To all of you who’ve given yourselves to something important:

I don't know what circumstances you're facing today.

The challenges you're up against or the setbacks weighing on you.

But I know this: for 99% of us, it's way too early to become pessimistic.

Setbacks can feel permanent.

And this acute problem can easily feel like destiny, especially if you stare at it too long.

But pessimism ISN'T the way.

OPTIMISM is.

Now, I'm not talking about blind hope.

Optimism truly is the best way forward.

The optimist...

It was never about motivation.
It’s about the choice you make.

You don’t want to go on that run.
You don’t want to coach another practice.
You don’t want to have that hard conversation.

It’s not about wanting to or not wanting to.
It’s about choosing to anyway. 

Motivation eventually hits…
A mile or two into the run.
Four periods into the practice.
Halfway through the hard conversation.

Stop waiting for motivation.

Act anyway.
Motivation will come.

The night before a big game, I like to walk teams through a simple visualization of their gameday schedule.

Wake-up. Breakfast. Position meetings. Walk-through. The bus ride to the stadium. Getting taped. Getting dressed. Warmups. Kickoff.

I tell them to see it all in their minds eye. Every moment. Each conversation. The whole thing.

And once we finish? I invite them to do it again.
Same schedule. Same bus ride. Same warmups.

But this time, I ask them to imagine themselves showing up...

With...

One standard I set with many of my clients:
Don’t look yourself up on social media.
Especially in-season.

Why? A few reasons.

First, ‘fan’ is short for fanatic.
Everyone posting about your performance is, by definition, a fan.
That doesn’t mean they’re qualified. It means they’re emotional.

Second, not all commentary is worth your attention.
Cynicism often passes for insight.
But don’t fall for it.

There’s a big difference between feedback and fear.
Between a real critique
And someone hoping you’ll fold.

It ...

AI may be the future.
But it's not how we move forward.

AI can plan your workout.
Write your outline.
Track your progress.

But sending the hard email?
Picking up the phone to apologize?
Getting back up after the loss and trying again tomorrow?

Trusting your gut. Honoring that deep desire. Risk looking foolish. Holding hope without proof.
I could go on…

These don't compute.
But they're what make us human.
And for most of us,
They're the only way forward.

What will you do today that makes no sense to...

I had coffee with my younger self this week.

He ordered a vanilla latte.
I ordered a coffee with light cream.

I asked him how things were going.
He lied and said everything was good.
Said he liked the work he was doing.
Said he could see himself doing it forever.

I told him a time would come soon,
When he’d be really honest with himself.
When he'd feel it: this season is over.
He’ll be scared to admit it. But he’ll know.

He asked, But what will I do?
How will any of this translate to something else?...

A few years ago, I worked with a football coach who did this brilliant thing.

His position group had 14 guys. Only 4 starting spots.
One week before the first game, he began a ritual.

One by one, he called guys up to the whiteboard and asked each to write their starting four—from their point of view.

Then he’d ask the room: “Anyone want to make a change?”

Once there was consensus, he’d write his own starting four.
Sometimes it matched. Sometimes it didn’t.
And they did this every single week for the ...