Dan Deighton
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Gladiators Ask Questions That Matter

Gladiators Ask Questions That Matter

The Achievement Code #16: Step Into the Arena

Dan Deighton
August 17, 2025

Gladiators of Achievement,

Some questions hit differently don’t they?

The power and skill of asking a well-placed question is underestimated.

Yet, we instantly recognise its impact.

This past week I was hit with a question so good, it sparked the entire newsletter.

That question was:

Why That’s a Good Question

This question might not resonate with everyone, but for me, it struck a deep chord.

Truthfully, for as long as I can remember, I’ve always seen myself as an author.

Not necessarily as a full time gig, but someone who writes and has written books.

I’ve had countless book ideas bubbling, yet none have ever seen the light of day, nor have I made any real tangible progress.

I dreamt of a book comparing Spanish & English idioms when my Spanish was at its peak.

Then, a Portuguese one emerged as I learned the language.

I even envisaged a positive thinking book, a concept I enthusiastically shared with a friend.

The common thread?

Zero published books.

Jim, the person who asked me this profound question had no idea about my unpublished literary aspirations.

For some reason my response was: “How did you know I wanted to write a book?”

His reply?

“You look like someone that writes books”

Now, I’ve been told I look like a vegan numerous times too. However, this comment resonated deeply, likely because it touched on something genuinely personal and important to me.

Have you ever had a question like that?

If so, it may have triggered a period of deep reflection like the one outlined in the next section.

Reflection

In the 7 years since my first book idea, I’ve accomplished a great deal, and some achievements fill me with immense pride:

Ran + trained for 5 marathons
Become a father to 7 beautiful pets
Travelled to 12 countries in 12 months

However, there are others I’m less proud of:

Worked for 4 years at the same Company (all that time)
Spent several evenings guzzling copious amounts of alcohol
Held on to possessions and belongings I no longer need

It’s not as if I haven’t had the time to write a book.

I simply haven’t done it.

When I shared this with Jim, his insightful response led to the next crucial question:

WHAT STOPS US?

Thank you for indulging my introspection up to this point!

This section will delve into the obstacles that prevent us from achieving our goals, rather than just my own personal hurdles.

I think there are 4 main reasons we often give as excuses.

Reason/Excuse	Explanation
Not Knowing How	Often, we simply lack the knowledge or a clear path to pursue our aspirations.
Superficial / Fleeting Idea	The idea might be appealing, but it’s not something we’re genuinely willing to commit time and effort to.
Not the Right Time	There’s a limit to what we can do, and other priorities might genuinely take precedence. This excuse is valid only if you’re truly swamped!
Imposter Syndrome	Particularly when venturing into something new, we doubt our capabilities and don’t believe we can succeed.

HOW TO OVERCOME THOSE EXCUSES

I always provide practical guidance and also believe in the power of our own agency, so let’s frame this section as ‘excuse’ and ‘antidote.

Excuse	Antidote
Not Knowing How	Ask an AI like ChatGPT or Gemini. Seek out someone already doing it and learn from them.
Superficial / Fleeting Idea	Be honest with yourself: is this truly a priority? Am I willing to invest the effort? Be okay with letting go: Not every good idea needs to be acted upon immediately, or ever.
Not the Right Time	Create a list or system for ideas you want to pursue later, ensuring they aren’t lost.
Imposter Syndrome	The fastest way to overcome self-doubt is by proving yourself wrong through small, consistent steps.

All of these antidotes share a fundamental, unifying principle: action.

It’s about stepping into the arena and making a decision.

When we commit to action, we either:

Realise we genuinely want to pursue it and begin taking small, iterative steps

We step out, deciding it’s not the right time for us at the moment, freeing up time for other things (hopefully priorities!)

Neither outcome is inherently wrong.

What is detrimental is inaction, and it’s the barrier to any progress.

WHAT ABOUT THE BOOK?

Right now, I’m leaning into excuse number 3: it’s just not the right time.

And you know what? That’s perfectly okay.

I’m applying my own antidote here: I’m going to bank it for the right time.

That time feels like Autumn/Winter right now.

Why?

I want to soak up summer, and crucially, I’m deep into writing this newsletter.

This is number 16 by the way!

It’s now a non-negotiable part of my weeks, a consistent commitment.

I truly feel a book needs that same level of dedication and focus.

So, the very first step for the book project is now firmly in the calendar.

Truth be told, Jim and I speak regularly now, so I’ll probably bring it up before then. But, for now, it’s marked down.

And, I’ve shared it with you!

The Code: Enter The Arena, Achievement Gladiators!

This week, let’s step into the arena and be Achievement Gladiators.

Gladiators of achievement ask good questions.

What’s something you’re not making progress on but deeply want to?
What’s the excuse you’re giving?
What’s the antidote (first step) you can take?

Let me know if you pick a goal and take the first step!

I’d love to hear about the arena you’re entering.

Your Favourite Future Author,

Dan x

One More For the Collection?