Mindset of a Champion, Part 1: Consistency With Kevin Kester

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Episode Show Notes

Mindset of a champion is the mental side of getting in shape and chasing any goal, and in Part 1 I sit down with four-time CrossFit Games champion Kevin Kester, who says it all comes down to consistency and committing to your goal for yourself. So many listeners asked how to get back in shape after letting their health slide, hoping for a magic formula, and the honest answer is that an imperfect plan done consistently beats a perfect plan done now and then. In this Physical Friday I share Kevin's take and mine.

Listen now: press play in the player above and follow along.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the mindset of a champion?

To me it is the mental side of getting in shape or chasing any goal, and it comes down to how you think about what you are doing. Champions share habits we can borrow and apply to our own lives. In Part 1, four-time CrossFit Games champion Kevin Kester says it all rests on consistency and committing to your goal for yourself.

What does Kevin Kester say is the secret to getting in shape?

Kevin says there is really no secret. It is not the supplements or the sleep, it is everything you do, and you have to be consistent and do it every day. You also have to decide for yourself, not for somebody else, that you are ready to change your life, because commitment is a huge thing.

Why is consistency more important than the perfect plan?

Because an imperfect plan executed consistently will outperform a perfect plan executed every now and then. It is not about the plan, it is about the consistency of action. I agree with Kevin completely, and that is the core message of this first episode in the series.

Who is Kevin Kester?

Kevin Kester is a four-time CrossFit Games champion who is also a very motivational guy. He has achieved all of that while running a business that supports over 300 employees and keeping his family and priorities in line, which makes his time management and his point about consistency especially credible.

Where can I hear Kevin Kester's full episode?

Kevin's full episode is number 774. If you want the complete conversation, go back and listen to it. He spells out exactly what it takes to make a change in your life in a few clear points, and I highly recommend it.

Is this part of a series?

Yes, this is Part 1 of the Mindset of a Champion series. I will keep going in the coming weeks with more outstanding people to talk to about mindset, and I will be weighing in with my own thoughts along the way, so stay tuned for the next Physical Friday.

Why I Made This Physical Friday

As I prepared this series, I looked back through the questions on the text thread and found a common theme: people who put family and business first, let their own health slide, and want to know how to get it back. They are hoping for a magic formula, so I brought in Kevin Kester to answer it honestly.

How to Build a Champion's Consistency

Here is the approach Kevin Kester and I lay out for getting back in shape and making it stick.

  1. Decide for yourself. You have to choose to change your life for you, not for somebody else, because that is what makes it stick.
  2. Commit to the goal. Treat commitment as the foundation, the way Kevin commits to a clean workout even on a normal day.
  3. Make it a lifestyle. Understand it is not about one supplement or one night of sleep, it is everything you do, every day.
  4. Do it every single day. Show up daily, because the people who lose weight and keep it off built a lifestyle, not a phase.
  5. Run an imperfect plan consistently. A perfect plan is not required; an imperfect plan executed consistently beats a perfect one done rarely.
  6. Keep your priorities in line. Manage your time like Kevin, who trains, runs a business, and keeps family first, all at once.

Why I Started the Mindset of a Champion Series

Whether you want to be a champion, get off the couch, open a business, or chase a dream, it usually comes down to how you think about it. Champions share habits we can borrow and apply to win at whatever our event is. I explain why mindset drives everything in the episode, so press play in the player above.

Kevin Kester on Consistency and Commitment

Kevin is a four-time CrossFit Games champion, and his answer is blunt: there is no secret, it is not the supplements or the sleep, it is everything you do and you have to be consistent. You have to decide for yourself that you are ready to change and commit to it. I share his full answer in the episode, so press play in the player above.

Why an Imperfect Plan Beats a Perfect One

I agree with Kevin that consistency matters most. A perfect plan is not necessary; an imperfect plan executed consistently will outperform a perfect plan done now and then. It is not about the plan, it is about the consistency of action. I expand on that in the episode, so press play in the player above.

Final Thoughts From Me

Kevin nailed it. He has achieved a tremendous amount, four CrossFit Games titles while running a business with over 300 employees and keeping his family and priorities in line, and it all rests on consistency and commitment.

Kevin's own episode is number 774 if you want the full conversation, and I highly recommend it. Next week we continue the Mindset of a Champion series with more outstanding people. Press play in the player above.

More Physical Friday Workouts

Physical Friday is my weekly fitness series for fishing guides, anglers, hunters, and outdoorsmen — the training, nutrition, and mindset to stay in the game for life. Watch and listen to every Physical Friday episode from Tom Rowland.

People & Topics Mentioned

Tom Rowland · Kevin Kester · CrossFit Games · consistency · commitment · mindset of a champion · Physical Friday · Saltwater Experience

About Tom Rowland

I’m Tom Rowland, a professional fishing guide based in the Florida Keys, host of the Tom Rowland Podcast, and the longtime host of the Saltwater Experience television show. On the podcast’s Physical Friday series I share the training, nutrition, and mindset that keep fishing guides, anglers, hunters, and outdoorsmen strong, healthy, and able to do what they love for life — in short, practical episodes you can put to use right away.

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