Worry and fear are feelings & thoughts based on a future where things don't go our way. We get caught in a trap when we don't practice mindfulness & being in the present. Don't let worrying about what may not even happen be what keeps you from working toward becoming a winner.   Text COMPETE to 972-945-9113 to join the morning motivation club! Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

You have 100% control on your daily focus - make sure you fine-tune it to the right things so you can keep your momentum moving forward every day. -- Text COMPETE to 972-945-9113 to join the morning motivation club! Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

Oftentimes, people look forward, wondering what opportunities might be just over the horizon, rather than seeking out connections and partnerships they have access to right now. It’s OK to take a leap into the unknown, but don’t forget to find ways of helping out those around you, too. There may be surprising opportunities that stem from those conversations, says this week’s guest, podcaster and coach Ben Newman. As soon as you finish listening to today’s show, Newman has a challenge for you. Based on your experience and relationships, what are the five phone calls you could make right now that have the potential to connect you to the future you desire? Write down the people’s names and phone numbers. When you get in touch, find out what you can do to help them — what value you can add to their mission. It’s a simple way of putting in the work today to reach your goals tomorrow. ORDER BEN'S BOOK "UNCOMMON LEADERSHIP" here. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

How do you expect to get better if you don't watch the game-tape? A powerful lesson on the importance of review, reflection, & proactively working to get better.   Text COMPETE to 972-945-9113 to join the morning motivation club! Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

Mission and motivation are both components of our journey when we choose to forsake average in the pursuit of greatness. They're both become part of our life when we decide we want to be a winner. But only one of them is required each day. Are you leaning on the right one?   Text COMPETE to 972-945-9113 to join the morning motivation club! Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

  “There is no glory in struggle,” says Nataly Kogan, Founder and CEO of Happier. Everyone faces challenges in life and has to overcome different types of adversity, but how we choose to do that can have a great impact on the outcome. This week, Kogan shares strategies for building mental and emotional fitness, and finding ways to thrive and grow, instead of just surviving. When she was 13, Kogan and her family moved to the United States from Russia as refugees. She came from a tradition where struggling was considered good, and where suffering was accepted as a necessary component of finding success. By the time she was 35, she was in the midst of burnout and needed to rethink her approach to life and work. She made the choice to focus on emotional fitness and wellbeing and has learned to reframe struggles as challenges. Now, she shares those skills with others hoping to be effective leaders and find happiness and contentment in their own lives. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

It would be great if you could magically snap your fingers and “poof,” you were gritty. Unfortunately, you can’t build it overnight, but you do have the opportunity to build it over time. In this week's episode, Jake shares one of the most important lessons & tips for how you can build your grit today. Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

Everyone is chasing excitement – but excitement isn’t the right target. We must become ok doing the boring work in order to build a future success. In this week’s episode, Jake motivates listeners with the reminder that in order to be great, you’ve got to be willing to stick with the boring. Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

  Every morning, Jessica Ream starts the day with a little, personal happy dance. She puts on a song to get her pumped and thinks: “Today is going to be a good day and we’re going to attack the day.” Other people might prefer to meditate, write in a journal, or repeat a motto to themselves. “When you start the day off like that, then (with) any challenges that arise throughout the day, you’re going to, hopefully, keep that same mindset,” she says. Ream is a mental performance consultant who has worked with the U.S. Army and now runs her own consulting business. This week, she talks about the importance of routine and the power of having a growth mindset. No matter what bumps in the road you face, you can overcome them if you frame them as challenges, rather than unsolvable problems, she says. That approach also gives you the flexibility to handle the changes that will inevitably come your way, so you can always come out stronger than you were before. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

Motivation is great to have, but relying on it is like trying to predict the weather in Texas. You simply can’t. So why do so many people believe they need motivation in order to pursue a goal or take action? In this week's episode, Jake dispels the myth of motivation and instead gives you three key components that are more important than how you feel for success. Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

Everyone fights procrastination. Average people procrastinate the meaningful work because they don’t see immediate results. Champions create a plan to overcome their procrastination so they can complete the work required to win championships. Here's how you can, too. Listen to Jake’s Get Going playlist on Spotify here. Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

The year 2020 was full of uncertainty. For Mickey Ahrens, the start of the coronavirus pandemic brought with it serious questions about what he wanted his future to look like. After being furloughed from his job, he founded Tough Minds, which seeks to help people develop mental toughness and bring mindset training programs into the home. In recent years, words like “mindfulness” have been making their way into the mainstream. But some folks may be unsure about how it applies to them or their kids. For Ahrens, building strong-minded individuals, who are self-aware and able to understand their place on a team, helps athletes learn skills they can use outside of sports, too. It’s never too late to begin learning mental toughness and resilience, he says. We can always get better if we keep moving forward, no matter what adversity comes our way. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

