Strength is a Second Job

by Carl Raghavan, SSC | November 05, 2024

When someone asks me, “What do you do for fun?” I say, “Drinking.” They give me a puzzled look, and their next question is usually, “But isn’t the gym fun for you?” No, it's not. Training has evolved into a second job. But here's why that's actually a good thing.

Before I head to the gym, my fiancée always used to kiss me goodbye and say, "Have fun." I would grumble, kiss her back, and leave, fully aware that training isn't fun – it’s a second job. It’s a funny thing: the more I treat it like work, the more progress I see as a by-product.

Sure, hitting a new PR feels great, and seeing your body change is rewarding, but at its core, training is more like a job than a passion project. Talking about big numbers and fantasizing about future lifts is just that – talk. Actions speak louder than words. The habits and tasks needed to achieve a new personal record often resemble mundane busywork, something that feels more like clocking in and out of a routine job.

For me, it’s about showing up, putting my head down, and if I’m lucky maybe I’ll see some progress happen after 9 to 12 weeks of hard work. Strength training is my second job. That’s essentially my motto at this point.

When you start thinking of training this way, everything begins to click. Adopting a job-like mindset makes progress feel almost inevitable. Good "employees" in the strength world show up on time, follow the program, do grocery shopping regularly, home cook their food, prioritize sleep, and stay vigilant about technique and form. They respect the gym space and the people around them. That’s how you succeed – by showing up, day after day, ready to work, like it’s your day job.

Treating training like a job also makes the emotional ups and downs easier. Sure, missing a lift stings, but if you have a show-up-rain-or-shine mentality, you begin to reframe progress and accept that not every session will see a new PR, like when you first started the SSLP. Some days you’ll feel strong, others you won’t. Missing a set of 5 doesn’t feel as catastrophic as it once did, like in the early days. You still show up and do your best. That’s all anyone can ask.

If you're only excited about training when you're hitting personal records, you won't last long. Training is a game within a game. Of course, PRs and progress do matter, but the true key to training is having the discipline to keep going even when the gains slow down and road ahead looks bleak. It's not just your deadlift PR that gets stronger; it's your mind as well. Eventually, those PRs will become less frequent. You can’t add weight to the bar every session forever – welcome to being a true intermediate. Let that sink in. Remember: Rip told you you don’t want to be an intermediate, so try and stay a novice for as long as possible. Guess what, Rip was right again. Getting strong is a lifestyle, not a New Year’s resolution.

Life will throw the kitchen sink of challenges at you: stress, bad days, lack of sleep … fill in your worst day here. Even on those days, you still need to show up and train. That’s what leads to real progress. Being the lifter who doesn’t skip training or makes excuses is what sustains long term progress, every time. The compliance is the science. Even a shitty program can work if you come in and keep showing up. Consistent commitment to the process, despite life’s demands, is what separates those who succeed from those who fall short.

There’s a great quote from Jim Wendler that I think sums it up best: “Your rep is your reputation.” Every time you take a deep breath for a lift, it’s an opportunity. Every rep is a reflection of who you are as a lifter. This idea is one of the main reasons I named my brand Beautiful Strength. Lifting heavy barbells with solid technique is the gold standard – it’s the principle I live by and lift by.

There's something powerful about embracing long-term challenges that don’t offer instant gratification. The rewards are deeply personal, often holding meaning only for you. Conquering your demons and lifting numbers that surpass your wildest dreams aren’t going to be handed to you; every kilo is earned. That struggle is what eventually gets you to your destination. It is a process that teaches you more than just how to lift 5 additional pounds – it’s something far deeper. It teaches you that the world will not stop and clap for you if you get back up when you’re in your darkest hour. That you don’t get a public parade every day like you’re the King for just showing up to work.

Training three times a week shouldn’t feel like a sacrifice or a big deal. It’s simply part of what we do as lifters. The difference between training and a job is that training brings immense fulfillment, and not everyone can say that about their day job. The weight room is your arena. Put your life into a chokehold: do not go quietly into the night. It’s your chance to be somebody.

Recently, my fiancée found a better way to send me off to the gym. Instead of saying "Have fun," she says, “Ganbatte” – a Japanese word (pronounced "gahn-baht-teh") that means "Do your best." And that’s what I wish for all of you in the weight room: Ganbatte. Do your best.