When you commit to something like the Just Do Ten Challenge, you discover that it’s not only about burpees, push-ups, or squats. It’s about integrity, humility, and the willingness to correct your missteps in public when they happen.

Day Ten turned into one of those moments for me. What should have been a straightforward challenge morphed into a mic error, a mis-issued challenge, and then a redo. Instead of brushing it off, I chose to own it, clarify it, and — most importantly — honor the people who truly deserved the spotlight for this milestone day. That’s how we arrived at “Day Ten – Challenge Redo.”

The Misstep and the Redo

On the original Day Ten, my microphone failed. I tried to fix it on Day Eleven by doing a voiceover, but in the process I accidentally re-challenged the folks from Day Nine — doubling down on the mistake and leaving the real Day Ten honorees out of the conversation.

To prevent that from happening again, I created a simple tracking system: Ten-A and Ten-B. Ten-A is the authentic Day Ten challenge — the one you are reading now. Ten-B is the accidental repeat from Day Nine. Mistakes happen. What matters most is how we respond to them.

Retreat, Regroup, and then Return — the Triple R’s.

So here I am, returning with the corrected Day Ten — clear, honest, and full of gratitude.

A Life of Good Samaritans

I’ve been lucky — blessed, really. Over the years, people have picked me up off the side of the road, figuratively and literally. They’ve mentored me, encouraged me, and invested in my potential — sometimes even before I believed in myself. Two of those people are at the heart of today’s redo: Ann Levine and Floyd “Big Brother” Ragland.

Challenge One: Ann Levine

Ann and I met in law school in Coral Gables, Florida. She’s from Huntsville, Alabama, and — fun piece of trivia — she went to Lee High School, the rival of my brother Robert and my sister Debbie’s alma mater. I went to Huntsville High along with Akilah and Karim. None of that high-school rivalry really matters here, except to say that our paths were destined to cross.

What matters is that Ann became a powerful supporter during those early days. She believed in me, mentored me, and reminded me of my worth when I needed it most. We’ve stayed connected ever since. Not long ago, we caught up for lunch in Las Vegas. For her steady encouragement — her voice of reason and her unwavering belief — Ann Levine is my first challenge for Day Ten.

Challenge Two: Floyd “Big Brother” Ragland

The second person is Floyd Ragland. In the late nineties, I came out to Newport Beach, California, working with the powerhouse firm Steinberg, Moorad & Dunn — a breeding ground for sports-agent greatness that included Leigh Steinberg, Jeff Moorad, Scott Parker, David Dunn, Joby Branion, Brian Murphy, and Carmen Wallace. That environment helped shape how I think about excellence, accountability, and service.

That same summer, I crossed paths with Floyd. He’s an NFL running back in stature and spirit — compact, strong, and all heart. Floyd became “Big Brother Floyd” to me. He was also on a coaching staff with my later mentor, the great Cedrick Hardman, at Laguna Beach High School.

One weekend, Floyd invited me to Palm Springs. Saturday night, Cedrick came by. Sunday, we all spent the day by the pool at a friend’s house. That’s when Cedrick, fifty-five years old and carved from granite, decided to test me.

The Cedrick Hardman Test

Cedrick heard I used to run track at Florida State, and that I was around two hundred sixty pounds at the time. He didn’t care about stats or résumés. He cared about heart.

Early Sunday morning, he took me and my ex-wife out for a run. It was not a casual jog. He put us through intervals. It wasn’t a pat-on-the-back workout; it was an assessment. He wanted to see if I had the willingness. Could I hang with a man twenty-five years my senior who still moved like a machine?

He tried to break me. I tried not to let him win. Somewhere in that back-and-forth, I learned what he was really teaching: willingness matters more than anything. You can borrow a program and copy a routine, but you cannot fake willingness. You either show up, or you don’t.

The Official Day Ten Challenge

With the record now set straight, here’s the authentic Day Ten call-out:

• To Ann Levine and Floyd Ragland: I challenge you to do ten burpees with me.
• If burpees are not your movement, give me any honest physical activity — walk, dance, stretch, lift, ride, swim, climb. Just move.
• Put it on record and share it. As I like to say, “Gotta put it on wax.” We may not use wax anymore — it’s all digital — but the principle stands: capture it and commit to it.

Why Redos Matter

This redo isn’t about polishing an image or chasing perfection. It’s about humility, gratitude, and the resolve to do the right thing even when it means slowing down and starting over. It’s about acknowledging the people who poured into me, the mentors who believed before the evidence was visible, and the friends who held up a mirror when I needed clarity.

That’s what the Just Do Ten Challenge is truly about: ten reps at a time, ten honest efforts at a time, and ten moments of truth stacked day after day until the results are undeniable. The numbers are simple; the practice is profound.

Call to Action

If you’re reading this, consider yourself invited. Choose a movement, do ten, record it, and share it. Tag a friend who helped you become who you are. Then pass the energy forward by challenging someone else. That’s how momentum builds — not in giant leaps, but in consistent steps.

Thank you, Ann. Thank you, Floyd. And thank you to everyone who has shown me what willingness looks like in motion.

Day Ten – Challenge Redo is complete. Namaste.