My 70-something-year-old father, George A. Arangio, M.D., made his stand-up comedy debut on a stage in New York City. And let me tell you, the man absolutely crushed it.

We’re talking a packed house of Ivy League alumni—1,200 people from Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Princeton, Penn, and Yale. Smart people, educated people—people who, let’s be honest, probably think they’re too sophisticated for a guy from Phillipsburg cracking jokes. But my father? He had them rolling.

It all went down in January 2019, when Dad was honored by the Ivy Football Association as Cornell University’s 2018 honoree. A former football player turned orthopedic surgeon, he walked onto that Midtown Manhattan stage, accepted the award, and delivered a speech that had the audience laughing so hard they could’ve torn an abdominal muscle—good thing there were probably a few doctors in the house.

I sat there, watching my father, this brilliant man who spent his career stitching people back together, now effortlessly stitching together punchlines. And I thought, “This guy’s got a second career in entertainment.”

They even made a short film about it, and let me tell you, it’s worth watching. It’s not every day you see a surgeon transition into a stand-up comic.

Side note: NFL Head Coaches Bill O'Brien (Houston Texans) and Jason Garrett (Dallas Cowboys) were also up on stage at the Ivy Football Association awards, looking all proud, and there’s Dad—arms crossed, nodding like a true sideline veteran, probably thinking, “Yeah, yeah, but can they fix a broken femur?”

The Sacrifices Behind the Laughter

As much fun as that night was, it was also a reminder of the sacrifices my parents made. My mom spoke about what it took to raise four kids while my dad was pulling 36-hour shifts, fixing broken bones, repairing torn ligaments, and handling whatever trauma the ER threw at him.

No complaints. Just action. Dad working at three different hospitals, Mom managing four wild kids and a home.

I remember those late-night phone calls—the ones where someone’s motorcycle accident turned into a midnight surgery. Dad would leave, operate through the night, and then head straight to the office to see patients.

Mom held everything down while he was gone. And when Dad received his award, he turned to her and said, “You deserve this just as much as I do.” He had her stand and accept what he called the "Arangio Family Lifetime Achievement Award." Because while he was in the OR, she was making sure everything else didn’t fall apart.

This moment wasn’t just about recognizing success—it was about understanding the power of teamwork, discipline, and leading by example.

How to Lead By Example

So, what can we take from this? First, let’s talk mindset.

I truly believe you are the architect of your past, present, and future. And if you want to build something worthwhile, it starts with a shift in belief—about what you can have, what you can do, and who you can become.

Your mindset is the foundation for everything. It determines how you respond to challenges, how you handle setbacks, and whether you push forward or give up. If you don’t believe you can achieve something, then guess what? You won’t. But if you truly believe that something is possible, that belief alone can push you to take action, to keep going when things get tough, and to make the changes necessary to succeed.

Think about anyone who has ever achieved greatness. Whether it's in fitness, business, sports, or life in general—none of them got there by accident. They started with a vision, a belief in their ability, and a commitment to doing the work.

Want to get in the best shape of your life? You have to believe it’s possible. Not in a vague, “maybe someday” kind of way, but in a clear, focused way that drives you to take action every single day. Want to be the best in your field? Same thing. You need to believe that you have what it takes, that you can develop the skills, and that you can make a meaningful impact.

So, what does success look like for you? Not just in fitness, but in life.

Define it. Get clear. What’s your ideal body? How do you want to feel? How do you want to show up in your relationships, your career, your daily life? What kind of impact do you want to make? Who do you want to help?

Because here’s the truth—nobody gets anywhere worth going by accident. You need a plan. And the best way to make sure you stay on track? Keep it simple. 

Simplicity Is the Secret

Complicated plans fail. Simple plans succeed. If you know what you want, you can focus on fewer things and do them better. You can eliminate distractions, prioritize what matters, and execute at a high level.

Most people fall into the trap of overcomplicating everything. They think success has to be some elaborate, multi-step process with a thousand variables. They read books, watch videos, and try to piece together 50 different strategies, but they never actually take action. Why? Because complexity breeds paralysis.

The more moving parts you introduce, the more likely you are to get stuck. The secret to success—whether it’s in fitness, business, or life—is to strip things down to their most essential elements and focus all your energy there.

It’s not about doing more. It’s about doing what actually moves you forward.

Want to lose fat and get strong? Stop overcomplicating it. Lift weights. Eat real food. Sleep. Repeat. That’s it. You don’t need a ten-step program, a magic supplement, or some exotic diet plan you read about on the internet. Just execute the basics, day in and day out, and you’ll see results.

Want to succeed in business? Identify what truly drives results and go all in on that. Too many people spend their time on tasks that don’t matter—answering emails, organizing spreadsheets, or tweaking their logo. But the truth is, if you focus on delivering value, solving problems, and consistently executing the fundamentals, success is inevitable.

And most importantly, take responsibility for your progress. Nobody’s coming to save you. Nobody’s going to do the work for you. You can have the best plan in the world, but if you don’t execute, it’s worthless.

Consistency beats perfection. Action beats analysis.

Every single day, you have a choice: make excuses or make progress. If you keep showing up, putting in the effort, and sticking to the plan, the results will follow.

So keep it simple. Cut the fluff. Focus on what matters. And most of all—do the work.

The Power of Leading By Example

If there’s one thing my father taught me, it’s this—talk is cheap. Action is everything.

The most successful people I know don’t waste time complaining. They don’t make excuses. They take ownership of their health, their work, and their lives.

And the best part? When you lead by example, you inspire others to do the same.

Think about the people in your life who need to see you succeed. Your kids. Your family. Your employees. Your clients.

You have the ability to show them what’s possible. To prove that discipline, consistency, and hard work pay off.

By the way, here are some kind words from happy clients who are also leading by example and prioritizing their health.

Are You Ready to Lead?

Look, life isn’t easy. We all have responsibilities. We all have obstacles. But you already have everything you need to win.

And I’ll be here to guide you every step of the way. My advice? Use your strength to build, not destroy. Lift people up instead of tearing them down. Because when you do that, success in every area of life follows.

You have a decision to make. How will you use your strength? I hope it’s to lead. 

If you do these two things, I promise you’ll see results:

1. Believe in what’s possible—so much so that you’re willing to go all in on becoming the best version of yourself.

2. Pursue health independence with the same focus and passion you bring to your career, your family, and your goals.

Getting in shape, growing a business, leading a family—it can feel like a lonely road. But I’m telling you right now, you don’t have to do it alone.

I’m here. To coach you, to guide you, and to remind you that you’re capable of more than you think. But it starts with you taking action. So, let’s go.

Summary

My dad, George A. Arangio, M.D., took the stage in New York City, accepted an Ivy Football Association award, and delivered a stand-up comedy routine that had 1,200 Ivy Leaguers in stitches. But behind the humor was a lifetime of hard work, sacrifice, and leadership by example. My parents built their lives on discipline, teamwork, and resilience. Their example taught me that success isn’t about luck—it’s about belief, simplicity, and taking action. If you want to lead, be the best version of yourself, and leave a legacy, it starts now. Believe, simplify, execute—and I’ll be here to help.

To your success,

Coach Joe

Joseph Arangio helps 40+ men and women get leaner, stronger, and happier. He's delivered over 100,000 transformation programs to satisfied clients around the globe. If you want to lose weight from home, with the best online age-management personal trainer, or you want to visit the best longevity personal trainer in the Lehigh Valley, you can take a free 14-day trial.