Steak Knife vs. Butter Knife

This weekend HPLT took over Montauk with an exclusive Micro Summit hosted at Surf Lodge. When I say take over, I mean cars were rubbernecking like aliens had touched down on Old Montauk Highway. Maybe it was the highly anticipated new release from Defender, The Octa, pulling up to Kirk Park Beach for our Navy SEAL activation led by the incredible Kaj Larsen. Or maybe it was the sight of 35 of the fittest humans around hammering out a 10K in Aion Thermogenic Weight Vests.

This marked our 21st Summit to date—and now, in partnership with our parent company Life Time, it’s clear: there’s a tidal wave of high performers hungry to sharpen their tools, elevate their circle, and grow relentlessly.

As I sat back watching our members connect, push, and show up for each other, a truth I’ve long believed was fully validated:

There’s a difference between surrounding yourself with Butter Knives vs. Steak Knives.

Butter Knives are dull. They’re comfortable. They spread things thin and safe. Steak Knives? They cut. They sharpen. They challenge everything soft in you.

But…

There’s a place for butter knife people in your life. They’re safe. They’re soft. They spread things around and keep the surface smooth. And that’s fine—for the basics. For comfort. For small talk and surface-level friendships.

But if you’re trying to cut through life’s challenges, if you’re trying to level up and carve out a path that nobody else can, a butter knife isn’t going to cut it—literally or figuratively.

You need steak knife people around you.

People who are sharp. Precise. Uncomfortable at times. They challenge you. Push back. Demand more. They’re built to cut through the tough stuff—not to glide over it.

Here’s the truth:

You’ll never cut through the thick, raw parts of your potential with butter knives in your circle. Comfort doesn’t sharpen you. Pressure does.

So ask yourself:

Who in your life is sharpening you like a steak knife?

And who is just spreading you thinner like a butter knife?

If you want to stay the same, stick with butter knife people.

If you want to level up, surround yourself with steak knives.

And here’s the kicker—when you choose Steak Knives, you stop tolerating average. You don’t gossip. You don’t coast. You don’t blend in.

You elevate, get uncomfortable, and grow with people who refuse to let you be anything less than elite.

Montauk wasn’t just another summit—it was a signal to the world that this movement is only getting stronger. And trust me…

We’re just getting started, and the LT Games in October will have a $5,000.00 purse for the fittest HPLT MEMBER!

From the Founder, Brian Mazza 7/28