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5 Reps: Social media growth, haircuts, and guest 6-7

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Before we begin, here's what's new:

The 2025 Annual Letter: Focus, Tradeoffs, and Capping Downside Risk

Next, here are a few short thoughts this week.

Money

1

Focus is a state you exist in when you finally become confident in who you are. When you say “this is who I am. These are the people I want to be around. This is the work I’m best designed to do, dammit, and it’s all I’m doing.

-From the 2025 Annual Letter

2

The key to building a valuable community isn't attracting thousands of passive followers. It's finding people who already love being active community participants.

If you want engagement, find people who are already engaging elsewhere.

-From How to Grow Social Media from Nothing (or, basically nothing)

3

This is the BEST framework I’ve ever heard about quick decision-making.

Every decision is either a:

-Hat (try on and take off)

-Haircut (you’re stuck with for a while)

-Tattoo (permanent)

From James Clear:

“Most decisions are like hats. Try one, and if you don’t like it, put it back and try another. The cost of a mistake is low, so move quickly and try a bunch of hats.

Some decisions are like haircuts. You can fix a bad one, but it won’t be quick, and you might feel foolish for a while. That said, don’t be scared of a bad haircut. Trying something new is usually a risk worth taking. If it doesn’t work out, by this time next year, you will have moved on, and so will everyone else.

A few decisions are like tattoos. Once you make them, you have to live with them. Some mistakes are irreversible. Maybe you’ll move on for a moment, but then you’ll glance in the mirror and be reminded of that choice all over again. Even years later, the decision leaves a mark. When you’re dealing with an irreversible choice, move slowly and think carefully.”

Health

1

Normalize rearranging your schedule to fit workout time.

Normalize building your day around your workouts.

Normalize making planned workouts non-negotiable.

-Credit: Andrew Coates

Relationships

1

Prioritize social depth over breadth. A few true friends outweigh countless weak connections.

If you enjoyed this, please consider forwarding a copy via the link below to somebody else today:

www.theptdc.com/articles/5-reps-Dec-12-2025

-Jon

P.S. Guest 6-7

Promo

No promo this week. Happy Holiday season!

Jonathan Goodman
Coach. Author. World explorer. But mostly, Dad.

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My next book, The Obvious Choice: Timeless Lessons on Success, Profit, and Finding Your Way, is now available to buy!!!

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Thanks for reading. Here's a few additional ways that I may be able to help you.

Free
Instagram: @itscoachgoodman
Podcast: The Obvious Choice
Software: QuickCoach

Paid
Book: Ignite the Fire
Course: Online Trainer Academy
Mentorship: Online Trainer Mentorship

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About Author

Jonathan Goodman

Jonathan Goodman has spent 13 winters exploring the world—first solo, then with his wife, and now with their three children—challenging educational conventions while building multi-million dollar businesses. 200,000+ follow him on his Personal Instagram or send him a connection request on LinkedIn, where he is very active. He is the author of Ignite the Fire: The Secrets to a Successful Personal Training Career (1,400+ 5⭐ ) and The Obvious Choice (published by HarperCollins). Over 65,000+ trainers, gym owners, and influencers have hired him to help them scale their online training business through programs like the Online Trainer Mentorship.

The Obvious Choice

Get equipped to explore what’s out there — then go get it

Proven frameworks for increasing efficiency, praying to the social media gods less, and mastering the art of finding your customers.

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"Consider this required reading for anyone running a small business." - Harley Finklestein (President: Shopify)

"If you want to win in business without feeling like you have to win the internet, get this book!" - Jason Feifer (Editor in-Chief: Entrepreneur Magazine)