Survival vs Progress

Read time: 3 minutes

Welcome to The Ascend Archives, a weekly newsletter where I share a story about a transformation, revelation, or change in thinking that has improved an aspect of my life.

I’m sitting in the rehab center with my grandpa, Pop Pop.
He’s got Alzheimer’s, is recovering from hip surgery, and still has flashes of his dirty sense of humor.

My dad leans over and asks, “How old are you?”
Without missing a beat, Pop Pop says, “None of your f***ing business.”

I can’t help but laugh. Even through the brain fog and pain, glimpses of his old, joking self break through.

We hand him photos of the grandkids. He asks the same questions on repeat, and I kindly give the same answers.

A few minutes later, I tell him my cousin’s having a baby.
“You’re going to be a great grandpa,” I say.
He smirks. “I’m already a great grandpa.”
“Of course you are, Pop.”

After getting back from a July 4th family vacation, I was supposed to take a break from travel. Seven straight weeks at home…which is big for me.

Then I got the call about Pop.

Instead of a quick two-day trip up I-35 to Dallas for a work event and a visit with my girlfriend’s family, I booked a flight from Dallas straight to Maryland for the week.

Here’s how the stretch went…

Friday morning: on the road to Dallas at 5 a.m. to help a client run his conference booth. I’ve been writing for him for a year and a half, so he figured I could help sell and make introductions. On my feet from 9 to 6, capped with dinner with my girlfriend’s family at 7. By the time I hit bed, I felt like I’d been standing for a month.

Saturday: another day at the conference, then a birthday party for my girlfriend’s sister. Bed at 12:30 a.m., alarm at 5 a.m. to catch a flight to Maryland. I’d spend the week at my parents’ house, helping where I could and visiting Pop at the rehab center.

Work still had to get done (I’m a solopreneur with no one else to delegate to). But I’m fortunate enough to be able to work from anywhere I can get WIFI. So that allowed me to keep things moving while on the road.

Then there was marathon training. The plan called for 20 miles that week. I brought my running shoes home with plans to sneak out for 3-4 runs.

One afternoon, while posting on Instagram for a client, I saw a clip from Sahil Bloom. I’ve consumed hours of his content over the years and have written about his ideas before. When his book came out, I loved it, but after hearing him on multiple podcasts, I could predict his answers before he spoke. I took a break from his content.

But this clip was something new.

He was talking about “Progress Weeks” and “Survival Weeks.”

Progress Weeks are when you’re home, in your normal routine of eating your usual food, sleeping in your own bed, working out when you want. Fewer distractions. That’s when you make big strides toward your goals.

Survival Weeks are the opposite. You’re traveling. Something unexpected happens, like a health issue, a broken-down car, or a flooded basement. Progress isn’t the goal. The goal is to keep things from falling apart: do the one or two most important things each day so you don’t lose momentum entirely.

I looked around — sitting at my parents’ house, tired from lack of sleep, family visits filling the calendar.

Yeah… this was a survival week.

From then on, I stopped trying to force it.

I trimmed down my to-do list and did just enough to keep up with client work. Only managed to get a 3.5 mile run in instead of 20. Ate out more than usual. But I didn’t beat myself up for it.

Back at the rehab center, when I stood to leave, I told Pop, “I’m going back to Texas tomorrow.”
He squeezed my hand. “When are you coming back?”
“I’ll be back in a few months.”
“Great, I’ll be out of here by then.”

I walked into the parking lot, the summer air heavy and warm. 

My runs and emails could wait…I survived the week.

Thank you for reading! As always please reply and let me know what resonated, what didn’t, or what you question. I love chatting about this stuff!

Cheers,

Andrew