The Parallels Between Business, Bodybuilding, and Life...

Life is not so different from stepping into the gym or running a business. At its core, it’s a process of effort, adaptation, and growth. Bodybuilding, business, and life each demand discipline, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to progress. They teach us that success is earned, not given and that the small, consistent actions we take daily will always outweigh fleeting moments of intensity.

For those who align with the Matter Athletica philosophy—whether you’re a competitor, a coach, or someone striving for personal excellence—the principles that guide bodybuilding are often the same ones that lead to success in business and life. They are tied together by universal truths that extend far beyond reps and spreadsheets, teaching us to embrace discomfort, commit to the grind, and build something meaningful over time.

All Domains Require Mental Pursuits

Bodybuilding starts as a physical pursuit, but anyone who’s been through a rigorous prep knows it’s far more mental than it seems. It’s about showing up, even when motivation is gone, even when your body is screaming for rest, and even when the sacrifices seem too great. The same can be said for business. A business isn’t built in a single flash of inspiration; it’s built brick by brick, day after day, through the same mundane but essential tasks that often go unnoticed by the outside world. Whether it’s training your body or scaling a company, the process begins with showing up and committing to the long haul, even when the results feel miles away.

The Lesson of Delayed Gratification

The first lesson these disciplines teach is the power of delayed gratification. In bodybuilding, the results of your effort are not immediate. You can spend months in a caloric deficit, grinding through training, watching the scale shift by the smallest margins, all while envisioning the payoff on stage.

Business follows the same rule. Every decision you make, every strategy you execute, often takes months—if not years—to show its true impact. And life, too, demands patience. Relationships, personal development, and mastery in any domain require us to play the long game. Bodybuilding, business, and life each reward those who understand this fundamental truth: what you do today will not pay off tomorrow, but it will matter in the long run.

Consistency Is the Second Lesson

Consistency is the second, and perhaps the most important, lesson. In bodybuilding, it’s not the one incredible training session or the perfectly tracked day of eating that transforms your physique. It’s the thousands of small, consistent actions compounded over time. In business, the same principle applies. A single successful campaign or a burst of productivity isn’t what builds a sustainable enterprise. Instead, it’s about showing up every day, sticking to your processes, and executing the unglamorous tasks that push the needle forward.

In life, too, consistency is what creates stability and growth. Whether it’s nurturing relationships, pursuing self-improvement, or simply staying committed to your values, it’s the everyday actions that define who you become.

Discipline Underpins Everything

Discipline underpins everything. Bodybuilding teaches discipline in its rawest form—following a plan even when the emotional pull to deviate is overwhelming. There’s a moment in every prep when discipline becomes the only thing holding you together.

The same is true in business. Entrepreneurs know the temptation to cut corners, skip the hard conversations, or chase quick wins that don’t align with their long-term goals. In life, discipline is what allows you to stick to your principles, even when it’s inconvenient. It’s what helps you choose what’s right over what’s easy. Whether in the gym, in the boardroom, or in your personal life, discipline isn’t just a tool; it’s a muscle that must be trained and strengthened daily.

Our Relationship With Failure

The parallels don’t stop at discipline and consistency—they extend into the uncomfortable but essential relationship we each have with failure. Bodybuilding teaches you to embrace failure, not as an end but as a tool. When you push your body to its limits under the bar, failure is how you grow. Every missed lift, every plateau is a signal, a lesson about what needs to be adjusted or improved.

In business, failure operates the same way. Not every idea will succeed, not every venture will flourish, and not every risk will pay off. But every failure teaches you something valuable—if you’re willing to learn from it. In life, failure is unavoidable. It’s woven into the fabric of being human. Those who fear failure often stagnate, while those who embrace it as part of the journey find growth on the other side.

The Most Profound Similarity - Vision

Perhaps the most profound similarity is the demand for vision. Bodybuilding begins with a goal—a vision of the physique you want to create. That vision drives your actions, even when the mirror shows no visible progress. In business, vision is equally critical. Without a clear understanding of where you’re going and why you’re going there, it’s easy to lose focus, to chase distractions, and to fall into mediocrity. Life, too, requires vision. Without it, we wander aimlessly, reacting to circumstances rather than creating them. A clear vision isn’t just a destination; it’s a compass, keeping you aligned with your purpose through the inevitable storms.

But it’s not enough to simply have a vision; you must back it with relentless action. Bodybuilding demands execution at every level—nutrition, training, and recovery. There’s no room for half-measures or wishful thinking. In business, execution is what separates dreamers from doers. Ideas are cheap, but the willingness to take action, iterate, and persist is rare. In life, execution means aligning your actions with your values, making the hard choices, and doing the work necessary to live the life you want. It’s not enough to want it; you have to act on it, day in and day out.

Bodybuilding & Business Teach You Humility

Bodybuilding, business, and life also teach humility. No matter how disciplined you are, no matter how consistent your efforts, you will encounter forces outside your control. A setback in training, an economic downturn, a personal loss—these moments remind you that you are not invincible. But humility isn’t weakness; it’s strength. It’s the ability to adapt, to ask for help, and to acknowledge that growth is a collective effort. In bodybuilding, it might mean seeking out a coach who can push you further. In business, it might mean leaning on your team during tough times. In life, it’s about accepting that we’re all a work in progress, and that progress is made easier when we support one another.

The Biggest Transformation Comes in Ownership

Perhaps the most transformative lesson across all three disciplines is the idea of ownership. Bodybuilding teaches you to own every aspect of the process. If you skip a workout, if you miss a meal, if you don’t push yourself, the only person to blame is you. Business is no different.

As a leader, you must own every outcome, every success, and every failure. There’s no room for excuses, only reflection and adjustment. In life, ownership means taking responsibility for your choices, your mindset, and your actions. It means recognizing that while you can’t control everything, you can always control how you respond. Ownership is the foundation of progress, the thread that ties bodybuilding, business, and life together.

If You Are Pursuing Your Goals...

As you pursue your goals—whether they’re in the gym, in your career, or in your personal life—remember that the principles are the same. Success doesn’t come from talent or luck; it comes from effort, consistency, discipline, and resilience. It comes from showing up, embracing failure, and taking ownership of every step along the way. Bodybuilding, business, and life are not separate entities; they are reflections of the same fundamental truths. When you master one, you gain the tools to succeed in the others.

For the Matter Athletica community and beyond, this is the challenge and the opportunity. It’s not about being perfect or achieving success overnight. It’s about committing to the process, learning from the struggles, and staying the course, no matter how long it takes. Because in the end, the lessons taught in the gym, in business, and in life are the same. And the person who learns to embrace them will always find a way to succeed.

• Ben Mayfield-Smith