“Success is not continuous. It is momentary. As soon as we start relaxing, we create a blatant disregard for the very things that got us here. Human nature is to survive, not to be great. That’s why complacency is the biggest challenge you’ll ever face.” - Nick Saban

I talk with managers, coaches, athletes, and executives all the time. They tell me their dreams, but I always ask them to look at their habits. Because you can’t get anywhere if your actions don't match your words.

Your habits are the truth. Not your words. Not your intentions. Not what you post on social media about your goals. Your habits are the mirror that doesn't lie. And if your habits don't match your dreams, one of them has to change.

Most people lie to themselves about their commitment level. They say they want greatness while living as though average is good enough. They talk about championships while cutting corners nobody sees. They claim big dreams while choosing small habits. The gap between what they say and what they do is massive, and they pretend not to notice.

Ask yourself:

You can't have championship dreams with average habits. Either elevate your habits to match your goals, or lower your expectations to match your effort. But stop lying to yourself about what you really want. Because keeping both while they contradict each other is the one lie you can't afford to keep telling.

Real confidence isn't about feeling good - it’s about feeling certain about your capabilities.

The most common mistake people make about confidence is thinking it's a feeling you can manufacture. They try to "fake it till you make it" or psych themselves up with positive self-talk. But confident people know something different: they don't over-index on confidence, they index on competence.

Confident people focus on building skill, not just feeling good about themselves. You can't fake your way to real confidence. It comes from knowing you've put in the work and have the ability to back it up. Confident people practice, prepare, and get better every day, knowing that competence creates unshakeable confidence.

This is why elite performers can walk into high-pressure situations with quiet confidence. They are able to adapt and they know they've earned that confidence through thousands of hours of preparation. They don't need to convince themselves they're ready because they know they are. Their confidence isn't based on hope or optimism, it's based on evidence.

The research backs this up: Studies on self-efficacy show that confidence built on actual achievement is more stable and reliable than confidence built on positive thinking alone. When you know you can do something because you've done it before or you've prepared so thoroughly that you're ready for any scenario - that's when real confidence emerges.

Competence is the foundation. Confidence is the byproduct. Get that order right and everything changes.

👉 Inside Premium this week, I break down all 11 things confident people never do - the subtle behaviors that separate real confidence from arrogance and the exact framework for building unshakeable self-assurance. → Upgrade today

These insights on building a winning culture come from Bill Walsh and The Score Takes Care of Itself. A must-read for all leaders, coaches, and managers out there.

Bill Walsh understood something most leaders miss: culture isn't created by motivational speeches or mission statements hanging on walls. It changes when you establish a standard of performance and commit to that standard. Your culture lays the foundation for the organization and the team. It's in the details, actions, and attitudes that you start to change the culture.

Walsh's six guidelines work because they're comprehensive - they address every layer of what makes a team function at the highest level. From alignment to accountability, from communication to connection, these principles create both the structure and the soul of championship organizations.

What makes Walsh's approach powerful is that it acknowledges the reality of culture change: it takes time. You can't mandate culture into existence. You can't force people to buy in through authority alone. Culture emerges through consistent actions, clear expectations, and leaders who model what they demand from others.

The final quote says it all: "His leadership example of doing your job, treating others with respect, expecting people to do their jobs, and holding them accountable is a formula for success that will work in any good organization."

For coaches and leaders:

For athletes and performers:

All of these posts and more are in the Coaching Vault.

What I am reading and listening to:

📚 Book: The Confident Athlete: 4 Easy Steps to Build and Maintain Confidence by Tami Matheny

🎥 Video: Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr on building a culture of joy & competitiveness

🎧Podcast: Go From Overthinking to Instant Confidence | Jocko Willink Podcast

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