Effortlessly, You
Ever notice how some people just look effortless in what they do?
A jiu jitsu black belt flowing through techniques like water.
A top salesperson who connects with customers effortlessly, making deals without feeling like they’re “selling.”
A point guard controlling the game with instinct, seeing plays before they happen, moving like the court is an extension of them.
A bowhunter moving through the woods like they were born there.
A writer whose words feel like they came straight from their soul.
A mom who runs the household with grace—balancing chaos, care, and leadership in a way that only she can.
This isn’t luck. And it’s not just talent.
It’s because they’re working in a way that is a full expression of who they are.
Where Most People Get It Wrong
A lot of people chase success by copying others. They see someone winning and think:
"If I just do what they do, I’ll get their results."
No. It doesn’t work that way.
You can mimic their training routine.
You can follow their schedule.
You can buy the same gear.
But if it doesn’t fit you, you’ll always feel like you’re forcing it. You’ll feel like a fraud. You’ll feel like a B-player.
The Work That Makes You Come Alive
"What a man can be, he must be." — Abraham Maslow
The work you love is the work that lets you be fully you. It’s when you move how you want to move, fight how you want to fight, and create how you want to create.
When this happens:
You enjoy the process more.
You improve faster.
You perform at a higher level.
How to Find It
Notice when time disappears. What do you do that makes hours feel like minutes? This is also known as a “flow state”, when you find yourself “in the zone.”
Pay attention to what feels smooth. What skills feel like second nature? You might not be excellent at it right away, but you’re not the worst at it either.
Stop forcing what doesn’t fit. Are you trying to be someone you're not? Are you doing it because you were told to by your parents, society, or your coach?
Experiment. Try different things, go to new places, and get out of your comfort zone. You need to be okay looking like a beginner for a period of time.
In Jiu Jitsu, you don’t have to be a carbon copy of your coach or your idol.
Some people love pressure passing. Others thrive in open guard.
Some hunt submissions. Others love sweeping and controlling.
Sometimes you’ll learn a technique that doesn’t fit your game or your body. Maybe your legs are too short and stocky. Maybe your cardio can’t handle a fast pace game or your mobility doesn’t allow it.
The best jiu jitsu isn’t forced. It’s when your game becomes a natural extension of your instincts. Your flow.
Same with basketball. Same with archery. Same with writing. Same with business.
Your true talents are built through repetition. Not because it’s hard, but not because it’s easy either. It’s because it’s apart of your soul.
This doesn’t just happen. You have to identify it. You have to find it.
Work Doesn’t Need To Feel Hard To Feel Good
"When the work fits the worker, work is joy." — Khalil Gibran
Do the work that makes you feel alive.
That’s where your best performances happen.
And anything less than your best is not an option.
If you’re struggling to know if you are on the right path. Just know, it should feel effortless, to be you.
Own the Process,
Tim
Author of Mastery Monday
Student & Founder
