NEWSLETTER & ARTICLES
ARTICLES Archive
Earlier this week, my friend Mike shared a blog post from a strength coach named Ross Enamait illustrating how it doesn’t take much in the form of equipment to get strong. Ross demonstrates how you can progressively stress your entire body to…
Walk up to a college or even high school track coach and ask, “Do you think 8 x 160 meter near-maximal sprints with only 10 seconds rest is a good workout?” They will laugh you right off the track. They…
Control is often an illusion. Yet most people, myself included (times a million), have a hard time releasing from it. We like to think we have more of a handle on things than we actually do. This kind of habitual…
Overriding Fear on the Playing Field and During Election Season Illegal immigrants. Walls. Abortion. Nuclear disaster. Taking away your guns, your rights, your healthcare. Republican or Democrat, moderate or radical, these messages come screaming across our televisions, computers, and phones.…
Whenever we see or experience something that challenges our expectations, we search for a reason. How did I accomplish that feat or why did this happen to me? In this weekend’s marathons extravaganza highlighted by Eliud Kipchoge breaking two hours…
I like to think of our innermost essence as a blank canvas. It’s the part of us that lies underneath everything we see, say, think, feel, or do. Meditation teachers call this basic nature awareness. Scientists call it consciousness. It’s…
“If other people could hear my inner dialogue during competition, they’d think I was certifiably crazy.” That refrain is one I’ve heard from countless people, regardless of the sport or activity they are pursuing. Our self-talk can be a strange…
Sometimes the best thing you can do is get out of your own way. I like to think about this as transitioning from making it happen to letting it happen—whatever the proverbial “it” may be. Making it happen, or pushing…
In the summer of 2019, I began to notice a concerning trend among my coaching clients—high-ranking executives, successful entrepreneurs, physician leaders, and elite athletes. Whereas I used to spend most of my time with them discussing high-performance habits and routines,…
I did my first real workout in years this past weekend. It was not impressive. It was “slow” by all measures of my past performance as an elite runner. And it hurt. A lot. The workout: four times three minutes…
The space between stimulus and response is an important one. Philosophers have said it is in this space that our freedom lies. When something unexpected happens—for example, an accident, a pandemic, a competitor acting unpredictably, and so on—people generally go down…
In the 1960s, two intrepid researchers took their subjects and injected them with adrenaline. They saw the typical physiological effects: an increased heart rate and an increase in tremors or “jitteriness” from the participants. All to be expected. Next, the researchers…
Innovation is one of those buzz words that conference speakers and charismatic CEO types shout from the rooftop. “Innovate! Be on the cutting edge!” These are well-worn refrains, meant to somehow nudge workers or clients into doing something different or…
What does it take to be the best in your endeavor? An extreme work ethic and dedication? Ability to handle pressure? Grit? Determination? Internal Motivation? Resilience? A growth mindset? Strength? Intelligence? These are just a few characteristics that great…
Over 53 million people watched last weekend’s NFL playoff games. Tony Romo was one of those. Situated in the TV booth, Romo was providing color commentary for the viewer’s enjoyment at home. In theory, we were watching the same game.…
Essential Reading
What is The Growth Equation—and Why You Should Pay Attention.
Redefining Success So It Doesn’t Crush Your Soul.
We've Reached Peak Wellness—Most of it is Nonsense; Here's What Actually Works.
When a Stress Expert Battles Mental Illness.
The Best Routine, According to Science.
Performance, Health, and Well-being are Contagious.
Practicing the Mastery Mindset, a Path to Long-Term Progress.
Consistently Good Enough Beats Occasionally Great.
We Make Fitness Way Too Complex and That is Dumb.
Languishing and the Art of Showing Up.
Quit Being So Hard On Yourself: Self-Compassion and Peak Performance.
The Key to Sticking to An Exercise Program? It’s Supposed to Feel Easy!
How To Build High-Performance Habits.