I’ve got a big stretch coming up.
I’m speaking and co-leading a 5-mile ruck at the Eudemonia Summit in Palm Beach. From there, I’m flying to Boulder at the invitation of Bart Foster to join him and 25 others at Business Outside to hike the 20-mile Skyline Traverse. Then it’s off to Atlanta to record content, work out, sauna, and plan my ’26 calendar with someone I can’t name yet, but that I’m beyond excited to be spending time with.
After that, I’ll fly home for Thanksgiving with my family before heading to Sedona for the XPT Expedition, a 26.2-mile ruck marathon with 30 guys.
When I called my son, Auden, to tell him I’d be heading straight from Palm Beach to Boulder and that we could grab dinner when I arrived, we started talking about my schedule.
He said, “Dad, aren’t you the guy who always says no to things?”
I laughed because he’s right. I talk a lot about protecting white space. About saying no. About not being overscheduled.
But there are exceptions.
And this is one of those stretches.
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These are the things I want to say “Hell Yes!” to that make all the no’s worthwhile.
I’m getting opportunities I’ve always wanted, opportunities I’ve worked for, trained for, and lived for. And I can say “yes” to them because I’m prepared.
“You don’t have to get ready when you stay ready.”
That’s one of my favorite quotes, and I take pride in living it.
I train regularly.
I don’t drink.
I get good sleep.
I don’t leave work or writing to the last minute.
I call and text my boys every day.
I stay in touch with my clients.
By living my message every day, I’m creating these opportunities.
When you work daily on things people can’t take away from you – your mindset, character, transparency, and health – you transcend mediocrity and the monotony that often creeps into midlife.
Think about it. Who’s on your short list of guys you know could do just about anything you ask, whenever you ask?
A few years ago, I was doing 29029 in Snowbasin. One of the guys who was supposed to join me dropped out at the last minute and said, “Just give my bib to someone.”
This event isn’t just some local 5K. I’m talking about climbing 29,029 vertical feet in thirty six hours up steep, hard terrain. In Utah. And it was only one week away.
How many people do you know who could say “yes” on short notice and actually show up ready?
I knew exactly one guy.
My friend Charles. Sixty years old. Empty nester. ENT living in Utah. Hikes, bikes, skis, and in better shape than most people half his age.
He said “yes”. He showed up. Put on my friend’s bib. And he not only finished, he finished first.
Not first in his age group.
First overall.
Once we left the starting line, I didn’t see him again until the awards ceremony. Lap after lap, people kept saying, “Have you heard about this guy? He’s crushing it!”
The funny thing was everyone thought his name was my friend’s name who cancelled. We still get a laugh out of that.
That’s what staying ready looks like.
Ask yourself:
Are you saying ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the right things?
Are you saying ‘yes’ when you should be saying ‘no’?
Are you saying ‘no’ because you’re not confident you could do what’s being asked of you?
This is where you take that good, hard, long look in the mirror and ask yourself:
What kind of man do you want to be?
And then start living that way.
When my son asked why I said ‘yes’ to all of this, I told him:
This is why I work so hard.
This is why I stay prepared.
Because preparation is freedom.
It’s confidence.
It’s the foundation that lets you say “Hell Yes!” to the moments that matter most.
And that’s how I want to sprint into my 53rd birthday on December 23: grounded, capable, and with no regrets.
In Health,
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Greg Scheinman
Founder, Midlife Male
52. Husband. Father. Entrepreneur. Coach.
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