In the follow up to their Lock-In Season series, Richard and Aaron ask a simple but effective question: Are you who you say you are—especially when no one’s watching? Richard and Aaron break down practical lock-in moves for Q4: investing in yourself (time and money), stacking small daily wins, building durable habits, and resisting the “quick elevator” in favor of the stairs. We talk discipline vs. dopamine, radical acceptance, accountability, fitness as a life multiplier, and how one “big gift” often unlocks many others. There’s even a live brainstorm for a community 3K walk + fitness apparel concept. If you’re mapping goals for the rest of the year—or restarting after a stall—this one’s your nudge to recommit and move.

Timestamps

• 0:00 — The question: Are you who you say you are?
• 1:50 — What “Lock-In Season” means for the final quarter
• 2:53 — Planning by months → weeks → days (small wins > big wins)
• 3:21 — Investing in yourself: tools, training, and smart spending
• 4:11 — Skill targets & measurable goals (e.g., day-trading reps)
• 7:09 — Health stack: lifting more, eating better, energy management
• 8:19 — “Investment” isn’t just money—it’s time, attention, and habits
• 9:30 — Consistency for the pod: share what you know, build the reps
• 10:58 — Delayed gratification & keeping the recording date
• 12:18 — Done > perfect: avoiding analysis paralysis
• 13:32 — Richard’s Big 3: invest in self, build creative work, grow community
• 14:25 — “Live at five”: community 3K walk + apparel concept brainstorm
• 16:36 — Fitness beyond the gym: financial, relational, spiritual , emotion
• 17:29 — Lock-in = self-development + radical acceptance
• 18:20 — Stop negotiating with yourself; keep promises you’ve made
• 20:25 — The “future you” is counting on today’s choices
• 21:26 — One bright gift that multiplies into many (communication, leadership)
• 27:53 — Take the stairs, not the elevator; zoom out for the long game
• 29:26 — Call to build community: share your goals and progress

Key Takeaways

• Lock-in is discipline in disguise. Zoom in to daily actions; zoom out on timelines.
• Invest in yourself with not just money but your time, courses, development tools, find and build community.
• Keep promises to yourself. Don’t over-negotiate with your comfort.
• Take the stairs. Quick wins rarely stick; durable gains come from steady reps.
• Your “brightest gift” unlocks others. Build the core and let it multiply.
• Community matters. Share what you’re learning so others can move, too.

Light Homework / Listener Challenge

1. Write your Q4 Big 3 (self-investment, one craft goal, one community action).
2. Break each goal into daily and weekly tasks..
3. Pick one promise to keep to yourself for the next 7 days, no negotiations.

Links & Contact

• Connect with the hosts on LinkedIn: Richard Goode & Aaron Jones
• Email: talksatthewatercooler@gmail.com
• Share your Lock-In Big 3 with us, we may go over a couple on the next episode.