In this episode of Rebuild Stronger, John and Wyatt dig into one of the most misunderstood parts of powerlifting: how often you should actually compete — and why most lifters are unintentionally holding themselves back.

From perfect-day fantasies to over-serious twenty-somethings white-knuckling their training, the guys break down how competing more often builds skill, resilience, confidence, and longevity in the sport. They talk local meets, learning to self-handle, avoiding “all or nothing” training mindsets, and how fun — yes, actual fun — is one of the biggest predictors of long-term strength.

You’ll hear stories about disastrous warmup room mishaps (including a 200-pound accidental jump), sketchy meets, great meet directors, bad ones, why most lifters should do 3–4 meets per year early on, and how training with a real crew can change everything.

Whether you're chasing a PR total or just trying not to bomb out, this episode is packed with real-world insight, a little chaos, and a reminder that you’re allowed to enjoy this sport.

What We Cover

• Why most lifters don’t compete enough
• The myth of waiting for the “perfect timing”
• How competing often builds adaptability and confidence
• Why fun is a performance multiplier
• Learning to self-handle (and why you should)
• The value of local meets and supporting meet directors
• The dangers of an “all or nothing” training mindset
• How the best athletes balance seriousness with levity
• Stories from the trenches:
  • The 12-hour disaster meet
  • The 870-lb “warmup” mistake
  • CT Fletcher–style dungeon workouts
  • Competing for the challenge — not the paycheck

Quotes That Hit

• “If you haven’t bombed out yet… have you really lived?”
• “Fun isn’t the opposite of serious — it’s how you stay serious for decades.”
• “99.9% of lifters will never make money from powerlifting. So you better enjoy it.”