This week’s play wasn’t flashy.
No new gadget.
No new protocol.
No AI prompt engineered to perfection.

It was this:

I hired a coach to help me reach my pull-up goal this year.

His name is Dr. Carmine Felice, owner of The Performance Lab.

Over the years, Carm has helped my family, my clients, and me stay injury-free while working alongside leaders in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and sport science from around the world.

So why did I decide to hire him?

Because Knowing Isn’t the Problem

I know how to work toward pull-ups.
I know the progressions.
I know the cues.

I could Google a program, ask AI for a plan, or design one myself in five minutes flat.

And yet… I didn’t.

Because here’s what I know for sure as a health coach and behaviour-change nerd:

Information doesn’t create change. Accountability does.

AI is brilliant at answers.
It’s terrible at follow-through.

It doesn’t watch your form when you’re tired.
It doesn’t notice when you subtly avoid the hard rep.
It doesn’t ask, “What got in the way this week?”
And it definitely doesn’t raise an eyebrow when you say, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

An accountability partner or coach does.

And that’s the difference.

AI gives answers. Accountability gives outcomes.

Why Accountability Actually Works Better Than AI

Real change doesn’t happen in the knowing.

It happens in the showing up, especially when motivation dips, confidence wobbles, or life gets busy.

And there’s data to back this up.

Research consistently shows that accountability to another human dramatically increases follow-through.

A widely cited benchmark from the American Society of Training and Development found that people are far more likely to achieve goals once they commit to another person.

And that ongoing check-ins multiply success rates compared to going it alone.

Which makes total sense.

We don’t fail because we don’t know what to do.
We struggle because change is emotional, contextual, and human.

And humans change best with other humans in the room.

Accountability Works Because:

• Someone sees you

• Someone expects you

• Someone helps you adjust instead of quit

That’s not willpower.
That’s support.

As a coach, I see this every day.
As a human, I need it too.

The Takeaway

So yes—AI is an incredible tool.

But when it comes to lasting behaviour change?

✨ Humans > algorithms
✨ Relationships > recommendations
✨ Accountability > information

This week, my pull-ups got better.
But more importantly, my belief was reinforced:

You don’t need more knowledge. You need the right kind of help.

And sometimes…the most powerful play is asking for it.

Play on!

Your coach and friend,

Jan xo