Foxhole Friday: Vol. 3

Welcome to Hook & Barrel Magazine’s “Foxhole Friday.” This email is brought to you by our CEO, John Radzwilla, delivered to your inbox on the first Friday of each month. It’s motivation. It’s inspiration. It’s damn solid advice. All wrapped up in one email from John and those in his foxhole.

The purpose? To equip our H&B tribe to be the best versions of “you” you can be. You may feel like you’re on an island by yourself or don’t have a mentor, let H&B fill that gap. Know someone who would benefit from this email? Share it now - scroll ALL the way to the bottom to refer a friend.

5 WAYS TO AVOID BURNOUT
words from John Radzwilla

Smart Advice For Staying Mentally and Physically On Top Of Your Game Take a deep breath. Focus on that breath. Feel it enter your lungs. Listen to the air swish through your nostrils. Hold that breath. How do you feel? Embrace the stillness of the moment. Now exhale. Slowly. How do you feel?

Still crazed? Yeah, me too. It’s called burnout.

This state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress is becoming increasingly common, particularly among young professionals encouraged to “push through” their limits. But you rarely hear anyone talk about it.

I am writing this editorial note as a PSA. If you are like me, you obsess over success, the score is never high enough, and though the race is long over, like Cake sang:

Because he’s racing and pacing and plotting the course,

He’s fighting and biting and riding on his horse,

He’s going the distance,

No trophy, no flowers, no flashbulbs, no wine,

He’s haunted by something he cannot define.

And what is he, I, you… trying to define? What the win looks like.

Continue reading here.

Tough Love: The Power of Constructive Feedback in the Gym and Life
from Talon Smith
Chief Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman, Owner L3 HYROX

In life, those who care about you the most aren’t afraid to challenge you. They’ll have the tough conversations, point out your shortcomings, and push you to grow—because they see your potential. This lesson became clear to me during my time in the military, and it applies just as much in the gym.

When I first joined my unit, I surrounded myself with individuals I thought were good people, hardworking, and dedicated. However, I quickly fell into a 'work hard, play hard' mentality, prioritizing comfort over growth. While I excelled at my job, I wasn’t growing as much as I could have in other areas.

That’s when a seasoned Marine, a respected combat Veteran, pulled me aside. He didn’t sugarcoat it—he told me I needed to step up my game. At first, I was hurt. I thought he didn’t like me or saw me as a failure. But over time, I realized he wasn’t criticizing me out of disdain—he genuinely cared and wanted me to reach my potential. He continued to challenge me, mentor me, and hold me accountable. As a result, I grew both personally and professionally, and eventually earned and was given leadership roles on different occasions. At 21 years old, I was entrusted with the responsibility and accountability of nearly 1 million dollars in medical supplies.

In the years that followed, this Marine became one of my best friends—someone who not only pushed me to be better but was there for me when I needed guidance or support. His tough love didn’t end with the criticism; it evolved into a deep and lasting friendship built on trust and mutual respect.

This experience taught me that anyone willing to challenge you is doing so because they believe in you. Whether it’s in the military or in the gym, a coach or mentor who pushes you to do more isn’t trying to be mean—they want to see you succeed and help you reach your goals. Just like a coach who tells you to push through that last rep or add more weight to the bar, their tough love is an investment in your growth.

As author and speaker John C. Maxwell once said, “A person’s growth is not determined by the ease of their circumstances, but by their willingness to grow through difficult situations.” In the gym, just as in life, growth doesn’t come from comfort—it comes from pushing yourself beyond what you thought was possible.