The Shoes That Were Slowly Destroying Me

Two months ago, the air cushion in my daily shoes popped.

For over 10 years, I’d been wearing the same Air Max 270s every single day.

They made me an inch taller (and at 6’4″, I figured why not go full NBA), but more importantly, they were comfortable.

The cushioning was so thick I could barely feel the ground.

When they finally gave out, I switched to my gym shoes—Nike Metcon Reacts with basically zero cushion. The kind of flat, stiff shoes I use for CrossFit because you need to feel the ground to generate real power.

At first, it was brutal. Walking to pick up my kids was painful. The muscles in my feet were screaming.

I even stopped to get them a “surprise snack” (translation: I desperately needed to sit down). Every step reminded me how much I’d been relying on that artificial support.

But after a few weeks, something shifted.

What I Reclaimed by Losing the Cushion

I did some research and found that wearing heels (even thick cushioned ones) for extended periods can cause significant structural issues. My body started realigning itself. My hips found their natural position. I could go deeper in my squats. That persistent pain in my right knee—caused by a tight quad—completely disappeared.

I realized I’d been living with structural misalignment for over a decade, all in the name of comfort.

Those cushioned shoes weren’t helping me. They were keeping me from operating like the machine I was meant to be.

The Real Question: What’s Your Air Max?

Here’s what I want you to think about: What things are you doing that feel comfortable but are actually holding you back from your greatness?

Maybe it’s:

The extra comfort foods you reach for when you “deserve a reward”
Keeping people on your team who aren’t really helping, just because they’ve been there a while
Playing it safe with your content or offers because it feels easier than being vulnerable
Staying quiet about your real story because sharing it feels too uncomfortable

For years, I was uncomfortable talking about losing my son and battling alcoholism. It felt safer to keep playing the role of the polished business expert. But that comfort was killing my impact.

When my brother died a couple years ago, I decided enough. I wasn’t going to keep living as someone else just because it was comfortable.

That’s when everything changed—my business, my relationships, my sense of purpose.

The R³ Connection

This shoe story perfectly illustrates the R³ Method:

Reclaim: I reclaimed my body’s natural ability to function without artificial support. What do you need to reclaim that you’ve been outsourcing to comfort?

Realign: My entire body literally realigned once I stopped depending on that cushion. What in your life needs structural realignment?

Rebuild: Now I’m building from a much stronger foundation. Every workout, every step, every movement is more powerful because I’m connected to what’s real.

Your Turn

What are you doing that’s comfortable but keeping you back from your greatness? And more importantly, what would happen if you stopped?

Drop this into ChatGPT: “Here’s something I’m doing that feels comfortable but might be holding me back: [insert situation]. How can I identify if this is truly serving me or just keeping me comfortable? What would be the first step to change it?”

Terry’s Recommendation Zone

Speaking of building from a stronger foundation—when I’m putting my body through intense CrossFit sessions at 46, recovery isn’t optional. That’s why I take Create Daily Gummies every day.

They’ve got creatine for power, greens for recovery, and mushrooms for focus. While everyone else my age is talking about slowing down, I’m literally in the best shape of my life. These gummies are a big reason why I can train harder and recover faster than guys half my age.

Check out Create Daily Gummies here →

Remember This

Comfort kills greatness. The things that make you feel safe and supported might be the very things keeping you from becoming who you’re meant to be.

Sometimes you have to get uncomfortable to get aligned.

Stay Savage,

Terry

Real Quick: If you’re an entrepreneur ready to stop being comfortable and put in the real work needed to be great, I want to hear from you. Reply to this email or watch this one minute video to see if the R³ Method can help you reclaim your identity, realign your actions, and rebuild systems that create the life you actually want.

One More: Ready to take action? Join my 5-Day LinkedIn Sales Challenge and learn how to make your first (or next) sale on LinkedIn without feeling like a fraud.

Last One: Speaking of avoiding the comfort trap, this post breaks down why most entrepreneurs feel like frauds and how to stop hiding behind a version of yourself that isn’t real.