THE ROOT 9: 17.1

Mark Twain, with his characteristic wit, illuminates a profound truth: precision matters. It’s not just about getting close; it’s about hitting the mark. The "almost right word" might convey a general idea, but the "right word" sparks understanding and creates a lasting impression. Think about the subtle yet powerful shift when you move from "good" to "extraordinary."

This wisdom extends far beyond language. It applies to our actions, our intentions, and our efforts. Are we settling for "almost right" in our daily lives, or are we striving for the kind of precision that truly makes a difference?

This quote challenges us to elevate our standards, to seek out that transformative difference in everything we do.

Intention for the Week: Let this be the week we commit to the "right word"—the precise action, the clear intention, the impactful effort. Whether in our communication, our work, or our personal lives, let's strive for the kind of precision that transforms a flicker into lightning.

Your Strategic Blueprint: Unlocking Faster Progress with Training Splits
Week 1

Let’s dive into Week 2 of the series I am starting on training splits. Last week, we kicked things off by laying the groundwork and answering the fundamental question: "What's a Lifting Split?" (If you missed it or want a refresher, you can catch up by clicking the link here). I wrote as bit about how strategically dividing your body parts across your training days can unlock faster progress, better recovery, and more consistent gains.

This week, I want to refresh all splits and dive deeply into the split that I incorporate into my weekly routine: Push/Pull/Legs (PPL) split, cycled twice a week.

As we go through this series, I am working on building out an elaborate guide that covers all the content in one package. I’ll share it as a work-in-progress each week 🙂

See below for my typical split; my week usually looks like: Legs, Push, Pull, Rest, Legs, Push, Pull. In the snip below, I cover a little bit of why I train PPL twice a week & why it works for me.

Depending on how long I have for my lift, available machines, and if I want to incorporate cardio, I have ‘must do’ exercises and ‘if time’ exercises

Next week, I am going to:

But in case you want to take a crack at creating your own, I created an exercise bank that could be easily pulled from to create your own PPL routine. I think there are two important things to be mindful of when creating a routine:
1) Are the exercises you are selecting difficult enough to where you feel pushed out of your comfort slightly?
2) Are there exercises in each day that you truly enjoy doing?

My split has both - things I know I struggle with and may enjoy ‘less’ and movements I truly love. It helps me get excited to both grow and have fun during my lift.

And here is a PDF of the WIP document. I am continuing to evolve this - please let me know if you have any feedback! Email me at [email protected]

I “Shazam’-ed this song when I was at a cafe, but it feels like its pulled from a smoky European cabaret. I't’s full of rich storytelling and deep vocals. To be fair, it’s tone does also make me want to gaze out a rain-streaked window with a strong cup of coffee. There's a theatricality to it that's both captivating and a little bit fun, I hope you enjoy it.