The Importance of Wins
The Importance of Wins
When you’re in the trenches of training or battling through rehab, it’s easy to focus only on the pain, the setbacks, or the grind. I’ve seen this mistake over and over again—not just with men I’ve coached, but in my own life as well. Too many of us overlook the small victories along the way. We dismiss them as “not a big deal,” when in reality, they’re everything.
Why Wins Matter
Celebrating progress—even the small steps—creates a psychological snowball effect. Research in behavioral science shows that acknowledging small successes increases motivation, adherence, and long-term outcomes in both fitness and rehabilitation programs (Amabile & Kramer, 2011; Dolan et al., 2012). In fact, patients who track and celebrate milestones in rehab demonstrate higher confidence and better functional recovery compared to those who don’t (Schunk, 1990; McAuley et al., 2011).
Think about it: the first time you can raise your arm overhead after a shoulder injury… the first set of push-ups you nail after weeks of scaling… the first time your gait feels natural after surgery. Those are not “small things.” They are proof that your hard work is paying off.
Stack the Wins
Here’s the truth—one win builds on another. Write it down. Celebrate it. Reflect on it. Those victories stack, and over time they become the foundation of your comeback story. In sports psychology, this is called “mastery experience”—and it’s the most powerful driver of self-efficacy and resilience (Bandura, 1997).
When you stack wins, you start to realize that pain and setbacks are temporary. Progress is permanent if you keep showing up. That mental shift doesn’t just fuel recovery; it fuels growth in every area of life.
Brotherhood and Coaching
The process is even more powerful when you’re surrounded by brothers who push you, or a coach who guides you in the right direction. Social support is consistently linked with better adherence, lower dropout rates, and greater success in both exercise and rehab programs (Carron et al., 1996; Estabrooks et al., 2005). The wins are sweeter when shared, and they build bonds that make the hard days worth it.
The Takeaway
Yes—the suffering makes the victories worthwhile. But if you skip celebrating the victories, you miss half the point. The next time you hit a milestone, no matter how small, stop and acknowledge it. Write it down. Share it. Celebrate it. But don’t confuse celebration with stopping. Wins aren’t a finish line—they’re proof that your ax is sharp and that the work is paying off. Keep swinging. Wins only come when you keep showing up.
If you are looking for brothers to hold you accountable or a coach to help you actually find those wins, join The Brotherhood HERE or reach out to me directly at jackson@drjacksontaylor.com.
References
Amabile TM, Kramer SJ. The Progress Principle: Using Small Wins to Ignite Joy, Engagement, and Creativity at Work. Harvard Business Review Press, 2011.
Dolan P, Hallsworth M, Halpern D, King D, Metcalfe R, Vlaev I. Influencing behaviour: The mindspace way. J Econ Psychol. 2012;33(1):264–277.
Schunk DH. Goal setting and self-efficacy during self-regulated learning. Educ Psychol. 1990;25(1):71–86.
McAuley E, Szabo A, Gothe N, Olson EA. Self-efficacy: Implications for physical activity, function, and functional limitations in older adults. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2011;5(4):361–369.
Bandura A. Self-efficacy: The exercise of control. Freeman, 1997.
Carron AV, Hausenblas HA, Mack D. Social influence and exercise: A meta-analysis. J Sport Exerc Psychol. 1996;18(1):1–16.
Estabrooks PA, Harden SM, Burke SM. Group dynamics in physical activity promotion: What works? Soc Personal Psychol Compass. 2005;9(3):128–141.
