"If It's Important, Do It Every Day"
“If It’s Important, Do It Every Day”
— Dan Gable
At 16 years old, I was already visualizing living in California.
I didn’t have a map. I didn’t have funding. I had a dream and a vision
By the time I was 20, I had decided, with absolute certainty, that I was going to create a new way to look at self-defense. But I remember the adrenaline and the anxiety I felt just visualizing it — that electric mix of excitement and dread that lives right at the edge of a big decision. Fear was my companion the entire time. There was resistance from my own self-doubt, from my mother, from other martial artists who thought I was out of my mind. But in my mind, it had already happened. I could see the outcome clearly. And I knew that if I stuck with it, if I worked hard, if I stayed resilient, that relentless focus would eventually intersect with the journey.
I trained daily. I studied. I tested things that didn’t work until I found the things that did.
And I will be completely transparent with you: I oscillated between a flow state and a fear state the entire time. Fear was always there in the back of my mind — whispering, second-guessing. But I kept going anyway. And I realize now, decades later, that learning to navigate that oscillation became the single most important skill I ever developed. More important than any technique.
My whole life I have managed fear — and it is in understanding how to leverage that fear that I have made almost every dream and goal I have ever had come true.
When you tell people you are going to change the way the world looks at self-defense, they look at you like you’re crazy. In 1980 I was first featured in Black Belt magazine. Martial arts columns and features followed over the next couple of decades — features in magazines in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the USA. And the more visible I became, the louder the pushback got. They told me it couldn’t be done. They told me there was nothing new under the sun. And my personal favorite: “Who do you think you are — Bruce Lee?”
I would just look at them. But in my mind I’d think: Bruce Lee made up his own martial art. You’re fine with that — but not with someone else doing it?
Here we are, four decades later.
Obviously, they were wrong.
Here’s the thing about learning how to manage fear: when you feel resistance, rationalization, or procrastination, you can confront yourself. That is the superpower. Fear management improves self-awareness, and self-awareness improves critical thinking. And critical thinking is a superpower because life is truly a rollercoaster ride — there will be many moments where fear creates doubt and hesitation: starting a new job, quitting a job, asking somebody out, breaking up, getting married, getting divorced, having kids, becoming an entrepreneur, defending yourself. The list goes on and on.
The fear loop is nasty. When we are in the fear loop, we are consuming time. Life is passing us by. Opportunities are missed.
Over the years I’ve taught my fear management system to Tier One operators, SWAT cops, martial artists, doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, pilots, moms, dads, executives. The breadth of people who carry the same fear is always wild to me. What does that mean? It means fear doesn’t care about your rank or your resume.
It took me decades to learn this. And in this world, where everyone is chasing the hack, looking for the shortcut, trying to get there faster — there are no shortcuts. And if you are not doing what needs to be done right now, it is likely because you are not clear on the vision — or you are scared.
This is going to read strangely. It’s counterintuitive. But it’s this simple…
Don’t fear fear.
Fear doesn’t care. It’s there or it isn’t. So when it is, we must find a way to do things ‘scared’. That is the whole philosophy and psychology behind my fear management approach. You cannot be brave if you are not afraid.
No Fear vs. Know Fear
What makes our work so unique?
We were the first to truly differentiate between the psychology of fear and the physiology of fear.
And when the shit hits the fan — when you’re scared to decide, to assert yourself, to stand up for something, to take that leap — it doesn’t really matter that your parasympathetic nervous system has shifted to a sympathetic state, or that you’re dysregulated. It doesn’t matter that your limbic system and amygdala are doing their thing. The physiological changes are not what’s relevant in that moment. What is relevant is whether you can think and decide — whether you can coach yourself through the obstacle. The mind navigates the body. That is the skill we train.
There’s going to be fear. The question is: is it managed fear or mismanaged fear? That’s the skill set we teach. The choice is yours.
The most important thing you can do today is begin working on your future self. And then do that every day.
The great Dan Gable said: “If it’s important, do it every day.” But if fear makes you hesitate — if fear makes you procrastinate — you lose the opportunity to become a better version of yourself. Manage fear by practicing courage every day. The person you want to become is inside you now — and it’s always psychological fear that hijacks the mind. If you want to change that, I can help. I’d love you to join my next coaching program. Details are below.
See you next Saturday.
Coach Blauer
“My whole life I’ve managed fear, and it’s in understanding how to leverage that that I’ve made almost every one of my dreams and goals come true.”
►I am starting my next cohort for BTS90 on June 27th. I hope you decide to take me up on the coaching offer and join me. If you are not sure what it is, if you are sitting on the fence, or if you are stuck in the fear loop, please read this new page: fuckfear.blauertactical.com
►Prefer something more personal? If you want direct, one-on-one access — private mentoring that applies the SPEAR System® and KNOW FEAR® framework to your business, your leadership, and your life — I work with a small number of private clients each year. I also speak to corporations and organizations. → Let’s talk
Bring My System to Your City
P.S. — If this article made you think about what your students, clients, team, or family are carrying into training, this is the work I teach inside the SPEAR System®. Many coaches, instructors, and CCW trainers already know how to fight. But many have not fully equipped their students to handle the startle-flinch, fear, and real-world pressure.
We pioneered scenario-based training and fear management education. Adding startle-flinch conversion, the SPEAR System®, and High Gear® drills gives your people a way to pressure test and gain real confidence. Whatever your background, method, or style, this work complements it.
This is how we make the world safer — by inspiring conscientious martial artists, self-defense instructors, first responders, and CCW trainers to teach holistic self-defense.
Keep scrolling — below you will find every way to train with me, and a few articles worth your time.
WAYS TO TRAIN
1️⃣ LIVE ONLINE: Tactical Garage Gym — Train live online. New members can use GARAGE50. Learn more here.
2️⃣ IN-PERSON: Elite Training Retreat — Next camp fills quickly. Register now.
3️⃣ CERTIFICATION: SPEAR L1 Apply — Grow your business. Teach what works. Learn more here.
4️⃣ TRAINING LIBRARY: Tactical Library — 900+ classes. The vault is open. Learn more here.
GO DEEPER
MISSION STATEMENT
SPEAR System® Certification Program:
For professionals who take their craft seriously.
01. Research & Evolution: To research and evolve the most responsible, research-driven methods of human threat response and fear management.
02. Mentoring & Education: To provide mentoring and education to those seeking to build and grow their training program and amplify their impact.
BLAUER TACTICAL SYSTEMS
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I agree. I’ve found it’s often easier to be disciplined every day than only some days. The more consistently you eat healthy, exercise, or practice a skill, the less discipline it seems to require. It doesn’t take long before making the disciplined choice becomes easier than falling off track. The habits we repeat daily are usually the ones that shape our future the most, which is why it’s so important to focus on the things you do every day.