Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays, I like to share experiences from my week—both with patients and in my personal life—that have left a meaningful impact. My hope is that these reflections offer you something of value, a bit of insight or encouragement that resonates with your own journey and inspires you in some way.
Something I agreed with. I recently heard one of my favorite speakers, Eric Thomas, talk about what he calls the “Show Up Rule.” His message was simple but powerful: you can pretend to care, but you cannot pretend to be there. If you genuinely want something to happen, desire alone isn’t enough, you must consistently show up and put in the work. In my experience, this principle proves itself time and again. Despite its simplicity, however, it’s also something many people either misunderstand or ignore.
We are often very good at talking about the changes we want and the outcomes we hope to achieve, but far less committed to the daily actions required to get there. Wanting to earn more money while avoiding opportunities or aspiring to get in shape while skipping the gym you just joined, are classic examples of “pretending to be there.” Truly showing up means developing the discipline to do what matters, even when there’s no immediate reward or recognition. Consistency in those unglamorous moments is where real growth happens and it’s the only path to lasting results.
A recent reminder. My 16-year-old son was on a treadmill at the gym when he experienced an interaction that perfectly illustrated an important life lesson. An out-of-shape man in his 40s stepped onto the treadmill beside him and began talking about how great of an athlete he used to be, how much faster he was than my son, and took repeated passive-aggressive jabs during the seven miles my son was running. On the other side was a woman in her sixties, clearly in good shape, who quietly encouraged my son telling him to ignore the negativity, that he was doing great, and that she was proud of him. When my son shared the story, it immediately reinforced a lesson I’ve tried to instill in my children for years.
As we move through life, we will encounter two types of people. The first are those who are unhappy with themselves and, instead of addressing why, choose to criticize and tear others down. Ironically, these individuals are rarely high achievers, yet are often the loudest and toughest critics. The second group consists of people who are actively working to improve themselves. These people understand the effort, discipline, and struggle growth requires. As a result, they tend to be encouraging and supportive of others on a similar path. Like my son on that treadmill, we get to choose whose voices we listen to and which group we belong to. Judging others is a poor use of energy, while investing in our own growth and uplifting those around us is time well spent.
Something that helps me. Whether I’m training for a 100-mile race, working to improve my business, or tackling any demanding goal, there are days when motivation is extremely low. I know the work still needs to be done, but emotions, fatigue, or even the weather try to convince me to back off. To combat this, I’ve relied for years on what I call my “2-mile or 10-minute rule.” If I want to skip a run, I must first run two miles before I’m allowed to stop. If I’m dreading a task, I must commit at least ten minutes to it before deciding to quit. This small rule has made an enormous difference.
The benefit of this approach is that it removes mental pressure and lowers the barrier to getting started. Even if I were to stop at the minimum, I’ve still accomplished something, which creates momentum and confidence. What’s interesting is that in all the times I’ve used this tactic, I’ve never actually quit once I started. Motion creates motivation, and productivity tends to follow action, not the other way around. If you struggle with follow-through, try setting a minimum threshold of time, distance, or effort before allowing yourself to stop. This simple system can help you build consistency, push past resistance, and achieve far better results over time.
An important concept. This week, I spoke with a friend who finally confronted someone about repeated poor behavior coming from people who claimed to be close to them. Instead of taking responsibility or working toward change, the response was, “We can’t change those around us.” To me, that statement is one of the weakest and childish excuses people use to avoid accountability. It dismisses the impact of harmful behavior while attempting to normalize repeated disrespect.
While it’s true that we cannot control or change others, that does not mean we are required to tolerate unacceptable behavior. We have every right to clearly communicate our boundaries and define what we will and will not accept. When those boundaries are breached, we are justified in creating distance or even ending relationships altogether. We would never excuse poor behavior from a child by saying, “That’s just how they are,” without addressing it. Adults should be held to at least that same standard. Protecting your boundaries isn’t being harsh; it’s practicing self-respect and emotional responsibility.
Some quotes I Love.
“Champions do daily what others do occasionally.” – Kenny Smith
“Humility is admitting we have more to learn.” – Matthew McConaughey