After Years of On-and-Off Habits, One Interview Inspired Me to Take Action—and It Changed Everything
It’s not often that a podcast conversation hits me this hard.
After more than a decade of struggling with inconsistent health habits, trying to make time for fitness, falling off, starting again, and repeating that cycle over and over, I had a conversation that changed everything. And I mean that literally. Just days after this recording, I walked into my local gym for a free walk-through. I signed up for a year of classes on the spot.
The episode featured Halelly Azulay, founder of TalentGrow, a leadership development and communication expert with decades of experience working with top companies and global organizations. But this time, our conversation didn’t just stay in the leadership lane. We went deeper into how physical health transforms mindset, mental clarity, and ultimately the success of our businesses.
That’s the spark I needed.
I want to share some of the biggest takeaways from this conversation because I believe it can be the catalyst for others in our community too. If you’re like me—overcommitted, under-recovered, passionate about your work but neglecting your health—I hope this hits home. Because here’s the truth:
Your body is the foundation of your business.
You Don’t Need More Time. You Need a Different Mindset.
Like many of you, I’ve said it a thousand times: “I just don’t have time to work out.”
Halelly flipped that idea on its head. When we neglect our physical well-being in the name of productivity, we’re actually robbing our business of the one tool that matters most: ourselves.
Think about it. Our energy, our focus, our decision-making, even our emotional resilience—these are the tools we use every day to lead projects, inspire teams, and build great architecture. And when those tools are dulled by exhaustion, stress, or physical decline, our business suffers.
Reframing health as an investment, not an expense, was a breakthrough for me.
The Compounding Effect of Tiny Habits
One of the simplest but most effective ideas Halelly shared was “exercise snacks.” Three minutes of movement every hour. Not 30 minutes at the gym. Not a perfect routine or a personal trainer. Just three minutes.
A quick walk. A set of squats. Some stretches. That’s it.
The science backs it up. In one study Halelly cited, participants who walked just three minutes per hour throughout the day lost more fat than those who worked out 30 minutes all at once. It’s the power of compounding in action; tiny, consistent steps add up.
For architects who sit at a desk for 10+ hours a day, this idea is gold. It removes every excuse. You don’t need gear. You don’t need to change clothes. You just need to stand up and move your body.
And once you start doing that, the mental shift begins. You start seeing yourself as someone who takes care of themselves. And that changes everything.
Physical Discipline Builds Business Discipline
Halelly is a competitive weightlifter and ballroom dancer. But here’s the kicker—she started both after the age of 50.
She didn’t grow up athletic. She didn’t have some magical DNA. What she did have was a goal and a system.
She signed up for competitions to give her training purpose. She hired coaches and built accountability into her schedule. She hacked her own psychology by removing decision fatigue—showing up to a class where someone else already planned the workout.
It’s no coincidence that those same tools are the foundation of running a successful business. Set clear goals. Build systems and routines. Find mentors and accountability. Take small actions every day, even when you don’t feel like it.
If you’re struggling to stay focused in your firm, to hit your goals, or to feel like you’re thriving instead of just surviving—ask yourself if your physical health habits are holding you back.
They might be the root cause.
You Can’t Lead Others Until You Lead Yourself
Another powerful story Halelly shared was about one of her executive coaching clients—a fellow architect—who was struggling with anger issues during meetings. The deeper they dug, the more obvious it became: he wasn’t sleeping, he wasn’t moving, and his stress had nowhere to go.
No productivity app or leadership seminar will fix that. It starts with the body.
Halelly talked about how movement—especially strength training and functional fitness like CrossFit—does more than improve your physique. It builds emotional regulation. It rewires your nervous system. It trains your brain to handle pressure without snapping.
As small firm architects, we carry the weight of our teams, our clients, our families, and our futures. That kind of leadership demands energy and resilience. It demands self-leadership.
And you can’t lead yourself if your engine is broken.
Perfectionism is the Enemy of Progress
This one hit me hard.
I used to think if I couldn’t go all in—perfect diet, 5-day training routine, full 100% commitment—it wasn’t worth doing. So I didn’t do anything.
Halelly reminded me that experimentation is the way forward. Don’t like running? Try dancing. Hate the gym? Go for walks. Love variety? Try CrossFit. Don’t marry a method. Just commit to movement.
When I ran one mile every day for a year several years ago, I thought it would build lasting habits. But I hated running. I did it out of obligation, and when the year was over, I quit.
This time, I’m doing something I enjoy. Group classes. Someone else plans the workout. I show up. I sweat. I leave feeling better. I’ve found something I can look forward to.
That’s the difference. That’s what makes it sustainable.
You Already Know This. It’s Time to Act.
You already know that health matters. You’ve felt the stiffness in your back, the brain fog in the afternoon, the way your temper is shorter when you’re tired. You know.
What you might not realize is how quickly things can change once you take action.
That’s what this episode gave me. A spark. A shift. An invitation to change.
And so I did.
I signed up for the walk-through at a local gym. Then I signed up for the classes. And now I’m showing up three times a week to move my body with intention.
And it’s already starting to change my mind.
I feel clearer when I work. More focused in meetings. Less agitated when things go sideways. It’s not perfect. I’ve only just started. But I can already see the compounding benefits.
And I believe you can too.
So if you’re still reading this, and you feel what I felt—that gap between who you are and who you want to be—this is your moment. Don’t wait until your health forces you to stop. Take control now. Make a decision and take the first step.
Because when you prioritize your body, your business gets stronger.
When you show up for yourself, you show up better for your team, your clients, your friends and your family.
And when you begin with the body, the mind follows.
If this article sparked something in you—if you’re feeling that same pull to make a change—then don’t stop here. Go listen to my full conversation with Halelly Azulay at https://entrearchitect.com/610. I think it might be the motivation you’ve been waiting for.
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