The Power of General Physical Preparedness: Why a Broad Base Fuels Long-Term Excellence

In last month’s blog, I introduced the concept of General Life Preparedness (GLP), which involves developing competence across a wide range of physical, financial, emotional, social, and spiritual domains to become more adaptable, capable, and resilient. 

Rather than chasing perfection in one area, GLP encourages high performers to build a solid foundation that supports excellence across all areas of life. When you hold yourself to high standards, it’s natural to focus your energy on what you do best. However, solid, sustainable performance comes not just from honing strengths—it also requires a broad foundation of capability that supports your ability to grow, adapt, and lead in any situation.

To deepen this idea, I’ll cover the specific domains introduced in the previous post. First up is where this concept originated for me: General Physical Preparedness, or GPP.

Why This Concept Matters (and Why It’s Personal)

I proudly consider myself a generalist—someone who is good at many things and curious about a wide variety of topics. I’ve chosen that path intentionally, passing on opportunities to specialize so I could keep developing range. That decision made me a more effective Chief Operating Officer and continues to serve me well as a coach. It allows me to connect with people across disciplines, industries, and backgrounds—and to recognize patterns others might miss.

My first encounter with GPP was as a young personal trainer and CrossFit coach learning about Russian kettlebell training. In the athletic world, GPP is often viewed as a preparatory phase—general conditioning that builds a base for more specialized or sport-specific training. But over time, I’ve come to see it as much more than that.

For most people, GPP isn’t just a stepping stone; it’s a core competency. It’s the difference between being fit for a specific outcome and being prepared for anything.

What Is General Physical Preparedness?

General Physical Preparedness is exactly what it sounds like: a broad base of physical ability that supports performance across a wide range of tasks. It's not about excelling in just one metric—it's about having usable capacity across many of them.

GPP includes qualities such as:

• Strength

• Speed

• Coordination

• Agility

• Flexibility

• Balance

• Power

• Endurance

• Stamina

Building capacity in each of these areas gives you the ability to respond, not just to perform well in predictable circumstances, but to adapt when the unexpected happens.

It’s easy and satisfying to train in the areas in which you already feel confident. But doing so at the expense of others creates blind spots. For example:

• The person who prioritizes strength might lack flexibility and mobility.

• The devoted yogi may struggle with speed or quick reactions.

• The daily step-counter might feel fit but be winded after a short game of pickleball.

Without balance across these physical domains, even high performers can find themselves limited—not in their potential, but in their readiness.

Why GPP is Worth Your Attention

You may never need to jump out of the way of an oncoming car, but the ability to do so reflects something deeper: capacity. And capacity is what gives you freedom—to say yes to unexpected opportunities, to recover more quickly from stress, and to maintain your quality of life as you age.

For high performers, GPP also reflects a deeper kind of mastery: the willingness to pursue competence in areas outside your comfort zone. It's a quiet kind of discipline that says, I value versatility over ego. I choose capability over perfection. 

Where to Begin

You don’t need to overhaul your training or lifestyle overnight. Instead, consider:

• Taking inventory: Which areas of GPP do you naturally gravitate toward? Which ones have you ignored?

• Adding just one new element: If you always train for endurance, add strength work. If you're highly mobile, explore explosive movements that produce maximal force in quick bursts of time.

• Treating it like a skill-building experiment: GPP isn’t about dominating a workout—it’s about expanding what’s possible.

Build the Base That Builds You

General Physical Preparedness isn’t glamorous. It’s not the stuff of highlight reels. But it’s often what separates the people who burn out from those who stay in the game—not just longer, but stronger.

If you’re someone who demands a lot from yourself, the best thing you can do is build a base that can support it.

Curious What this Could Look Like For You?

If you're someone who thrives on challenge and is ready to expand your capacity in new directions, you don’t have to do it alone. Sometimes the fastest way to grow is by having a thought partner who can help you see your blind spots, stretch your edges, and align your efforts with what matters most.

If that sounds like something you’re ready for, I invite you to schedule a free discovery call. We'll explore where you are, where you want to go, and whether 1:1 coaching could help you get there.