This Is What It Actually Takes by Cory Gregory

This Is What It Actually Takes

By Cory Gregory
Beats & Barbells 2025

Belief: The Foundation

“To believe in things you can see and touch is no belief at all, but the belief in the unseen is a triumph and a blessing.” – Abraham Lincoln

Everything starts with belief. Disbelief is everywhere—you’ll hear it from others and even from yourself. But belief in your vision? That’s the game changer. If you can see it in your mind before it’s real, you can make it happen. That’s exactly how this gym, this event, and my entire career came to be.

Confidence & Perseverance

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world. The unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” - George Bernard Shaw

This isn’t a reasonable journey. Waking up at 3:30 AM, putting in the work before most people even hit snooze—that’s not normal. But neither is success. Progress belongs to those who refuse to accept average. So if you're waiting for things to make perfect sense before you go all in, you’re already behind.

The Pursuit & The Goal

"A master in the art of living draws no sharp distinction between his work and his play... He simply pursues his vision of excellence through whatever he is doing." - L. P. Jacks

I’ve never viewed my work and my life as two separate things. My training, my business, my family, my personal growth—it’s all connected. That’s why I don’t burn out. I don’t clock in and out of my passion. If you can make what you love into what you do, you’ll never have to fake motivation again.

Who I Really Am

People see the magazine covers, the businesses, the island. But that’s not the real me. Here’s who I actually am:

An angry kid who wanted to change.
A terrible student who wanted to learn—just not what school was teaching me.
A big dreamer who needed a blueprint.
A coal miner who knew how to work.
A lifter who needed an opportunity.
A father who wanted to be present for his kids.
A consistent winner who wants to teach others how to win.

The Real Equation: 0.01% Better Every Day

Forget the whole "1% better every day" thing. That math never made sense to me. The truth? It’s more like 0.01% better every day. Because improvement compounds over time—just not as fast as people want to believe.

I reverse-engineered my success, and here’s what I found:

10,000 hours is the starting line for mastery.
I’ve trained 2 hours every day, 7 days a week, for over 30 years.
That’s 14 hours a week, 714 weeks, or 13.7 years before I really started winning big.

The formula is simple: Show up. Every day. For years.

What It Really Takes

People love to say, “Must be nice.” Yeah, it is. Because I earned it. None of this is luck. You’re not here by accident. You’re not reading this by accident. The only real question is—are you willing to sign up for the process?

Stop comparing yourself to social media illusions.
Forget quick results—guaranteed results come from relentless action.
Understand that success will take longer, cost more, and be harder than you think.
Commit to daily habits that build confidence and discipline.

Winning is a habit. So is losing. Which one are you practicing?

Final Takeaways

Set Realistic Expectations – Success takes time. If you’re thinking months instead of years, you’re playing the wrong game.
Master the Fundamentals – No hacks, no shortcuts. The basics done consistently always win.
Create Non-Negotiable Habits – If you have to “decide” every day, you’re already losing.
Be Unreasonable – The biggest progress happens when you refuse to accept the status quo.
Never Stop the Momentum – Small wins stack up. Keep moving forward.