You won't miss opportunities if you consistently stay ready and prepare for your moment before it arrives. You don't have to get ready if you're constantly putting in the work required to stay ready. Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

If your screen time is greater than your work time, then why are you complaining about a lack of results? Get off your phone & get after the work if you want to win. Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

Not all confidence is created equal. There’s the kind you get from positive engagement on social media, for example, and the kind that’s built through learning something new, and challenging yourself to adapt to changing situations. That’s one of the key messages from this week’s guest, mental performance coach Ceci Clark. She spent years working with Army Special Operations and later, the Cleveland Indians, and says that stepping into uncomfortable moments is what makes us feel truly alive. It’s important to foster a willingness and ability to challenge yourself. That’s because life won’t always go exactly the way you hope it will, or follow the steps you’ve planned for. It often forges its own unexpected path forward, and it’s up to you to be able to learn and evolve alongside it. It’s OK to feel nervous or unsure, she says, because the most important thing is what you do with those feelings. Do you turn back or give up when things get tough? Or do you make the choice to pull yourself forward and keep going? Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

Our choices are completely independent of each other. Learn how the attitude of "Win the Next" will keep you from letting one bad choice turn into a losing streak. Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

We fail to maintain momentum toward our long-term goals when our focus is in the wrong place. It’s the same with many of our struggles. Our focus helps influence our fate. Our focus – and where we choose to place it – will determine our ability to build our grit and maintain the necessary work to achieve our long-term goals. In today’s episode, Jake shares five steps we can use to keep our focus on our long-term goals. Mentioned In This Episode: The One Thing (book) The One Thing GPS Resource (link) The One Thing “Someday Goal” sheet (link) Compete Every Day book (link) TEXT PODCAST to 972-945-9113 to receive daily motivation! Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

There are four types of managers in every company: the removed manager, the buddy manager, the controller, and the mentor. For employees, there are two characteristics that can make or break a working relationship. The first is standards. In order to grow, managers need to have expectations. But are they able to walk the walk, or just talk the talk? The second is connection. Are they able to empathize with their employees? These are some of the questions we talk about with this week’s guest, author and Undercover Millennial Clint Pulver. He’s spent the last several years interviewing employees candidly about their experiences working for different companies. The one thing that comes up again and again is it’s all about the management. As a manager, you’re the No. 1 reason employees stay or go. That’s why it’s important to understand your style and work to continually improve. Pulver says the magic happens when people become mentor managers. If you’re able to have high standards and good, empathetic connections, you can build a workplace that people won’t want to leave. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

We overvalue the importance of luck and undervalue the power of a strong, consistent work ethic. Successful people aren’t waiting on a lucky break when they could be making progress toward their goals. Luck happens – but only to those busy working to win. Order the newest LUCK shirt or tank here.   Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

The faster you think, the faster you play. This is why athletes train religiously on basic footwork & drills so that it becomes instinctive. It’s why coaches try to make complex gameplans simple to digest & execute. The more you think about something, the slower you are to act. Same goes with our life. Unless we learn to identify 3 key things, our decision-making process – and the time it takes us to get our goals – takes longer.   Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

It wasn’t a choice for Karen Cogan to stop competing in gymnastics. When a knee injury ended her athletic career, she had to find a new way to engage with sports. She decided to pursue sports psychology and for many years now, has worked with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Teams. She uses her own struggle transitioning out of athletics to inform the way she guides other athletes through the challenges of their sports careers. Something Cogan learned when she started working with Olympic athletes was that there is perhaps more disappointment and grief than you might expect. While we often see the joy and ecstasy of the gold medal win in the spotlight, there are countless athletes who compete and never see a medal. Being a high level athlete means learning how to cope with defeat and find a way to stand back up and regain confidence even when times are tough. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

  Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

  Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

Even when an outcome is unexpected, don’t forget to give yourself credit for trying to accomplish your goals in the first place. “This year has been challenging for everybody and sometimes, you have to give yourself a little bit of a break,” says Micha Shaw, mindfulness coach and retired competitive swimmer. This week, Shaw talks about the process of coming to terms with things that have happened in the past, and how mindfulness and resilience practice can better prepare you for what’s to come in the future. When Shaw moved from Alaska to California for school, it was a big change full of opportunity. She began swimming competitively and found herself facing off against poolside champs. It was intimidating at first, she says, but she soon learned not to let that get the better of her. After college, she got into open water swimming. Within two years, she’d gone from novice to nationally-ranked. But, when she competed for an Olympic spot at the world championships, she fell short. It took her a long time to understand that experience and now, she helps others learn to focus on the process, rather than just the outcome, and appreciate the little things along the way. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

