I would say 90 percent of the stuff we do is technical anyway. If

Host: The evening light falls softly across the room, casting long shadows on the floor as the world outside begins to settle into quiet. Jeeny sits at the table, a notebook open in front of her, but her mind is clearly elsewhere, lost in thought. Jack leans against the window, arms crossed, his gaze far off as he looks at the street below. The silence between them feels natural, but there’s an undercurrent of anticipation, as if the conversation is just waiting to unfold.

Jeeny: (her voice soft, but with a hint of curiosity) “You ever think about how much of what we do every day is really just about the technical side of things? I mean, the hours we put in, the effort—how much of it is really about the core work versus the little details?”

Jack: (glancing over at her, his voice dry, but intrigued) “What do you mean? You talking about work or something else?”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, her eyes focused on the thought forming in her mind) “I was reading something Ashton Eaton said. He mentioned, ‘I would say 90 percent of the stuff we do is technical anyway. If you look at a two-hour training day, 12 minutes are probably spent running or gaining fitness.’ It made me think about how much time we spend focusing on the basics, on the technical side of our efforts, and how little of it is really about the outcome we’re chasing.”

Jack: (pauses for a moment, his brow furrowing as he processes her words) “So, he’s saying that the real work, the thing that actually makes a difference, is a small part of the whole process? That most of it is the technical stuff, the things you have to do to build up to the goal?”

Jeeny: (nodding, her voice steady but gaining momentum as she reflects on the idea) “Yes, exactly. The bulk of the work is in the small, technical things that don’t seem important in the moment but are essential to getting to where you want to be. The fitness, the training, the foundation—it’s all the repetitive stuff, the stuff that doesn’t get the applause, but without it, nothing else works. And the same is true in other areas of life. We often focus so much on the end result that we forget the details, the daily grind, the little steps that actually get us there.”

Host: The room seems to settle with the weight of Jeeny’s words, and Jack remains still, his gaze shifting toward the window once more, clearly processing the idea. The world outside continues its quiet rhythm, but inside, the conversation feels more rooted, grounded in the realization that success isn’t always about the big, flashy moments. It’s about the small, consistent actions that build the foundation for something bigger.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, more thoughtful) “So, you’re saying the real work is in the process, not just the end result. The effort that goes into the little things is what adds up to the bigger goal. It’s the technical side, the details that build the foundation, even if they’re not the part people notice.”

Jeeny: (smiling gently, her eyes bright with understanding) “Exactly. And it’s easy to forget that, right? We’re so focused on what we want to achieve, the result, that we don’t give enough credit to the small, necessary steps that get us there. The truth is, the biggest achievements come from the smallest, most technical efforts.”

Jack: (pauses, his voice almost reflective, as though coming to a deeper understanding) “It’s funny, because we always talk about the successes, but we rarely talk about the invisible work that actually makes those successes possible. The hours spent behind the scenes, the technical stuff that no one sees but is essential to everything.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly, her voice calm and assured) “Exactly. The invisible work is often what makes the biggest impact. It’s the foundation that holds everything together, even if it’s not glamorous. Whether it’s in training, in a job, in life—success comes from those quiet moments where you’re putting in the work, step by step.”

Host: The room feels quieter now, as though the conversation has settled into a deeper understanding. Jack stands still, his posture a little softer, his mind clearly processing the weight of what Jeeny has said. Outside, the world continues its steady rhythm, but inside, there’s a shared understanding that it’s not always the loudest moments that matter most. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, consistent actions that create lasting success.

Jack: (his voice milder, with a slight shift in tone, as if the realization has clicked) “I get it now. It’s not just about the flashy stuff, the big moments. It’s the daily grind, the small, technical efforts that add up. That’s where the real progress happens.”

Jeeny: (smiling warmly, her eyes shining with quiet satisfaction) “Exactly. And when we focus on those small moments, we realize that the journey is just as important as the destination. The little things, the technical work—they’re the foundation for everything.”

Host: The room grows still as the conversation lingers in the air. The realization that success is built on the smallest actions, the often invisible efforts, has settled between them. The world outside continues, but inside, there’s a new clarity—that the path to achieving anything meaningful is often paved with the technical, consistent work that no one else sees. And it’s in that work that the real progress is made.