Sun Tzu wrote, “The stronger men will be in front, the jaded ones will fall behind, and on this plan only one-tenth of your army will reach its destination.”

Let that sink in.

That’s not a motivational poster quote. That’s a brutal truth. A tactical reality. And a challenge to you. Because in every battle — whether it’s on the jobsite, in the office, in the gym, or in your mind — not everyone is going to make it to the end. Not everyone is built to endure. Not everyone is ready to face the long march.

But you? You're still here.

You're still standing, even if you're limping a little. You're still pushing, even if you're dragging some weight behind you. You’re reading this because somewhere inside you, there's a refusal to be part of the jaded. A refusal to fall behind.

You’ve got to understand — Sun Tzu wasn’t just talking about soldiers. He was talking about mindsets. The strongest in front aren't just physically capable. They're mentally committed. They show up when it’s cold, when it’s dark, when it’s thankless. They keep moving forward when the rest start looking for excuses. That’s what separates the one-tenth from the rest.

This isn't about being better than others. It’s about being better than yesterday’s version of you. It’s about leading from the front, not just in title or talk, but in action. And yes, it’s going to hurt. It’s going to be lonely sometimes. The weight gets heavier the further you go. The silence gets louder. The doubts creep in.

But here’s the secret no one tells you: those who make it to the destination — that top ten percent — they aren’t always the most gifted. They’re just the ones who refused to quit. The ones who said, “I don’t care if it’s uphill. I don’t care if it’s raining. I’m not turning back.”

So, if today you’re tired, good. That means you’ve been moving. If you’re sore, good. That means you’ve been building. If you’re frustrated, good. That means you care. Let those signs be proof that you’re still in the fight.

The weak fall behind not because they were born that way — but because they chose not to fight fatigue. They chose not to adapt. They let comfort kill their progress.

Don’t let that be you.

Look at your goal. Then look at the road. It’s not supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to test you — to filter out the ones who only say they want it from the ones who are willing to bleed for it.

You’ve come this far. You’re not jaded. You’re forged. You’re the front line.

So lace up. Shoulders back. Eyes forward.

Only one-tenth make it?

Then be the one.

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