We’ve all heard some version of this before:
“I’m not ready yet.”
“I need a few more weeks.”
“I should be better than this by now.”
Whether it’s in relation to the CrossFit Open, a local competition, or even just getting started with CrossFit in the first place—we’ve all felt this. We’ve all said it. It’s a statement as old as time.
And it’s completely normal.
I’ve felt it myself, and honestly, I still feel it often—even ten years in.
Nobody ever feels fully and unconditionally ready. Readiness is not a prerequisite for participation.
Think back to your first class. Remember how welcomed you felt? At Achieve, that isn’t the exception—that’s the rule. It’s a value we live and push like it’s the only thing in the world that matters.
I’ve been to affiliates where I felt like an outsider. Want to guess where I didn’t stick around? Those exact places.
None of the cool stuff we do matters if our members and loved ones aren’t welcoming outsiders with open arms—like they’ve known them their whole lives.
Always remember this: training is the process of earning confidence.
It’s not about waiting for confidence to magically appear.
Training cycles mirror real life. There are ups and downs. Good days and bad days. PRs and tweaks. Everything in between. About 20% of the time, you feel unstoppable—on fire and crushing it. Another 20% of the time, you feel like you’re stuck in quicksand, like you’ve never touched a barbell before, and you wonder why you even do this.
The other 60%?
It’s just showing up. Doing the work. Grinding through the mundane days without being able to see the sunrise on the horizon yet.
And every athlete—from Games athletes to first-class attendees—wrestles with the same questions I opened this article with.
“Ready” doesn’t mean you’re going to smash a PR, destroy a previous time, or unlock a brand-new skill.
Readiness means you’re showing up consistently.
You’re managing your effort intelligently.
You’re training at the right level for you, in that moment, so your body can actually adapt.
Readiness means trusting the process, your effort, and the coaching.
It does not mean suffering through pain.
It does not mean having every skill dialed in like it’s your full-time job.
And it sure as hell doesn’t mean feeling confident all the time.
(If you do feel confident all the time… let’s talk. I’d genuinely love to hear more.)
When you get stuck waiting to feel “ready,” it very quickly turns into avoidance.
Avoidance kills momentum.
Momentum is what actually builds confidence.
You see the cycle.
This is me sharing a powerful lesson that took me many, many years to learn—and one I’m still learning.
You have permission to be imperfect.
But that permission only exists if you stay honest with yourself, stay present, and trust that the plan is working.
And if you don’t feel like your current plan is working? My email is [email protected]. I will respond. We’ll get on a call. We’ll talk it through.
Whether you’re on the fence about signing up for the Open, thinking about a local throwdown, or considering your very first class—reach out.
I’m here when you need me, and I’m happy to help map out the right plan for you and your situation.
