do love what he said about the G.R.I.N.D. acronym when he first introduced it at Duke:

“The beauty of these five pillars is that they require zero talent,” he said. “There’s no level of excellence that you need in your athleticism, it’s simply a mindset. It’s a mindset that we have to change. It demands us to make a choice that we will not settle for anything else but excellence in anything we do. Once we truly understand that and truly embrace these five pillars, success will follow, and success will follow on the field.” - Mike Elko

G — Grit

I’m not sure if Mike Elko has read the book Grit by Angela Duckworth, but being that she’s the leading researcher on the science of Grit, he’d probably enjoy it if he did.

Angela defines Grit as an “intense passion and perseverance toward long-term goals.”

Check out this Philosopher’s Note on Grit for more, but here’s how to make it real for yourself:

If you are looking to cultivate more grit:

• Become intensely interested in the work that must be done

• Practice daily - not to get it right - but to never get it wrong

• Connect your work to a higher calling

• Commit to rising, no matter the amount of times you get knocked down

R — Relentless Effort

Two people are running a race.

The one in front is moving at a quicker pace, but as the finish line draws closer, begins to slow down, believing there’s enough of a gap from exerting extra energy from the start.

The one behind sees the slowdown and recognizes the opportunity.

With every walk break or slow move up a hill, the person behind gains on the leader.

Each additional step and extra bit of effort closes the gap until, finally, the pass is made.

Relentless Effort is the source of the “separation” in Separation Season.

No matter what your goal is in your energy, work, or love, there is power in being the person who remains consistent when others slow, stop, or stall.

Remember:

“Most people don’t truly want to be great, they just kind of want it. The greats do the work even when they don’t want to.” - Tim S. Grover, Relentless

I — Integrity

“At the simplest level, personal integrity entails such questions as: Am I honest, reliable, and trustworthy? Do I keep my promises? Do I do the things I say I admire and do I avoid the things I say I deplore? Am I fair and just in my dealings with others?” - Nethaniel Branden

Integrity means oneness — alignment between what you say, what you do, and who you are becoming.

As Scripture reminds us, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25)

Integrity in the context of a team is important because it leads to becoming dependable for others, but it begins on the individual level.

It’s part Doing What You Say You Will Do - Power Acronym 19: D.W.Y.S.Y.W.D.

And avoiding what Steve Chandler calls the main ingredient to Self-Sabotage:

The phrase “Only I Will Know” - Power Acronym 33: O.I.W.K.

N — Now

Perhaps more than any other pillar of G.R.I.N.D., Now is what made the historic comeback win for Texas A&M possible a few weeks ago.

Being down 30-3 at halftime is a demoralizing reality.

But when the present moment is the scoreboard, things shift.

Focusing on one play, one yard at at a time set the Aggies up for their win.

Zen teaches that the present moment is the only place where life is lived — and “Now” is the only place where the G.R.I.N.D. can happen.

What do you do to bring yourself to “the now”? (Here are 6 ideas)

Think about your goals.

Who must you become in order to achieve them?

What actions does that person take every day?

What are their habits?

You don't have to let past experience or the roar of the crowd dictate your future.

Now is the scoreboard. Everything else is noise.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” - Lao Tzu

D — Dependability

It's hard to talk about excellence in coaching without bringing up one of the greatest coaches of all time, John Wooden.

If you haven't seen his Pyramid of Success, I recommend you check it out. Look closely at the bottom of the pyramid, the foundation:

Industriousness, Friendship, Loyalty, Cooperation, and Enthusiasm.

Dependability is what makes the entire foundation real.

The coach depends on his players. Players depend on each other. Dependability is culture, not a trait.

Being dependable is the quality of being trustworthy and reliable. These traits don't just happen - they grow over time.

After months of consistently showing up for each other in the small things, the big moment is just another “Now” on the way to victory.

Also, did you know the word “consistency” derives from the Latin for “standing together”?

Standing together is what comes to mind when I think of being dependable. It demonstrates how G.R.I.N.D. is not only individual; the culture is co-created.

Time to G.R.I.N.D.

Last night's University of Texas vs. Texas A&M game goes to show that G.R.I.N.D. doesn't make winning inevitable. But it makes progress unavoidable.

But the Aggies 11-1 season record does demonstrate that Coach Elko’s five pillar approach for a winning culture does work.

But don't let their success merely entertain you. Let the G.R.I.N.D. philosophy help you be and become the person you know you're capable of being.

2026 is right around the corner, and it starts now.

It's time to G.R.I.N.D.

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Bonus:

I found this short interview of Mike Elko being asked to explain G.R.I.N.D. on a radio show. It's short, so if you're interested in his explanation you can check it on X here.