Imperfect Action, Overthinking, and the Lies We Tell Ourselves—Gold in the Sawdust

Most people look for value in the obvious places—the formal teachings, the structured programs, the things with a price tag. But sometimes, you can find additional, transformative value in the sawdust—the byproduct of high-value work.

In Argent Alpha, even our offhand comments, casual Slack discussions, Zoom meetings and reflections from members are powerful enough to shift how you think, train, and live. Imagine what happens when you go beyond the sawdust and engage fully.

Here are just a few insights from recent conversations inside Argent Alpha. Each one has the power to rewire your thinking, if you let it.

The Power of Looking Back to Move Forward

At Monday’s R.A.D. meeting (Recurring Accountability Drivers), we took a step back—five years back, to be exact.

We asked the group to think about February 2020—right before the world changed— and compare that version of themselves to where they stand today. We looked at it from multiple perspectives—health, fitness, career, relationships, mindset.

After two minutes of reflection and writing, each man shared what had changed. The responses were powerful. Some had experienced major physical transformations, others had deepened relationships, changed careers, gotten off medications, or completely overhauled their mindset—shattering limiting beliefs that once held them back. One theme stood out above all: the power of intention and taking agency over your life.

We used Dan Sullivan and Benjamin Hardy’s "The Gap and The Gain" as a framework—recognizing progress (The Gain) while acknowledging areas for improvement (The Gap).

And then came the bigger question: What about the next five years?

If so much transformation can happen in half a decade, why couldn’t the next five years be the best five years of our lives?

Something to think about. Or better yet—something to act on.

Hard Conversations: The Battle is in Your Mind

The number of uncomfortable conversations we’re willing to have often determines our level of success. But the toughest battles aren’t with others—they happen in silence, when no one is watching.

• What’s the hard truth I need to acknowledge?

• What’s the one decision I’ve been putting off?

• Where do I need to stop lying to myself?

It’s easy to negotiate with yourself, justify your actions, and stay comfortable. But the gap between where you are and where you want to be is often the conversation you’ve been avoiding.

Your Words Are More Powerful Than You Think

Trevor Moawad, one of the world’s best mental performance coaches, revealed something startling:

• Speaking something out loud makes it 10x more powerful than just thinking it.

• Negative statements are 4-7x more impactful than positive ones.

• When combined, a negative statement spoken out loud is 40-70x more powerful than just keeping it in your head.

If you constantly say “I’m too old for this” or “I’ll never get in shape”, you’re wiring your brain to make it a reality. What if you started speaking about your strength, resilience, and capability instead?

The Power of Starting Before You’re Ready

Fifteen months ago, a new member of Argent Alpha found himself at a crossroads—tired, out of shape, and uncertain about what he didn’t know. He took a leap, joining our ranks in February 2024, and immediately faced an overwhelming amount of information and change. But instead of stopping, he started anyway—and was immediately embraced by the community.

Twelve months later, here’s what happened:

• Body Fat Mass: Down 36.7 lbs

• Percent Body Fat: Down 10.6%

• Muscle Mass: A challenge at first, but now trending upward

• A3 Fitness Scores: Radically improved across the board

His biggest revelation? Mindset is the linchpin.

The key shift: Eliminating “I can’t” from his vocabulary.

Throughout the year, he discovered something powerful—growth doesn’t happen in isolation. The Slack conversations, the in-person events, the Zoom meetings, the passing comments—all of it became fuel for transformation.

His journey is proof that change doesn’t happen in one leap, but in a series of consistent actions, backed by the right community.

Alzheimer’s Prevention and Cognitive Health

A member recently shared insights from The End of Alzheimer's by Dr. Dale Bredesen. His research focuses on preventing and reversing cognitive decline through nutrition, supplements, and neurological retraining.

One key takeaway? Stimulating the brain matters. One method Dr. Bredesen recommends is listening to specific recordings (akin to white noise) to help retrain neural pathways.

One member is currently experimenting with a pillow speaker that plays these recordings during sleep. Early results? Improved sleep quality. Coincidence or not, it’s a reminder that cognitive health requires proactive effort.

