“Likes can start the work but they rarely sustain it.”
Hey Rollers,
I’ve been thinking about something that feels very of this moment.
The start of every year often feels a little performative. Almost as if the question being asked is, “What sexy word for the year will get people clicking?” rather than, “What word will actually keep me honest and accountable to myself?”
Are we living in a time where showing off has become a stronger motivator than showing up?
(And to be clear, I’m not pointing fingers here. I’m not immune to this either.)
Social media (yes, this includes LinkedIn) has changed the way effort is expressed. Progress is now public. Workouts are shared. Milestones are documented. Wins are broadcast. Even the process itself has become content.
The uncomfortable part I’ve been sitting with is this:
It works.
People do show up because they know they’ll be seen.
They train harder, commit publicly, build streaks, and hold themselves accountable because there’s an audience watching.
So the question I’m now asking isn’t whether showing off is good or bad.
It’s whether it’s enough.
Because there’s a meaningful difference between behaviour that’s driven by visibility and behaviour that’s anchored in identity.
Showing off asks, “How does this look?”
Showing up asks, “Who am I becoming by doing this?”
And while those two can overlap, they don’t always move together.
External motivation can be incredibly effective, especially at the start. It creates momentum, builds habits, and gives us structure. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that.
The risk, in my experience, shows up later.
It’s when the audience’s attention moves on that motivation truly gets tested.
The person who was showing up for the camera now has to decide whether they’re willing to keep showing up for themselves.
This is often where showing off and showing up quietly divorce and move in different directions.
Some people stop — not because the work stopped mattering, but because the validation no longer justified the effort.
Others continue — because somewhere along the way, the behaviour stopped being performative and started becoming personal. Simply, part of who they are.
That’s the shift I’m interested in people making.
I want the stacking of external proof to turn into internal evidence, and fuel.
Showing off can get you moving.
Showing up defines the standards you’re not willing to fall below.
And so maybe the real question worth asking is this:
If nobody saw, or ever heard about, what you’re doing…
would you still do it?
Until next week.
Keep rolling.
Justin 👊
Take Action in 3 Minutes:
Think about a word, habit, goal, or behaviour you’ve set for 2026.
Now ask yourself, honestly:
👉 If the audience disappeared tomorrow, would this still matter to me?
If yes, you’re building something real.
If not, see that as information and don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater!
Decide whether you want to adjust the motive, not the behaviour.
Sometimes the work stays the same and only the reason needs to change.