Pushing Through the Pain Cave

How to Dig Deep When the Going Gets Tough

My son is a competitive rower. And when you are a competitive rower, your life revolves around two things: training and racing. Sometimes that is on the water, but often it is on the rowing machine, better known in the rowing world as the erg.

The ultimate benchmark? The 2K. Two thousand meters against the clock. Rowers chase their 2K personal record (PR) like it is a holy grail. It is how fast you can cover 2000 meters on the erg, and it is a pure test of not just physical strength, but mental grit.

Because here is what a 2K feels like:
Your legs are on fire. Your lungs are screaming. Your muscles flood with lactate, leaving them heavy and sluggish. Your brain begs you to quit. And when you finally cross that finish line? You collapse on the floor, gasping for air, drenched in sweat, every ounce of energy spent.

It is grueling. It is punishing. And it is one of the clearest windows into the question: what drives you when everything in your body and mind says stop?

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The Wall We All Hit

For rowers, the breaking point is almost always the second 1000 meters. That is where the adrenaline from the start has worn off, but the finish line still feels impossibly far away. It is where you face the wall.

Entrepreneurs know that same wall. It just looks different:

• Another investor who says no

• A product launch that flops

• A period of stagnant sales

• An unexpected lawsuit

That is your second 1000. When progress feels slow, the doubt creeps in, and your brain whispers: quit.

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Turning Rejection Into Fuel

Rowing Olympic champion Justin Best knows this feeling better than anyone. What most people do not know is that, as a young recruit, some of his dream colleges passed him up. Rejection stung. His response? A simple four word mantra:

“F- you, watch me.” 😳

That became his fuel. Every time he faced doubt or pain, he turned rejection into motivation. And now he has an Olympic gold medal to show for it.

And that is the thing: motivation does not always have to be lofty or noble. Sometimes it is raw. Sometimes it is scrappy. The important part is knowing what gets you through your second 1000.

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With my rower at the Royal Canadian Henley regatta this summer.

Finding What Drives You Forward

Motivation comes in many forms. Here are a few I see again and again in entrepreneurs and high achievers:

• Proving others wrong
  Like with Justin, sometimes the sharpest fuel comes from rejection. Maybe it was a boss who underestimated you, a teacher who doubted you, or an investor who told you there was no room for your idea. Turning “you cannot” into “watch me” can light a fire like nothing else.

• Self Validation
  Other times, the fuel is quieter. It is about proving to yourself that you can do the hard thing, that you are capable of more than you thought. This kind of self validation builds self trust, and that becomes a well you can draw from again and again when the path gets rough.

• Money
  Let’s be honest. Financial reward is a powerful motivator. Maybe it is about security, building generational wealth, or simply having the freedom to choose how you spend your time. Money as motivation is not shallow. It can build stability and opportunity for you and those you love.

• Responsibility
  For many, the drive comes from the weight of responsibility. Your team is counting on you. Your family is relying on you. Your customers need what you are building. When the stakes feel bigger than yourself, you find strength you did not know you had.

• Faith
  Whether it is faith in God, in destiny, or in the belief that things happen for a reason, spiritual conviction can be a deep anchor. In the moments you feel empty, faith reminds you that you are part of something larger and gives meaning to the grind.

• Legacy
  Others are driven by the long game. It is not just about the next milestone, it is about creating something that outlasts you. Legacy motivation is about impact, about leaving a footprint that says: I was here, and I made a difference.

• The Thrill of the Game
  And then there are those who thrive on the sheer thrill of the game. Beating your own score. Outpacing your last record. Relishing the puzzle of business as sport. This kind of playful motivation can carry you through the toughest stretches because it makes the pain feel like part of the adventure.

None of these are wrong. Do not judge your fuel. Just use it.

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Carrying It Into Your Own Second 1000

Next time you are in your second 1000, whether that is fighting through a tough quarter, a rejected pitch, or a moment of burnout, pause and ask:

👉 What is going to get me through this?

Write it down. Make it your screensaver. Blast the anthem that fires you up. Whatever it is, lean into it.

Because when the pain cave sets in, motivation is the only thing that gets you across the finish line.

My son does not always hit his PR. But every time, he learns something about what he is made of in that second 1000 meters. And at the end of the day, that is what entrepreneurship is too: discovering your strength in the struggle.

XO,

candace

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The Secret to a Stress-Free (and Standout) School Year

Every September I feel that shift—new schedules, new routines, kids growing up a little faster than I’m ready for. One thing that’s helped my family make the transition smoother year after year is Curious Cardinals

.

They pair ambitious teens with brilliant mentors from Stanford, Yale, Harvard and beyond - not tutors, but mentors who feel like big siblings. The result? Confidence, creativity, and projects that wow colleges: TED talks, published research, even start-up businesses.

If you want to make this your child’s best school year yet, check them out here.