The boardroom and the boxing ring have more in common than you think. If your career is your sport, then you need to start training like an athlete.

Most professionals assume career growth comes only from mastering technical skills, building relationships, and navigating office politics. There is definitely truth to that.

But what if there were a performance “hack” that boosted all your efforts and gave you super-human powers, allowing you to be smarter, more resilient, and more confident?

The physical benefits of working out are well-studied and understood. If you are reading this newsletter, chances are you are already familiar with them. We exercise to manage our weight, maintain a healthy body, and get stronger.

The real question is, how does training your body level up your productivity, your thinking, your edge?

People often ask me about supplements I take for performance and productivity, as if there is a shortcut to higher output. What they’re really looking for is NZT-48, the fictional brain-boosting pill from the movie Limitless.

But what if the real version doesn’t come in a capsule?

What if it’s built, not bought?

Fewer sick days, more time at peak

According to a report by the Integrated Benefits Institute (IBI), poor health costs U.S. employers $530 billion annually due to 1.4 billion workdays lost to illness or impaired performance.¹

But this isn’t just about missing work. Think back to the last time you were sick: groggy, unfocused, miserable. You weren’t just out of office; you were off your game.

Sickness doesn’t just sideline you. It knocks you off your momentum. It’s the white-collar equivalent of tearing an ACL midway through the playoffs. One illness can undo weeks of progress, costing you the promotion or raise you’ve been gunning for. And unlike athletes, most professionals don’t have an off-season to rest and recover.

Studies show that regular exercise contributes to a stronger immune system. You get sick less often and bounce back faster.

Exercising isn’t just for athletes. It’s your insurance policy against lost momentum.

More energy for work (and life)

Researchers at the University of Hong Kong found that physical activity builds up resources that matter most for working professionals: better sleep, higher energy, and sharper focus.²

Are you technically getting enough sleep but still waking up groggy and depleted? Or worse, struggling to fall asleep in the first place? Exercise helps on both fronts. It improves sleep quality and makes it easier to wake up ready, not wrecked. Once you’re past the sore legs, of course.

On a cellular level, exercise stimulates the growth of mitochondria, tiny “power plants” inside your cells that generate energy. More mitochondria equals more energy, not just in your muscles, but in your brain. Since our brains consume a quarter of our oxygen supply and calories even at rest, you can see why training like an athlete makes you a sharper, more energized professional.³

Better stress management

Our hormonal system evolved to keep us alive in a world of acute, life-threatening stressors. When our ancestors saw a lion, their bodies surged with cortisol and adrenaline, giving them the energy to fight or flee (more likely the latter). Once the danger had passed, their hormone levels returned to baseline.

Nowadays, there are no lions. Just inboxes. Deadlines. Traffic. The problem? The stress is chronic and unrelenting. Our body still responds, but now it's stuck in a feedback loop, disrupting mood, memory, and focus.

Exercise is one of the best tools for retraining our hormonal system and breaking the feedback loop. It creates acute, controlled stress that teaches hormones how to spike and recover. Over time, this builds resilience, both physically and mentally. You don’t just burn calories, you build your capacity to handle pressure.

Confidence and presence go up

Shoulders back, chest out, eyes forward. How you carry yourself at work starts with how you carry yourself under a barbell (or on a run).

Most people think confidence creates good posture. After a decade on Wall Street, I can guarantee it’s the other way around.

Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk popularized the idea that posture shapes mindset.⁴ Put your body into a posture that exudes strength and confidence, and your brain starts to believe it. The same goes for happiness. Try it: force a smile or a laugh for 30 seconds and notice the shift in mood.

Ever caught a glimpse in the mirror after a tough workout and felt invincible? That’s not ego, that’s alignment. The more reps you put in physically, the more your brain learns to see you as strong, capable, and in control. In and outside of the gym.

Sharper thinking and focus

If you’ve ever done heavy barbell squats, you know that the only way to come out of the “hole” is a full-body effort. Every muscle fires. Your central nervous system is lit up. There is no room for Slack notifications, chores, or relationship drama. Just you and the weight.

That kind of physical intensity teaches focus. But the benefits go beyond the gym.

Exercise raises your heart rate, increasing blood circulation to the brain, delivering more oxygen and nutrients for increased mental output. It also helps regulate cortisol and boosts endorphins and dopamine, your brain’s natural clarity enhancers.

And no, you don’t need to break the world squat record to see results. Even a 10-minute walk during a post-lunch slump can boost your focus, mood, and mental performance.

Start small. Move daily. And train your body to teach your brain what focus really feels like.

Where it all starts

Your body isn’t separate from your career success; it’s the foundation of it.

You are likely already investing in your skills, relationships, and ambitions.

Don’t forget the one system that fuels everything else.

Want to go deeper?

I’m launching a new community feature called “How I Train,” where readers share the habits, rituals, and routines that keep them sharp.

Reply to this post or comment below, and I’ll send a free workout journal to a few of the most thoughtful entries.