Physical fitness has always been my cornerstone—the keystone in the arch of my life. In architecture, the keystone is that critical stone at the top of the arch, the one that makes the whole structure stand. Without it, the arch collapses. For me, that keystone is fitness. It has held me together through school, sports, professional challenges, and personal struggles.
I’ve run track, played football in high school, and ran again in college. Even when studying for the bar exam, I kept to a steady workout routine. Fitness wasn’t just exercise—it was structure, discipline, and the thing that allowed everything else to stand.
The Spark: Just Do Ten
The idea of Just Do Ten began with my friend, Cedrick Hardman. When we met, I wasn’t in great shape. I was tipping the scale at 260–265 pounds, and Cedrick showed up at my door one day to get me moving.
That first workout was simple: ten jumping jacks and a couple of laps around the track. That was it. But here’s the key: I did those ten jumping jacks. They were hard at the time, but they were doable. That’s where the phrase Just Do Ten was born.
Ten reps. Ten minutes. Ten of anything to get you moving. The magic is not in the number itself—it’s in the action. Just do ten.
Bringing It Forward: The Burpee Challenge
Fast forward to today, and burpees have become my full-body answer to Just Do Ten. They don’t require a gym, special equipment, or anything more than willpower, determination, and a little floor space.
When I first tried burpees, I was in my street clothes, just deciding, “I’m going to do this.” They were tough—like those first jumping jacks years ago. But just like then, I pushed through. By the fourth day, I could already feel the difference.
Burpees became my lab experiment. My gym is my lab. And like any lab, it’s a place where discoveries are made—where you have to push through the dark before you see the light.
Lessons from Loss and Legacy
The burpee story also ties back to people I’ve loved and lost. One of my favorite teammates was Anthony “Spot” Washington. He’s gone now, taken too soon, but I’ll never forget him. Seeing his family post workout videos reminded me of our old banter—“I hate burpees.” Yeah, I hate them too. But they’re good for you.
That’s the truth: burpees are tough, uncomfortable, and often dreaded—but they build you in ways few other movements can. They remind us that growth happens in the uncomfortable spaces.
The Keystone Principle
For me, Just Do Ten isn’t just a fitness principle—it’s a life principle. Ten reps. Ten minutes. Ten steps forward. Do something. Move. Get off the couch, as Dr. Kendrick says.
Because fitness is my keystone. It’s what keeps my arch from collapsing. It’s what allows me to show up in life, in business, in relationships, in service.
And when I do my burpees—whether it’s in my gym “lab” or on the road—it’s not just a workout. It’s a reminder: you’ve got to work through the darkness to get to the light.
Many great things are discovered in the lab. And for me, that discovery is this: when everything else feels uncertain, I can Just Do Ten.
Namaste.
