No Way Out

Strong Orientation: How Strength Improves Our Capacity For Free and Independent Action with Nick Delgadillo


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What if the key to maintaining your fitness goals during the chaotic holiday season lies in the simplicity of strength training? In this episode of No Way Out, we’re joined by Nick Delgadillo, CEO of Starting Strength Gyms (www.startingstrength.com), to explore how foundational movements not only bring structure and stability to your routine but also reshape your orientation—the lens through which you shape perceptions, decisions, actions and learning. Strength training becomes a critical part of our orientation, improving our capacity for free and independent action, even when life outside the gym feels unpredictable.


Together, we reveal how seasoned gym-goers leverage this time of year to fine-tune their fitness objectives, staying on track despite festive indulgences. Nick shares the profound impact of barbell training on both physical fitness and sports performance, emphasizing a holistic approach that extends beyond the gym to include nutrition, recovery, and mindset. Reflecting on personal insights and paradigm-shifting revelations, Nick explains how this methodology could have revolutionized athletic experiences in high school and the military. We challenge listeners to reevaluate their routines, highlighting effective strength-building practices that drive significant improvements in performance across all areas of life.


This episode also takes an in-depth look at the Starting Strength program, celebrated for delivering rapid fitness improvements through consistent, disciplined effort. Nick discusses how strength training integrates seamlessly into military institutions, the rigorous process of evaluating and certifying Starting Strength coaches, and the challenges and successes encountered along the way.


We close with a heartfelt tribute

John R. Boyd's Conceptual Spiral was originally titled No Way Out. In his own words: 

“There is no way out unless we can eliminate the features just cited. Since we don’t know how to do this, we must continue the whirl of reorientation…”

March 25, 2025

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Substack: The Whirl of ReOrientation

Want to develop your organization’s capacity for free and independent action (Organic Success)? Learn more and follow us at:
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No Way OutBy Mark McGrath and Brian "Ponch" Rivera

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