Will Ahmed19 May 2025

The Downfall Of CrossFit & The Future Of Fitness - Will Ahmed - #943

0Frameworks

8Insights

Insights & moments

The myth-busts, hot takes, explainers, and tools worth keeping.

Myth Buster· 1

Myth Buster00:00

Why CrossFit Failed Despite Its Popularity

Will Ahmed argues that CrossFit's downfall wasn't due to lack of community or brand strength, but internal dysfunction and poor leadership. Despite having a passionate user base and strong evangelism, the company mismanaged its opportunity and allowed operational chaos to undermine its success.

CrossFit had a powerful grassroots community and brand resilience.
Internal dysfunction and leadership issues were the core problems.
The company fumbled a massive opportunity despite external popularity.
New fitness trends like Hyrox filled the void left by CrossFit’s decline.

“I've never seen anybody fumble the bag so hard in like in fitness.”
Will Ahmed · 01:15

#crossfit#fitness-industry#company-dysfunction#brand-failure

Hot Take· 1

Hot Take57:30

Failure Is Overrated — Success Teaches More

Will Ahmed challenges the popular idea that failure is the best teacher. He argues that unique successes offer more valuable lessons than common failure patterns, and that consistent winners learn more from what works than from what doesn’t.

Most startups fail for the same few reasons.
Successes often contain unique 'secret sauce' that’s harder to reverse-engineer.
He’s learned more from successes than failures.
Avoiding failure doesn’t teach you what success requires.

“I think failure is largely overrated. I've learned more from successful endeavors than I have from ones that have failed.”
Will Ahmed · 58:15

#failure#success#entrepreneurship#growth-mindset

Explainer· 2

Explainer08:00

Sleep Consistency Matters More Than Duration

Will Ahmed explains that consistent bed and wake times are more important than total sleep hours for long-term health and performance. This consistency supports circadian rhythm, longevity, and overall well-being, especially for people sensitive to circadian disruptions.

Sleep consistency is more critical than total sleep duration for many.
Social jet lag—shifting sleep times on weekends—harms circadian health.
Middle Eastern countries like Doha have extremely late average bedtimes.
Cultural factors like late-night socializing contribute to sleep patterns.

“For some people, sleep consistency and regularity are more important than sleep duration.”
Will Ahmed · 08:45

#sleep-health#circadian-rhythm#sleep-consistency#wellness

Explainer80:00

How to Use Data Without Becoming Obsessed

Will Ahmed discusses how Whoop is designed to be a background tool, not a demanding master. He emphasizes focusing on trends over daily noise and shares how some users benefit from hiding their data temporarily to avoid obsession.

Whoop is designed to be unobtrusive—no screen, no constant alerts.
Olympians use a feature to hide recovery scores to avoid stress.
Weekly reviews reduce noise compared to daily metrics.
The goal is to use data as a tool, not let it control you.

“We view Whoop as a tool that anyone can use, not as your master.”
Will Ahmed · 80:15

#wearables#data-obsession#mental-health#self-tracking

Story· 2

Story13:30

How Being an Only Child Shaped My Entrepreneurship

Will Ahmed reflects on how being an only child influenced his self-centeredness, comfort around adults, and introspective nature—all of which helped him as a young entrepreneur. He believes these traits helped him know what he wanted and confidently pursue it.

Only children may develop stronger self-focus and self-esteem.
Spending time with adults from a young age builds social confidence.
Introspection becomes natural when you spend a lot of time alone.
These traits helped him lead Whoop despite early self-doubt.

“I do think only children are more self-centered... you believe you can go get what you want.”
Will Ahmed · 13:45

#entrepreneurship#only-child#self-awareness#personal-development

Story94:30

My Pre-Interview Ritual for Peak Performance

Will Ahmed shares his personal routine before major interviews: waking up early, winning the pillow, journaling, training moderately, and listening to music. This ritual helps him stay grounded and focused.

He avoids sleeping in to start the day with momentum.
Moderate training prevents midday crashes.
One coffee max to avoid overstimulation.
Music and routine create a sense of comfort and control.

“I want to win the pillow. It's a good name for a book.”
Will Ahmed · 94:50

#rituals#performance#productivity#mindset

Q&A· 1

Q&A17:30

How I Overcame Self-Doubt in Building Whoop

When asked how he moved past self-doubt, Will Ahmed explains that he separated belief in the product from belief in himself. His conviction that Whoop should exist in the world kept him going, even when he questioned his own capabilities.

He had more conviction in the product than in himself initially.
He realized he was building both the company and himself simultaneously.
Over time, persistence led to genuine belief—not just faking it.
He advises others to keep grinding even when uncertain.

“If you believe this thing is supposed to exist in the world... you just keep grinding until it happens.”
Will Ahmed · 21:45

#self-doubt#entrepreneur-journey#resilience#belief

Takeaway· 1

Takeaway74:00

The Hidden Cost of Being Someone You Admire

Will Ahmed warns that admiring someone’s success often ignores the personal costs behind it—like broken relationships, obsession, and sacrifice. True admiration requires understanding the full person, not just their achievements.

Athletes like Ronaldo and Michael Jordan pay a high personal price for greatness.
Their drive often comes with isolation, obsession, and emotional toll.
Fans see the wins but not the grind or pain behind the scenes.
Admiration should include awareness of the full cost.

“Most people think they would want to be me. They don't want to be me. My mind is a storm.”
Elon Musk (quoted by Will Ahmed) · 74:20

#success#sacrifice#mental-health#athletes