What if ending your year with the hardest thing you've ever done could completely transform how you start the next one? Brad Draper tackles this idea head-on with his annual "misogi" tradition—a practice borrowed from Shinto warriors involving an exceptionally difficult physical challenge. This year, he combined 500 kettlebell swings, 500 pushups, and 500 curls with 27 miles of walking, completing 49 laps of 0.53 miles each to hit marathon distance. (He deliberately made it harder as he went, because apparently that makes sense when you're already exhausted.)

The truly fascinating part isn't just the physical accomplishment, though. Brad has involved his family since his oldest was three and a half, creating a rite of passage where kids can participate starting at age eight. His wife now wants to join him. Inspired by James Lawrence, the Iron Cowboy who completed 101 consecutive Ironman triathlons despite severe injuries, Brad believes pushing past breaking points reveals true capability—the kind that builds unshakeable confidence and momentum when most people are just coasting into the new year.

Where focus goes, results follow, and this episode explores exactly how embracing hard things shapes character and teaches resilience.

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