Nick HutchisonFounder and CEO, BookThinkers

Choose body over mind! With Nick Bare

20 Oct 2022 · 2 min

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1:31

In this interview segment, Nick Hutchison and Speaker B discuss the transformative lesson of prioritizing the body over the mind, a shift Hutchison experienced during his grueling 61‑day Ranger School training that extended to 145 days after two phase failures. He recounts losing 35 pounds, enduring extreme physical stress, and how the experience rewired his mental approach. Hutchison connects this mindset to his preparation for the 100‑mile Leadville race, emphasizing that while the body may signal fatigue, the mind can drive continued effort. He extends the analogy to business, arguing that personal fitness—through proper nutrition, hydration, and regular exercise—directly influences mental clarity, energy levels, and leadership presence, which in turn shapes company culture. When he enters the office energized after a run, his positivity cascades to the team; when he is tired, the fatigue spreads. The conversation frames physical resilience as a leadership responsibility and a catalyst for a high‑energy workplace.

Chapters

And one of my biggest takeaways on the physical side was the difference between mind over body versus body over mind. And that was a huge breakthrough for you, it sounds like.
Yeah. And I learned that really through the Ranger School. Like Ranger School for me was this experience where it's a 61-day course and I thought I was going to go straight through and it was gonna be hard. Failed 2 phases, which put me there for 145 days. I lost like 35 pounds. I went in looking one way, came out looking another way. Well, my mind completely shifted and changed during that experience. And it's one of those things that your mind changes and shifts after the experience, but even more years afterwards when you keep reflecting on things that you experienced or were challenged mentally and physically with. I believe that going to this 100-mile race in Leadville, Colorado, it's like, I know my body at some point is going to say stop, but mentally it's like, we'll just keep driving the bus. Same in business. Like, at some point in business you're gonna think, oh man, I'm tired. But it's your responsibility to take care of yourself. And that's why fitness is so important for me from a business side, is if I take care of myself with nutrition and proper hydration, if I feel good, my mind is more clear, my The energy is higher in the office, which completely shifts the culture here. I know that if I come in here and I'm tired, that trickles down and everyone's affected in this building by it. But if I come in here high off life after a 10-mile run and my energy's high and I'm feeling good and I last the whole day and I train with the team in the evening, everyone feeds off that. So it's also a leadership responsibility. And I believe that your mind is so powerful that it has to drive your physical being.