Master Your Inputs, Master Your Life
There’s a story I used to tell myself, one I’m sure you’ve told yourself at some point:
“I’m just not getting where I want to be. I’m doing everything right. I’m grinding, I’m working, but something’s off. I’m not moving as fast as I should be.”
For a long time, I thought my lack of effort was the problem. I kept thinking that the results would eventually come if I worked harder and pushed harder. But then something clicked, and I realized that effort alone wasn’t the issue. It was what I was feeding my mind.
In the same way, you can’t out-train a bad diet; you can’t outwork bad inputs. Think about every time you watch the news, scroll through social media, binge-watch TV shows, or engage in weak conversations; you’re absorbing more than just the information. You’re absorbing a mindset. You’re absorbing a version of the world that doesn’t serve you.
Most of us were raised on a steady diet of passive messaging. We were taught that masculinity meant aggression or indifference, or worse, that it was something to be ashamed of. We internalized this narrative, not even realizing how much of it we carried with us into adulthood, and we accepted it as truth.
What you allow into your mind will shape your behavior. If you let your inputs be dominated by content that mocks strength, glorifies victimhood, or paints ambition as dangerous, don’t be surprised when your actions start reflecting that. We all know what it feels like to be in a room full of negativity, to scroll through endless propaganda online, and the desire to belong to the “less” crazy side. It drags you down, promotes fear, and makes you feel helpless.
So, I did something radical, and I started cutting out the crap. I stopped wasting time on anything that was feeding me weakness. No more inputs that glorified mediocrity and promoted victimhood. I stopped following accounts that thrived on drama and pity. I intentionally sought out material that challenged me and pushed me to do more, be more, and think harder. Books that taught leadership, podcasts from people who were doing what I wanted to do, and people who were actually getting results.
It wasn’t just about content and media but about the people I spoke to daily. Were the ones I surrounded myself with pushing me forward or holding me back? When you start leveling up, it becomes clear who’s with you and who’s dragging you down. You have to start cutting out the energy-drainers, the people who constantly complain, the ones who make excuses for their failures instead of owning them, and especially those who fear your growth would leave them behind.
You don’t have to feel bad about this and don’t owe anyone an explanation for demanding excellence in your life. If someone tries to shame you for pushing yourself too hard, for refusing to settle, that’s on them, not you. You’re not responsible for their comfort. You’re responsible for your growth.
Surround yourself with people who challenge you. People who inspire you to go further, think bigger, and push harder. Men who’ve already walked the path you’re trying to walk, who are ahead of you, not just in terms of success, but in mindset and strength. When you’re around people like that, you start to rise to their level.
Your life is a result of the inputs you choose. If you’re stuck, frustrated, or just not seeing the progress you want, it’s time to take a hard look at what’s entering your brain. You have the power to change it. You have the power to choose what you let in, and once you do, the results will follow.
Because when you control your inputs, you take control of your life.
While these ideas are rare and the path is difficult, they are not uncommon inside my private men’s community, the Fraternity of Excellence.
If interested, join our free Facebook group, The Path to Excellence, and start leveling up today.