Rusty But Moving: Signs of the Pick-Up
As summer starts to close and fall begins to peek through, I’m finally seeing signs that things are picking up. It’s been a slow stretch—not just for me, but for others too. A client who hadn’t paid me in months finally reached out, issued payment, and admitted that their industry had also been unusually quiet. I’d been wondering… was it just my field? The economy? The ICE raids in LA? Turns out, maybe it was all of it.
Getting back to business now feels a little like stretching after a long sit. I’m rusty. But I’m also sunkissed, smiling, and sore, in the best way possible. That soreness is mine. It was earned, it was enjoyed, and it’s part of the build.
Yesterday, I walked into work with a quiet ache and a quiet joy. Nobody else knew why I was moving slow. Nobody else saw the trail miles or the sweat equity I’ve been stacking behind the scenes. But I did.
Things are starting to move again, and I hope they are for you too. I watched a Jocko clip where he said, “If you're lost in the forest, start walking. Don’t stay still. Even if you go the wrong way, at least now you know, and you can pivot. But if you stay still, you stay stuck. You stay lost.” That hit.
So here I am, picking up. Rusty, maybe, but not broken. Stronger than I feel. I’m showing up to jobs with old colleagues and realizing… hey, my game is still sharp. The body might be creaky, but the delivery? On point. I even had to sneak in some stretches between jobs, you know what I mean, when you just gotta get comfortable cause you’re up, not up next, but up right now.
This season is reminding me: momentum beats perfection. You don’t need to feel 100% ready. You just need to move.
To everyone out there building something, whether it’s a freelance business, a strong body, or a stable mindset, I see you. Keep moving through the slow seasons. Keep showing up. Keep stacking your wins.
It might feel like nothing right now, but it’s not. When you look back, you’ll realize: you were never stuck, you were sharpening.
Let’s move,
Coach Vida
Journal Prompt: Your Build Story
A prompt for journalers. Think back to a time when momentum started to return after a slow season.
What were the first signs that things were picking up for you?
How did you keep yourself moving, even when you felt rusty?
What small wins built into bigger progress?
What’s the story arc of your current build, and where do you want it to go next?
Write your answers as if you’re telling the story to your future self, the one who’s already reached the next level.
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|freelance fitness mindset | working class strength | staying motivated when it's slow