Misbehave

There’s a classic line that’s echoed through time, credited to the legendary Chinese general Sun Tzu: “Keep your friends close; keep your enemies closer.” It’s a line that holds weight on the battlefield, in the boardroom, and—perhaps unexpectedly—in the bathroom mirror, where we sometimes catch a glimpse of a new enemy: flabs 

Now, before you roll your eyes or clutch your hoodie tighter, let’s get one thing straight. This isn’t a post about six-packs and #fitspo flexing. This is a rallying cry for all of us who are ready to stop dodging the mirror and start embracing the mindset that our health—our truest wealth—is the only battle worth winning.

Sun Tzu’s The Art of War isn’t just for warlords and ambitious CEOs—it’s for us, too. He taught that victory lies in understanding both the enemy and yourself. In our case, the enemy might not be an army or a rival corporation. It might be the sneaky habits, the late-night snacks, the skipped workouts, and that little voice saying, “I’ll start tomorrow.”

The trick isn’t to shame ourselves—it’s to understand ourselves. Just like in sales (a profession I’ve dabbled in), the best results come not from manipulation, but from genuine understanding and connection. In sales, they teach you not to sell but to serve. It’s not about pushing a product, but about showing someone a better version of their life. The same applies here: we’re not forcing ourselves into a workout routine—we’re serving our future selves.

Let’s clear something up: flabs themselves are not the villain. They’re just a symptom—a result of stress, poor sleep, emotional eating, or simply life getting in the way. But the real enemy? Complacency. That quiet surrender that convinces us to settle. And here’s where Sun Tzu would probably raise an eyebrow: we should keep complacency closer, study it, and understand it. Only then can we beat it at its own game.

It’s tempting sometimes to turn our focus outward—to judge, to gossip, to hate on others who seem to have it all together. But that energy? Misplaced. Misused. Instead of hating, we should misbehave in the best way possible. Rebel against our limits. Flip the script on expectations. When we choose growth over gossip and sweat over shade, we don’t just better ourselves—we make our real enemies jealous. Not by being petty, but by being powerful. Progress is the loudest flex. Let your wins speak louder than any clapback ever could.

Toni Braxton once belted with raw emotion, “Un-break my heart 🖤, say you’ll love me again…” But maybe—just maybe—we’ve been singing that to the wrong person. Instead of begging those who hurt us to return, what if we turned that plea inward? What if we asked ourselves to come back? To love ourselves again. To undo the hurt we caused by letting our well-being slip through the cracks. Because sometimes, the deepest heartbreak isn’t from who left us, but from how far we strayed from who we used to be.

Music has power. It gets us through heartbreaks, long commutes, and awkward first dates. So why not let it power us through the toughest reps of our workout? Bring your favorite playlist to the battlefield—whether that’s a spin class, a walk around the block, or a living room dance-off.

Like Toni, let yourself feel everything. The frustration, the hope, the determination. Working out isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s a release, a revival. It’s saying, “I may have walked out on myself before, but I’m walking back in now.”

Let’s be honest: not everyone wakes up excited to hit the gym. But working out doesn’t have to be a punishment. It should be an act of self-love, tailored to you. Forget what social media says. You don’t need to deadlift your bodyweight or run marathons (unless you want to!). You just need to move in a way that feels good and sustainable.

That’s working out in your best interest—not because someone else said you should, but because your mind, body, and spirit deserve it.

One of the most surprising places I learned how to truly connect with people was in sales. It’s where I learned that people don’t buy products—they buy outcomes, feelings, hope. And that’s exactly how we should “sell” ourselves on wellness.

Treat yourself like a VIP client. Listen to your objections:

• "I’m tired."

• "I don’t have time."

• "I’ll never see results.

Then respond with empathy:

• “Rest is important, but movement can give you more energy.”

• “Let’s start with just 10 minutes.”

• “Every step counts, even the small ones.

A good salesperson doesn’t bulldoze—they support, guide, and inspire. You can be that person for yourself.

The battle for better health isn’t won in a day, a week, or even a month. It’s won in small, quiet victories: choosing water over soda, stretching instead of scrolling, sleeping instead of stressing.

Let your journey be guided by strategy, not shame. Let your resistance be a signal, not a stop sign. Let your flabs be your frenemies—proof that you’ve lived, and now, a reminder that you’re ready to live better.

And remember—when you misbehave by choosing discipline over drama and health over hate, the real enemies get quiet. Because deep down, even they can’t help but respect a comeback they didn’t see coming.

At the end of the day, the real battle isn’t just about the flabs we see in the mirror—it’s about the mindset we carry into every challenge. Those extra pounds might feel like the immediate enemy, but they’re only the surface-level opponent. The true victory lies in mastering our thoughts, staying disciplined, and choosing resilience over excuses. Every drop of sweat, early morning, and healthy choice builds something far more powerful than a better body: an unshakable, stone-sealed mindset.

Stay strong. Stay sharp. I came, I saw, I conquered - Julius Caesar.