Integrating and applying elite sports coaching to your line of work
We work with people who take full accountability for every success and failure.
The people we work with are fighters not victims. It is essential to have clarity about who you are and who you want to be.
Have the audacity to ask for what you want instead of hoping someone offers it.
How badly do you want it and what are you willing to give-up? How much are you willing to suffer for it?
Your attitude is essential because attitude trumps talent. Attitude can be improved every single day. It shows itself in your tone of voice, your language (choice of words), your body language and in your overall energy and enthusiasm.
Your attitude is a choice and a discipline - learn it, master it, overcome challenges.
You won't win with brilliance, you will win with endurance. Endurance is grit and grit is fit - it has to be sustainable and enjoyable to maintain. You want to be able to keep going when others have stopped.
We only work with pros.
A pro commits to moving beyond amateur habits of procrastination, self-doubt and distraction. As Steven Pressfield argues, a pro moves past Resistance (a universal internal force that opposes ambition and progress). A pro shows up every day, perseveres regardless of feelings and does the work.
We work on:
Inner game - Peak performance is a function of a still mind.
A focussed mind is a quiet mind. The mind is kept in the present, becomes calm and non-judgemental.
According to Timothy Gallwey you are working with two selves - Self 1, the 'teller' who uses language, analyses and judges and Self 2 who is the non-verbal genius whom you need to learn to trust.
Let Self 1 create a clear mental picture of your desired outcome (who you want to be) and leave the execution to Self 2. Your disciplined practice results in knowledge and instincts which you can trust.
When you quiet your 'judge' and drop self-critical thoughts that are not productive you can drop into a focussed state. You are open to new information, new perspectives and can react without your emotions interfering. Your attitude includes being fully present in the moment, authentic in expression and maintaining an internal focus regardless of external circumstances. You perform with confidence and clarity.
Adversity - is a source of inspiration. You come off an injury or a loss better than when you went down.
Keep a growth mindset - embrace challenges as opportunities for improvement. Josh Waitzkin likens fixed-mindset learners to "anorexic hermit crabs," clinging to safe mediocrity rather than risking growth by stepping into new challenges. True mastery begins with adopting a growth mindset—embracing discomfort, failure, and imperfection as essential parts of progress.
Avoid downward spirals by being present with what is. Waitzkin talks of 'cultivated resilience' which is where you are at peace with the noise, where you are at peace with discomfort. You find your inner focus and are prepared for imperfection.
Emotional awareness - explore how emotions influence your performance and then use them for your benefit. Identify which emotional states lead to your best results.
According to Tim Grover every individual has a personal dark side. It's the part of you that is willing to go farther than others. It's ugly and isn't polite. Once you understand it fully it becomes a deeply personal and powerful internal force that fuels relentless drive, focus and mental toughness.
Reframing discomfort - You learn to stay in discomfort because the only way is through it. Discomfort is a signal of growth and the capacity to tolerate discomfort gives you an edge. Discipline often requires embracing discomfort. Jocko Willink talks about discomfort being an inevitable and respected companion on your path to excellence which eventually leads to freedom.
Energy management - Align your effort with your values. Make sure you know what the point of every interaction and activity is (it can be very simple - have fun with girlfriends, learn a new skill) and decide if it makes the cut (will it make me better). Everything you do is to serve your purpose.
Tools - Triggers, alter egos, cookie jars
Cultivate triggers through routine. Shrink the routine to its essence so you can pull up a state quickly.
A simple inhalation can trigger a state of tremendous alertness.
Gary Kasparov pretended to feel confident to trigger the state of confidence.
Kobe Bryant’s “Black Mamba” persona is an alter ego he created to separate his intense, competitive mindset on the basketball court from his personal life. The nickname “Black Mamba” was inspired by the venomous snake known for its agility, speed, precision, and lethal strike—qualities Kobe aimed to embody in his game. Playing the Halloween Theme was a deliberate ritual that reinforced his transformation into the Mamba.
David Goggins uses a cookie jar. Every single failure and every single success of your life is in that cookie jar. When times get rough, you are stressed and you forget how tough you are. That's when you go get something from the cookie jar - it reminds you how strong you really are in times of need.
Recovery periods - use them wisely. Cultivate your ability to relax in brief moments of inactivity. Do not fear not getting back into the zone. Use triggers for recovery and for getting back into the zone.
The better we are at recovery, the greater our potential to endure and perform under stress. Michael Jordan had the fastest recovery time of any athlete.
To summarise - It is all about layering. Your core and your base are your values. You layer on physical conditioning, mental discipline (attitude, mindset, focus), nutrition, recovery and build a strong foundation which allows you to become who you want to be.
Book sources:
The Inner Game of Tennis - W. Timothy Gallwey
The Art of War - Steven Pressfield
The Art of Learning - Josh Waitzkin
Relentless - Tim Grover
Winning - Tim Grover