The Daily Draft Newsletter

The Daily Draft Newsletter

Iron Sharpens Iron

Why Brotherhood and Fitness Make Better Men

Zac Small's avatar
Zac Small
Sep 29, 2025
∙ Paid
2
1
Share

This week’s photo comes from our Fraternity of Excellence retreat.

Every Friday you get a look at what is going on in the mind behind the lens.

It’s early morning.

The sun isn’t even up yet.

Most men would still be buried under their sheets, convincing themselves that rest is more important than responsibility. But not us. Cala, one of my FoE brothers, is a personal trainer, and he had the keys to the gym.

(Book your online appt with Cala »here«)

Instead of sleeping in, we seized the opportunity, and together, we walked in and went to work.

That’s the difference between being around men who push you forward versus drifting through life alone. When you surround yourself with men committed to excellence, you raise your standard to keep pace.

This circle has no room for mediocrity; we sweat, push, challenge, and rise.

Fitness, when done right, doesn’t stay in the gym.

The weight you press today becomes the strength you carry into your marriage tomorrow. The discipline you practice under the bar is the same discipline that keeps you faithful to your mission and steady for your children.

A weak body breeds a weak will, and a man who can’t command his body has no business trying to command a household.


🔒 The rest of this post is for paying subscribers of The Daily Draft.

Upgrade today if you want more lessons on brotherhood, accountability, and how to build a body and life worth respecting.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Daily Draft Newsletter to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Zac Small
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture