How the Gym Shaped My Mindset as a Designer
I still remember the first time I walked into a gym back in 1999 in Kaduna State, Nigeria.
I was just a skinny kid — often picked on, often overlooked — and the weights seemed heavier than my confidence. I didn’t go there to impress anyone. I went there to change something in me.
At first, it was about survival — I wanted strength because I was tired of being bullied.
But over time, that reason evolved into something deeper. The gym became my classroom for discipline, focus, and self-respect.
Finding Inspiration in Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson
Back then, my biggest inspiration was (and still is) Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson.
He wasn’t just big — he was consistent. His mindset, his work ethic, the way he transformed pain into power — it all resonated with me.
I watched his journey closely.
And every rep I pushed in the gym was my quiet way of saying: I can do this too.
That fire never left me. Over the years, I’ve worked out in some of the best gyms across Nigeria — Rita Lori Gym, iFitness, and Truman Gym in Lagos, and now iSweat Fitness here in Abuja, where I currently train five times a week.
The Numbers Behind the Discipline
People often ask me what keeps me going after so many years.
For me, the answer is in the numbers — and the mindset behind them.
My current personal records:
Bench Press: 160 kg
Deadlift: 240 kg
Squat: 220 kg
Each lift represents thousands of unseen reps, early mornings, sore muscles, and mental battles I’ve quietly won.
Those aren’t just numbers — they’re proof of consistency, the same consistency I bring to my work as a designer, developer, and creative thinker.
From the Gym Floor to the Design Desk
Over the years, I’ve realized that fitness and design have more in common than most people think.
Both require discipline, focus, and vision.
In the gym, you build your body one rep at a time.
In design, you build your craft one project at a time.
There’s a rhythm to both — warm-up, push, rest, repeat.
When I sit down to design a website, I treat it like a workout: plan the structure, stretch the creativity, push the boundaries, and refine until it feels right.
Coaching Others and Building a Legacy
At some point, fitness became more than a personal pursuit — it became a way to help others. I started coaching a few friends, guiding them through gym routines, form, and etiquette.
Seeing them grow stronger — physically and mentally — reminded me of how far I’d come myself. It also sparked something bigger in me: a dream to own my own gym someday, a space where discipline meets community.
A place where people don’t just lift weights — they lift themselves.
What Fitness Has Taught Me About Life and Work
The gym taught me lessons I carry into every area of my life:
Discipline beats motivation. You won’t always feel like showing up, but showing up anyway builds character.
Progress isn’t linear. Some days you lift heavy, some days you barely move the bar — both count.
Focus is everything. In the gym, as in design, distractions kill momentum.
Strength is more mental than physical. Once your mind believes, your body follows.
These lessons shaped the way I approach every project, every challenge, every goal.
The Creative Connection
Most people see the gym as a place to build muscle — I see it as a place to build focus.
The clarity I gain after a tough session is unmatched. It’s where ideas flow, where I reset, and where I learn the discipline that fuels my creativity.
Because creativity without discipline is chaos — and the gym taught me how to master both.
Final Thoughts
From that young boy in 1999, standing awkwardly in front of the mirror at his first gym, to the man who can deadlift 240 kg — it’s been a journey of self-mastery.
The weights never got lighter.
I just got stronger — in body, in mind, and in purpose.
And every time I step into iSweat Fitness here in Abuja, I’m reminded: this isn’t just about fitness.
It’s about building the kind of strength that shows up everywhere else — in life, in work, and in who I’m becoming.
Massive inspiration …what a Tigre you are👏
Thanks a lot BrightMan, i appreciate
Wow! This is so inspiring
The Law, thank you very much. This means so much to me