One of the most requested questions we get from listeners is, “how can I be more consistent?” We understand that in order to succeed, we need to be disciplined and consistent in our work, workouts, & life. We also know that distractions abound and it’s easy to get off-track. In this week’s episode, Jake dives into one of the best things you can do in order to increase your ability to be consistent in the pursuit of your victory. -- Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

The shortcut isn't actually a shorter path. Discover why the challenging, longer road is actually the better one for your pursuit.   Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

The solution that’s right for you might be different from one that works for someone else. Approaching problems and challenges at an individual level is what New York Mets Mental Performance Coach Samantha Gilmore does every day. This week, she shares tips for building self-awareness and learning to identify what makes you tick, so you can develop a plan for utilizing your strengths to overcome challenges both on and off the field. Even the most experienced players know when to ask for help, whether it’s to develop their physical skills or get some mental performance coaching. Regardless of if you’re an athlete or not, it’s important to use all of the tools you have at your disposal to craft your path to success. By learning to understand your own thought processes, you can define your baseline, and then use your past performances to shape a strategy and solution that’s right for you. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

In this important episode, Jake details his own struggle of tying his identity to what he did and why Champions understand that who they are is much bigger than what they play or do. If you're a high-achiever, this is a MUST-LISTEN episode. *Note - this episode contains explicit language. Jake went on a rant.   Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

Learn ways to maintain your motivation for months at a time and how to overcome the top 3 reasons people lose motivation. *Note - this episode contains explicit language. Jake went on a rant.   Join Competitor Nation by clicking here. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST. Connect with the show on: Instagram Twitter Facebook YouTube Connect with Jake on: Instagram Twitter Click here to hire Jake to speak at your next event!

For Mike Deegan, the move back to coaching from the corporate world just made sense. His instincts told him he needed to return to education and spend his time serving others. He’s spent the last two decades coaching collegiate baseball, and has watched his teams take three national championships. Over the last six years, he’s also written a book and become a high performance speaker, writer, and coach on the side. This week, Deegan shares tips for building strong teams and says sometimes, you just have to follow your gut. Currently, his team follows a set of pillars — or core values — that they believe help them succeed as individuals and as a whole. Those include practicing gratitude, seeking continuous improvement, and celebrating other people’s wins. By learning to push yourself hard and find joy in recognizing that others are doing the same, you can gain self-awareness and encourage it in others. Ultimately, that creates a culture of always striving for more and being willing to put in the work to get there. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

You can't build a stronger, winning mindset if you constantly consume crap via the news, social media, & gossip. Be better about what you consume so you can better control what you put out. You build a more optimistic, resilient mindset by controlling what you put into it. 1. Join Competitor Nation here. 2. Save 15% OFF any order at CompeteEveryDay.com with code PODCAST 3. Build your winning mindset every morning by joining TheDailyCompetitor.com

One of the biggest traps leaders face is the busy trap. We’re constantly busy working on projects, helping our team, and going going going, but we rarely are calling a timeout to make sure that what we’re busy with is helping make the company or team better. We must exercise better control of our day in order to effectively compete for the goals we want to reach. Besides, who wants to always be busy spinning your tires in place when you could be racing that nice car around the track? Learn five things I started doing to intentionally be more effective in my endeavors - and how you can too.

For Brian Kight, unflinching realism and relentless optimism are like the two rails of a train track. Without either one, the train can’t move forward. For some people, taking a long, hard look at realism is a challenge. For others, it’s easy to get stuck in the rut of pessimism. But while many may feel these forces are in opposition, Kight says the ability to be realistic and optimistic helps you cut through excuses and take control of the decisions you make. They are also two of the core principles of the DMGB mindset, which stands for “Doesn’t Matter, Get Better.” Regardless of what challenges you face, or how motivated you are or aren’t, you can make the choice to bring your best every day. It’s not about following your passion, Kight says, it’s about bringing your passion with you to everything you do. You have the power to hold yourself to the same high standards no matter what the task at hand is, and use your energy day in and day out. By making the right choices and holding yourself accountable, you can build the discipline you need to bring value to your work. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

Too often we're distracted looking for one major moment instead of the tiny ones that actually make the difference. Personal touch. Small steps. The little choices that every day compound to create big results. Focus on how you can win the small things in order to seize the big things later. Leave us a rating: http://bit.ly/cedonitunes 🔥 Join Competitor Nation: http://CompetitorNation.com Support Compete Every Day by picking up some Merch: https://CompeteEveryDay.com 

Don't let the pursuit of that goal keep you from making time to identify who you want to become - and doing the necessary work to forge yourself into them.

