"Success is not about intensity — it's about identity."
— Tre Dickerson, Founder of Team Winning Culture
In my work with athletes, executives, and everyday professionals, I've seen one truth hold constant: Success is not about intensity — it's about identity.
Everyone wants to change. They want to be healthier, stronger, more focused, more consistent. But most people approach change the same way: they add more. More workouts. More discipline. More rules.
And then? Life gets in the way. The plan falls apart. They feel like they failed. Again.
But here's what I've learned after years of coaching real people through real transformations:
The fastest way to create lasting change is to ask:
"What would a healthier version of me do today — once?"
Not for an hour.
Not perfectly.
Just once.
Most people think habits are about discipline. But I teach them differently.
Habits are votes for the person you're becoming.
Every time you take one intentional action — no matter how small — you're casting a vote for your new identity. You're proving to yourself:
One intentional breath — and you become someone who manages stress consciously.
One stretch between meetings — and you become someone who prioritizes mobility.
One walk instead of another cup of caffeine — and you become someone who moves first, relies on stimulants second.
These aren't tasks. They're identity markers.
And the beautiful thing? You don't need motivation to do something once. You don't need a perfect morning routine or a structured plan. You just need to ask yourself the question:
"What would a healthier version of me do — once — right now?"
Then do that. And tomorrow, ask again.
Most people fail at habit change because they aim for perfection. They build 30-day challenges, morning routines that take 90 minutes, and rigid meal plans that require meal prep on Sundays.
And then life happens.
A client emergency. A sick kid. A bad night of sleep. Suddenly, the plan is broken. And if the plan is broken, most people assume they've failed. So they quit.
But when you build habits around identity, not intensity, the rules change.
Here's the shift:
The first version requires time, energy, and motivation you might not have. The second? It just requires one action. And one action is always possible.
That's why "once" works. It removes the pressure. It creates momentum without exhaustion. It lets you win, even on your hardest days.
If you want to start building better habits — without the overwhelm, without the all-or-nothing mentality — here's what I teach:
Before you check your phone, before you dive into work, pause and ask: "What would a healthier version of me do today — once?"
Not a workout. Not a meal prep session. Just one thing. Examples:
Don't overthink it. Don't turn it into a 30-minute routine. Just do the one thing, acknowledge it, and go back to your day. That's the win.
The goal isn't a streak. The goal is consistency over time. If you miss a day, it's fine. Just come back to the question the next morning.
Here's what most people don't realize: habits don't change your life overnight — they change who you become, day by day.
You're not trying to be perfect. You're trying to be consistent. And consistency doesn't come from intensity — it comes from identity.
Every time you choose one intentional action, you're proving to yourself that you are the kind of person who:
And over time? Those small votes add up. They compound. And one day, you look around and realize: you're not trying to be healthier anymore. You just are.
That's the power of building habits through identity, not intensity.
If you're reading this and thinking, "I've tried everything and nothing sticks" — I get it.
But maybe you've been playing the wrong game. Maybe you've been trying to change your behavior when what you really need to change is your identity.
So here's my challenge to you:
Tomorrow morning, ask yourself:
"What would a healthier version of me do today — once?"
Then do that one thing. And the next day, ask again.
Don't worry about the plan. Don't worry about perfection. Just show up for yourself — once.
That's how you become who you want to be.
— Tre Dickerson
Founder, Team Winning Culture
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