The Yuka App: Decoding What You Consume

Many of us are mindful about what we put into our bodies, but how often do we really understand what’s in the food we eat or the products we use? The Yuka App scans food, personal care items, and anything with a UPC code to rank their health impact. It breaks down ingredients, highlights harmful substances, and offers healthier alternatives.

The value? Instant clarity. No more guessing if a product is good for you—Yuka gives you data to make smarter choices for longevity and performance.

The Power of Non-Negotiables

This quote, shared in a recent R.A.D. meeting, serves as a powerful reminder that true peace and confidence come from having firm, non-negotiable standards.

When something is truly your standard, there’s no debate, no decision fatigue—it’s just who you are and what you do. Think about everyday examples:

• You don’t drive without buckling up.

• You don’t do hard drugs.

• You don’t reply to emails from Nigerian Princes.

These aren’t choices you weigh every time—they’re automatic.

When you apply this same mindset to your workouts, nutrition, mindset, and commitments, you remove the internal struggle. You already know what you’re going to do, no matter what.

So here’s a question for everyone:
What are some of your non-negotiables?

Sauna vs. Cold Plunge: When to Use Each

Dr. Rhonda Patrick, an expert in sauna use, explains that sauna after a workout helps extend the benefits of exercise-induced inflammation. Instead of disrupting this process with a cold plunge, sauna keeps the heart rate elevated, enhances circulation, and supports joint and ligament health.

• Sauna post-workout? Enhances recovery and muscle growth.

• Cold plunge post-workout? Best when reducing inflammation is the goal, but it can blunt muscle adaptation.

The key? Know what response you’re aiming for.

The Truth About Exercise: What Works and What Doesn’t

Luke Carlson, CEO of Discover Strength, dropped some hard truths about fitness myths:

• Cardio is not the best tool for fat loss—your body compensates by burning fewer calories later. Strength training is far superior for long-term fat loss and metabolic health.

• Running for weight loss? Think again. Even elite marathoners can gain fat during training.

• Core workouts won’t give you abs. You don’t need endless sit-ups—strength training and proper nutrition matter more.

• Strength training twice a week is enough—but only if you push to failure. More time in the gym isn’t the answer—intensity and consistency are.

How much of your training is based on what actually works vs. what feels productive?

Being Uncomfortable Can Be Your Superpower

Are you wishing away discomfort, or are you learning to use it as fuel?

A goal for all of us is hitting 15% body fat. If you’re at 25% or 35%, are you spending every moment frustrated that you’re not there yet?

Reframing can shift you from a gap mindset (focusing on the distance to the goal) to a gain mindset (seeing how far you’ve come).

• 42% success rate: Write down your goal.

• 65% success rate: Share it with someone.

• 95% success rate: Report your progress weekly.

Discomfort isn’t the enemy—it’s the signal you’re growing. Are you drifting, or are you driving toward what you really want?

Tennis & Golfer’s Elbow: What Actually Works

If you lift, play golf, or even do yard work, you might experience nagging elbow pain. Tennis (outside) and golfer’s (inside) elbow become common as men over 40 experience reduced blood flow to tendons, making natural healing difficult.

A member of Argent Alpha, Tim Porth, co-founded FiixBody to automate a proven physical therapy technique known as Graston or scraping.

• The technique breaks up adhesions and scar tissue, allowing the tendon to heal properly.

• 10 minutes a day, 3x per week for 8 weeks, has helped over 20,000 people recover, including multiple Argent Alpha members.

• Avoid cortisone shots—they weaken the tendon instead of fixing the root issue.

If elbow pain is slowing you down, check out https://fiixbody.com/ (the founder is a friend and Argent Alpha member)

The Power of Who You Surround Yourself With

Every conversation, every insight, every challenge inside Argent Alpha is an opportunity to level up. Even the sawdust—the throwaway comments, the casual Slack discussions, the ideas tossed out on a Zoom call—contains more value than most men get in a lifetime of isolation.

If our byproduct is this valuable, imagine what happens when you fully engage.

If you don’t have a group of men pushing you, challenging your thinking, and holding you accountable—you need one.

Maybe it’s time to stop going it alone. Maybe it’s time to join a group that will challenge you to think, train, and live at a higher level.

Argent Alpha isn’t for everyone. But if it’s for you, you’ll know it.

🔗 Join us.