For Alex Auerbach, it’s all about the people. As the director of wellness and development for the Toronto Raptors, Auerbach spends his days building a strong workplace culture and supporting resilience and mental performance among players, coaches, and staff. Being able to make a tangible difference in people’s lives has always been appealing to him, he says. By helping those he works with develop the skills and tools they need to be successful in both sports and life, he’s able to follow his passion daily. Looking back on the different organizations he’s worked with over the years, the one thing each and every one of the successful teams had in common was that they took a people-centered approach. It’s important to spend time getting to know the people you’re working with, Auerbach says. While it’s natural to enter into professional and personal relationships with goals in mind, it’s critical to set those aside and co-create a relationship that’s beneficial to all. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

Jake Thompson shares four key steps to better utilizing social media as a tool to learn, consume, & create in order to make better impacts.

What does your team notice first? It's important as a leader to understand how your actions tell a bigger story than your verbal orders ever could.

Brett Price knows the importance of sticking with something he’s passionate about. From the time he was a student himself, he’s known he wanted to work in baseball. So, he found the best people to learn from and worked his way up to becoming the strength and conditioning coach for the baseball program at the University of Alabama. Now, he passes along the lessons he’s learned to the students he works with both on and off the field. It’s important to create a culture of dedication on a team and that comes from having standards, Price says. He defines a standard as what is required of a person regardless of how they feel on any particular day. By letting his players know that the best is expected from them every day, from the moment they walk in the door, they understand their commitment to the team is important. And by using a top-down approach and modeling that behavior for them, his players understand that he cares about them and is willing to do what it takes to help them succeed. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

“One day I’m gonna...”⁣ ⁣ Too many people talk & post about what they’ll do “one day.”⁣ ⁣ Can the results of the work you’ve put in tell the story of you?⁣ ⁣ Talk is cheap. Social media isn’t always reality. We need more people to BE about the work so that their results speak for them.

Learn the six steps to investing in your team & helping them build a Competitor Mindset this year.

Sebastian Little says his life’s purpose is to create spaces for full self-expression and play. Understanding what makes individuals tick and how to use those motivations in service of their larger goals is a key component of his current work as a mental performance coach. This week, he shares his thoughts on the responsibility of leadership and the importance of giving yourself time and space to reflect on important moments in your life. Over the years, Little has had to learn to synthesize his environment -- to take in all the stimuli and information -- and then consolidate the pieces that are actually important. From there, it’s possible to discard the things that are holding him back. It’s been a long road to learn how and why this process is important, and has taken moments of deeply personal reflection. But now, he shares his journey with others in the hopes of helping them find their own path forward. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

We all want the glory and awards that come with success, but unless you're focused on building your block of ice where no one is watching, you'll never shine where everyone is. 

Leaders set the tone, energy, & standard for others so they have a benchmark with which to rise up to.

There are three things that always hold true for teams: they all struggle, they all have untapped talent, and most of them haven’t defined their success. That’s where Maureen Monte steps in. With a background in corporate team building and a commitment to seeing young athletes succeed, she has found her place helping others reach their full potential. This week, she talks about leadership and team development and shares tips for finding success in sports, work, and everyday life. Monte has dedicated her life to facilitating these types of conversations among young athletes and employees alike. But while sports teams, especially, might define success as winning a particular championship or game, that’s not what defines the word for Monte herself. “I want them to win at the long game of life,” she says. She hopes the skills they learn now will serve them well whether they pursue athletics, the corporate world, or college down the line. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!

The harder you work today, the more opportunities you'll be able to win tomorrow.

We're celebrating Christmas with a special episode about the most important gift you can give heading into 2021.

For Dartmouth Coach Spencer Brown, it comes down to owning your results. As both player and coach, you have the choice to put in whatever effort you can to build a strong framework for success. It doesn’t matter how tired you are, or if you’re facing a challenge in your life, so long as when you’re at practice or in a game, you try your best. In this week’s episode, Brown talks about leadership qualities, personal empowerment, and making competition fun, both in sports and in everyday life. Being a coach is about more than just the short time you see your players every day, he says. It’s about instilling values in them and empowering them to make good choices on their own time from morning until night. If they can learn positive habits and decision-making skills in sports, they can carry those forward into their future relationships and pursuits. No detail is too small to ignore, he says. From warm-up to the end of practice, and even the moments they spend at home, every minute counts. Support the show by using code PODCAST for 15% off at CompeteEveryDay.com!