Let your success make the noise

I’ve always loved the quote, *“Work hard in silence and let success make the noise.”* Last week, as I stood in the gym during a rest period, staring at the barbell, I was just about to take the most Instagrammable picture you’ve ever seen (okay, maybe not). But right then, that quote hit me like a truck! I asked myself, *What’s the point?* What was I really getting out of this?

I thought, *I have nothing to gain, and neither does anyone else.* Let’s be honest, it would’ve been a quick ego boost, maybe a few likes, and a short-lived hit of dopamine. On my walk home, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. My mind wandered back to an old video of Matt Fraser (5-time CrossFit Games champion), grinding out workouts alone in his basement in Vermont. It was a tiny space—no fancy gym, no company, no music, and no Instagram. Just the sounds of weights clanking and the rower whirring. And that’s when it clicked: there’s real power in working in silence.

It hit me that when you stop posting every workout or achievement, you quickly realize that your motivation has to come from within. No more waiting for that surge of approval from likes or comments. You’re doing it for yourself, not for external validation. And let me tell you, that’s a game-changer. It sticks with you, even when things get tough or progress seems slow. You’re not training for likes, fire emojis, or comments—you’re training for *you.* And that kind of motivation? It lasts.

Then there’s the comparison trap we all know too well. When you scroll through Instagram, it’s hard not to compare your progress to others. Someone’s always lifting more, running faster, or looking leaner, and suddenly, your own progress feels small. But when you keep your journey to yourself, it’s just you versus you. No distractions, no need to measure up to someone else’s highlight reel. It’s freeing. You can focus on beating your personal bests, which is what this is all about anyway.

Without the pressure to post, you also have the freedom to train at your own pace. You don’t have to worry about how it looks or whether you’ve hit some arbitrary milestone just to share it. You’re free to make mistakes, have off days, take breaks—basically, be human. And that gives you space to build something sustainable. The focus shifts to creating habits that last, instead of chasing the next post-worthy achievement. That’s where the long-term success comes from—building a routine that works for you, not for the ’Gram.

Lastly, there’s something special about keeping your journey private. It makes the wins feel more personal. It’s not about the likes or followers—it’s about your progress, your growth. No one else needs to know every step of your journey. That’s for you to own. When you finally hit those big milestones, they feel so much more meaningful because you did it for yourself. No validation needed, just that deep, satisfying feeling that you worked hard and earned it.

So here’s my challenge to you: take a step back from posting your workouts and progress. Keep it to yourself for a while and see what happens. You might find that the most meaningful progress happens when no one’s watching. And who knows, when you do decide to share, it’ll be with a stronger mindset and a clearer sense of what success really looks like.