How My 75-Day Challenge Reinforced Business Growth Principles

It’s over, it’s over, it’s over!

My 75Hard experience is over, and I want to go deep into it with you. To be honest, it confirmed everything I talk about when it comes to running a good firm. I took the same principles I share here, applied them to my health, and whoa, did it work.

My 75-Day Results

In 75 days I:

• Lost 35 pounds
• Dropped almost 10% body fat
• Lowered my resting heart rate from 70 to 51

And otherwise went from a FitBit health score of poor-fair to average-good. (wtf is that? I don’t really know)

Why Now?

On one hand, I thought I had diabetes (I don’t) but I was having tingling in my arms and legs. Turns out it was a B12 issue. When I tell you that everyone should get a B12 shot, I mean it. I felt like Captain America for three days and the tingling went away.

On the other hand, I finally ran out of excuses. My business(es) are successful and don’t need me 60 hours a week — probably not even 25.

My kid is in school and a blast to hang out with (other than him refusing to go to sleep on time).

I’m not on the road driving 10-15 hours a week and eating whatever I can microwave in a hotel room.

The list goes on, but at the end of the day, 99% of the time, a reason you can’t do something you know you should do is just you rationalizing an excuse. At least it was for me for 5-7 years.

What is 75Hard?

It’s a program designed by Andy Frisella that is really about self-discipline and willpower, more than weight loss.

You need to do the following every day for 75 days (or you start over):

1. Two 45-minute workouts (one must be outside)
2. Follow a diet with no cheat meals or alcohol
3. Drink a gallon of water
4. Read 10 pages of non-fiction
5. Take a progress photo

I wish I had taken side photos, but at least I can show you this change.

Why 75Hard?

• Because everyone else was doing it. Seriously, someone I know started the same day as me without us ever speaking about it. A bunch of lawyers have done it.
• Because it sounds cool. I didn’t just lose some weight, I did 75Hard!
• Because I needed a shock to my system after being 60 pounds overweight for many years — go big or go home.
• Because I figured even if I failed after 10-15 days, I would be that much better off.
• Because I have the best wife and law firm team that agreed to support me (they did 75 medium or at least committed to better eating habits).

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How 75Hard = Law Firm Growth

Step 1 should always be to have a plan. Whether that’s a goal, a vision, whatever you call it, you need a plan.

You don’t get in a car not knowing where you are trying to drive to, because then you have no idea if you’re closer or not.

So 75Hard became my plan.

Then I needed to outline how to do it, which is where moving your goals into habits comes in. This laid out some clear daily habits:

1. Two 45-Minute Workouts (One Must Be Outside)

I live in Florida. It’s usually hot — like the surface of Alderaan after the Death Star hot. So if I needed to be outside for 45 minutes, it meant mornings. This was what I thought would be the hardest part.

• Rainy mornings = indoor workouts
• 50-degree mornings = mostly indoor workouts
• Almost every day = 1 workout before 9 a.m.

If I walked, I aimed for 3 miles in 45 minutes. If I ran, 3-4 miles. Other workouts included:

• Disc golf (sometimes enough for two workouts)
• Taekwondo with my son
• Walking at a theme park (Orlando!)
• Weightlifting (warm-up, lift, cool-down to reach 45 minutes)

Most workouts were with family or while listening to an audiobook.

2. Follow a Diet with No Cheat Meals or Alcohol

The diet was more about consistency than difficulty. I avoided:

• Pizza
• French fries
• Oreos
• Ribs
• Icees
• Chicken fingers

I rotated:

• Two breakfasts (bagel with cream cheese and salmon, or Kodiak Cake Pancake)
• Two snacks (fruit, low-fat cheese stick, 100-calorie almond pack, or protein powder)
• Lunch and dinner: one carb max, one meal 100% veggies and meat, plus a salad 10 minutes before dinner

No added cheese, nothing fried, lean meats. Sugar-free popsicles for dessert if cravings hit.

3. Drink a Gallon of Water

Make it stupid simple:

• 32 oz cup + 64 oz cup in the morning
• Drink both + another 32 oz during the day
• Drink early: 50% before lunch, 50% after

4. Read 10 Pages of Non-Fiction

I’ve read 100 books in the last 15 months. Reading early helps. I also set a reminder for 8 p.m. to ensure I completed all tasks.

5. Take a Progress Photo

Alexa reminded me during my morning routine. This ties into automation for law firm growth — using systems to keep yourself on track.

What Else Did I Learn?

Favorite quote (Mike Tyson/Aristotle):
“Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.”

• Sitting still for more than 1 hour was tough with all the water. Solution: buffer time in meetings.
• Food prep matters: Having meals ready prevents decision fatigue.
• Workouts are easier with family or a good book.

Even if I messed up on day 5, 25, or 74, I knew I would be that much better off.

Where Do I Go from Here?

Health:

• Same diet 80% of the time (one cheat day/meal per week)
• 6 cardio workouts, lifting 3 times a week, disc golf at least once
• Keep carrying my 64 oz water cup

Business:

• 75 days of hard effort can take you far
• Traction’s Rocks a Quarter, 12 Week Year, 4DX weekly promises — set higher and commit
• No BHAG too audacious when you have the right team

Next 75 days: Big things coming. If you need support in business or weight loss, reply to this email — I read them all and will get back to you.

Until then, may you not piss off John Wick. Seriously, people are STILL dumb enough to do this.