In his groundbreaking book Good to Great, Jim Collins introduces the concept of The Flywheel—a powerful metaphor for how companies achieve greatness. According to Collins, success isn’t a single defining moment, but rather a series of consistent, small actions that build momentum over time. The more energy you put into the flywheel, the faster it spins, creating a self-sustaining cycle of growth and achievement. On the flip side, Collins contrasts this with the Doom Loop, where a lack of consistency and quick-fix solutions derail progress, sending you back to square one.
While Collins applies this to business, The Flywheel vs. Doom Loop concept is strikingly relevant to fitness and personal health challenges. Whether your goal is to lose weight, build muscle, increase endurance, or achieve a personal best in a workout, the process is not about dramatic leaps forward—it’s about steady, sustainable progress.
At CrossFit Rockland, we see this principle in action every day.
The Fitness Flywheel: Building Momentum in Your Training
Let’s break down how The Fitness Flywheel applies to your own journey:
- Small, Consistent Wins Every successful athlete knows that the key to long-term fitness is showing up. Each workout, each meal choice, and each night of sleep might feel like a small, insignificant step in isolation, but collectively, they build momentum. Over time, these “small wins” lead to transformative results. For example, think of Josh, one of our athletes. When he first started, front squats and long runs were a struggle. But instead of looking for a quick fix, Josh committed to putting in the work—one workout at a time. As he made progress, even in small increments, his confidence and capability grew. His consistency turned The Fitness Flywheel, and now he’s crushing 5K and 10K runs, lifting heavier than ever before. It wasn’t magic or luck—it was the compound effect of steady effort.
- Momentum Breeds Motivation As the flywheel turns and momentum builds, something amazing happens: the work becomes a little easier, and progress starts to feel more automatic. In fitness, this is when habits begin to solidify, and your progress doesn’t require as much willpower as it did in the early stages. Sophie, who recently completed her first 5K after joining Coach Damir’s Endurance Program, is another great example. She didn’t like running at first, but as she hit small milestones and embraced the process, running became less of a chore and more of an accomplishment she could look forward to. Her Fitness Flywheel is now in full motion.
- The Power of Accountability and Community No one can turn the flywheel alone. Having a supportive community—whether it’s friends, coaches, or fellow athletes—helps keep the momentum going. Every time you show up to the gym, you’re not just investing in yourself; you’re contributing to the collective energy that keeps everyone moving forward. Our community at CrossFit Rockland thrives on this principle. Athletes like Mike (Mr.T), who exemplifies dedication, or Coaches Rommel and Chaya, who constantly push others to achieve their potential, help turn the flywheel not just for themselves but for everyone around them. This sense of shared purpose accelerates everyone’s progress.
- Focusing on the Process, Not the Outcome The Flywheel concept requires that you focus on the process rather than obsessing over the end result. The Doom Loop, by contrast, comes into play when someone abandons the process, frustrated by a lack of immediate results, and instead jumps from one quick-fix solution to another. This leads to inconsistency, loss of motivation, and eventually starting over from scratch. In fitness, the Doom Loop looks like hopping from fad diets to extreme workout plans without sticking to anything long enough to see real results. The Flywheel, however, is about trusting the process. Whether it’s nailing that first pull-up, improving your squat, or just staying consistent, every action matters, even if the results aren’t visible right away.
Avoiding the Fitness Doom Loop
So how do you avoid the Doom Loop?
- Be Patient with Results
The fitness journey is not linear, and you will encounter setbacks along the way—plateaus, injuries, or life circumstances that pull you away from training. These are the moments where many people fall into the Doom Loop, looking for shortcuts or getting discouraged. But by maintaining the same consistent habits that built your momentum in the first place, you can break through plateaus and come out stronger. - Keep the Vision, but Honor the Process
Yes, it’s important to set goals. But just as important is recognizing that these goals won’t be achieved overnight. It’s tempting to push harder and faster, but fitness is a marathon, not a sprint. The flywheel turns slowly at first, but with steady effort, it picks up speed. - Don’t Let Setbacks Derail You
Injuries, busy schedules, or even a lack of motivation can slow your progress, but they don’t have to stop it altogether. Stay engaged with the community, keep moving forward, and lean on the support of your coaches and teammates when you need it. Athletes like Christy, who is working through a knee injury, show us the value of persistence. She’s experimenting with movements and finding ways to stay active, ensuring that her flywheel keeps turning even through difficult times. - Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection
Finally, celebrate the small wins along the way. Each rep, each lift, and each completed workout are all pieces of the larger puzzle. Perfection isn’t the goal—progress is.
The Bottom Line
The Fitness Flywheel reminds us that real, lasting progress doesn’t come from a single Herculean effort, but from small, consistent actions repeated over time. As the wheel turns, it builds momentum, leading to bigger and more noticeable results. At CrossFit Rockland, we’re all about turning that Flywheel—together.
So, the next time you’re struggling with a workout, doubting your progress, or feeling like you’re stuck, remember that it’s all part of the process. Keep pushing the wheel, and before long, you’ll see it spinning faster than you ever thought possible.
Do the work, keep growing, and turn that wheel.