The Compound Effect: My Daily Walk

The Only Time You Truly Control

Years ago, I was tasked with taking my dog out for a short morning walk. At first, it was just a chore. But quickly I realized how valuable those first few moments of movement were.

Here’s the truth: the only time you truly control is right after you wake up and right before you go to sleep. After that, life is going to life. And once I carved out that morning walk, the benefits were enormous. I felt energized, more creative, increased cognitive output, and ready to face the day. Not once did I regret taking that walk.

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From Walks to Reading

At that point in my life, I wasn’t a reader. School had pushed books on me I didn’t connect with, and I lost interest. But I noticed that the most successful people I admired all read consistently.

So I gave it a shot. I started with Atomic Habits and learned about the power of systems over goals—that success comes from building daily systems that keep you on the path, not just setting big goals and hoping.

My system was simple: before my walk, read for one minute. Some days it turned into more, but the goal was simply to open the book.

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Habit Stacking

Eventually, I didn’t have the responsibility of walking the dog anymore. But I realized, I didn’t need a dog to keep walking. The habit was mine now.

So I stacked it: read → walk. Then I leveled it up. I downloaded Audible, replaced Safari on my phone with the Audible app, and made audiobooks my new walking partner. Morning by morning, step by step, I consumed ideas on business, leadership, responsibility, business, ego, growth—and slowly, I became someone new.

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From Stunted Roots to New Soil

Fast-forward to 2024. After nearly a decade in State College, I started feeling like a tree stunted in a flower pot. The roots had spread as far as they could go, and I needed new soil.

So I made a decision: I wasn’t just going to move. I was going to build my own business.

And every morning walk became a planning session.

 • One day: come up with a name.

 • Next day: choose colors.

 • Next: start a website.

 • Then: forms, documents, contracts, legalities.

One walk at a time, one small success at a time, the pieces came together.

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Five Months Later

From those small daily steps, Go Time Fitness was born. Within five months, I had a brand, a website, a business structure, and the momentum to bring my vision to life.

Now I’m here in Charlotte, North Carolina—doing what I love, helping people move better, grow stronger, and build their own foundations. Every challenge I face now feels like an extension of those early walks: one foot in front of the other, one small step at a time.

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Final Word

The compound effect is real. Success doesn’t come from grand, dramatic moments—it comes from small actions repeated consistently over time.

For me, it started with a dog walk. It became a system. And that system built a business and a life I love.

Good morning, and happy September.