I’m currently on a weight training routine that involves lifting five to six days a week. In addition to the encouragement that comes from knowing that I’ll be ready for my long-awaited mermaid photo shoot by the time winter rolls around, a notable consequence of this routine is fatigue.

One hallmark of effective workout regimens is that they prevent the muscles from adapting to the workouts. This translates to frequent changes in workout duration, intensity, and the very exercises employed.

But being sore sucks.

Yes, it’s a great feeling to know that I’m making progress (I think) but sometimes I want to take a few extra rest days for recovery. This is of course a luxury I don’t have, and this rest would undermine what I’m trying to accomplish.

By the same token with personal development and professional growth, remaining in a holding pattern is tantamount to suicide.

In a great podcast with Dave Asprey, Tom Corley (author of Rich Habits) explains that rich and successful people devote hours of their day to personal improvement—from physical activity to networking to content creation for books, trade journals, and publications.

Another “rich habit” is waking up about three hours before going into the office. What this says to me is that these people aren’t generally getting 8-10 hours of sleep per night.

They’re tired. They get sick. Their kids need attention. Their employees create problems that need to be solved.

But the solution employed isn’t to take a vacation or sleep in, the only option is to keep going.