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Confessions from the Forge: When the Iron Bison Succumbs to Toxic Productivity
The founder of Iron Bison Resilience admits to falling into the trap of "toxic productivity," often neglecting his "Rest and Reduce" rule in favor of overworking. This candid reflection emphasizes that the program's tools are designed to help members assess and adjust their habits during struggles rather than demand perfection
Thomas E Gripp
3/1/20262 min read
I am writing this as I sit in my office, the sound of the keyboard rattling away filling the room. I’m rolling out blog posts, drafting social media content, outlining my next book, and negotiating with AI to help me create illustrations. I am in the zone. The mission is driving me.
But I have a confession to make.
I am the man who founded Iron Bison Resilience. I developed the Iron Bison Resilience "forge tools" to help us survive and thrive. Yet, as I type this, I have to admit: I don’t always use those tools the way I should.
The Trap of "Toxic Productivity"
We just passed that point in the year when most people have already abandoned their New Year’s resolutions. You know the saying: "New Year, New You... becomes Another March, Same You."
I’m looking at myself in the mirror this March, and I see the trap I’ve fallen into. I roll into work an hour and a half to two hours early, just so I can leave early... to go home and work some more. I tell myself it’s passion, but if I’m honest, it’s Toxic Productivity.
Toxic Productivity is the drive to be so productive that you risk your health and jeopardize your immune system. It makes you prone to mistakes and irritability. And, if you are like me and live with chronic pain, it means you cope less and hurt more.
Ignoring Rule #7
One of the core rules I teach is Rule #7: Rest and Reduce. I know the science. I know that if I get more rest, I will be less stressed and physically hurt less.
But I’m not doing it.
I take 30 seconds throughout the day to "clear the mechanism," taking a couple of deep breaths to attempt to relax my physiology. I occasionally give myself 15 to 30 minutes to do the same. But 8 hours of sleep? That rarely happens, aside from possibly a Saturday morning.
Like so many others in Public Safety, I don’t always do what is best for myself (we won't even discuss my eating habits right now). I track well on weekends—unless I stay up until midnight editing and creating. I am ignoring the very advice I give to others: that attempting to "power through" without maintenance is a setup for failure.
The Iron Bison Herd is Not for the Perfect
So, why do I confess this? Why tell you that the founder of the plan is struggling to follow his own rules?
Because you don’t have to be perfect to be a member of the Iron Bison Herd.
The forging tools are just that—tools. They are not commandments or laws. They are tools to help us forge coping skills to thrive in the face of challenges.
When you struggle, you don't give up; you change your habits. When you hurt, you assess. You figure out which tool you are not using correctly, and you put it back to use.
Right now, I am assessing. I realize that Hard Things are Worth Doing, but sometimes the "hard thing" is actually forcing yourself to stop, close the laptop, and get some sleep.
If you are hurting today or feel like you've failed your resolutions, you aren't out of the fight. Just reach for the tools again. I’ll be right there with you—starting with trying to get more than a few hours of sleep tonight.
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