I looked at my older son this morning and asked, “Do you think I can also write a blog post today?”

This was right after my wife had asked me what I had on the docket today.

My son: “Yeah!”

Me: “Yeah, me, too!”

It’s 2:15pm as I write this line. I need to leave the McDonald’s that I’m sitting at around 2:45pm to get to a swim practice that I’m coaching.

Here’s a favorite quote of mine from Steve Hardison: “The failure to commit is the high-cost of low living.”

I better get typing.

I recently sat down with my wife to watch tick, tick…Boom!

The film chronicles the struggles of Jonathan Larson, the creator of Rent, as an aspiring composer in New York City.

There’s a scene toward the end of the movie that made me give an audible, “Huh!”

After finding a tiny bit of success with a preview of a musical that he created, Larson is seen anxiously pacing back and forth in his apartment.

The phone rings.

It’s his agent, Rosa.

As the old adage goes, the end is the beginning.

One phase’s conclusion births a new start.

I’m going to run with that as I start punching the keys around a musing on peak performance.

Like last week, I’m stuck with a blinking cursor on a blank page.

Writing goes like that for me: at times, the ideas are exploding in my brain — and then, there are periods where I feel like I’ve got nothing.

So, if the end is the beginning, here’s where we ended last week:

Once you start, don’t quit — momentum is the best mind-altering drug.

I’ve been watching the cursor blink on this screen for way too long.

It’s a new year and I’ve put pressure on myself to have something profound to say.

Oh, how pressure can stifle us — how it removes the joy, freedom, and play.

I remember a concept from a sport psychology course outlining levels of arousal and attentional fields…

Yesterday was movie day at the Steele household.

Our oldest son had a minor surgery on Tuesday, and the two of us spent the afternoon recovering while watching The Mighty Ducks movie.

He’s recovering like a champ and, per usual, a kid-friendly movie proved so insightful.

I’ve got goals on my mind, and it’s not because of the New Year.

Alongside four other coaches, I recently started coaching a boys high school swim team. We kicked off last Monday and managed to cobble together a wonky week with Thanksgiving.

Week 2 started yesterday, and I was in charge of leading the team through a goal-setting process.

I owe an update.

I didn’t reach my goal.

I wasn’t even close.

5:18.54.

I’ve been in a funk since.

Here’s how I remember it: The 2024 Ironman World Championship in Kona, HI was hyped to be a battle of the ages. Three former World Champions in one race — plus a deep field behind them.

My wife and I wanted to watch the race.

Challenge: watching an 8-hour race with two boys under the age of 3 wasn’t happening.

“Let’s have a party!” I proposed.

And that was the origin of the 1st Ever Scoot-athlon on Saturday, October 26, 2024.

Admittedly, selfish origins. But, something much bigger than me emerged.

I did something yesterday at swim practice that I’ve NEVER done before!

Since August I’ve been going hard in the pool. You see, I knew the first swim meet of the Minnesota Masters Swimming season was on October 12.

I had 9 weeks to get in really good shape — and make a go at a goal that I’ve held for 15 years: break 5 minutes in the 500-yard freestyle.

So, I created a plan around the following mindset…

Friday morning around 6:25am, our swim coach turned around the whiteboard to reveal the workout for the day. It was a simple workout. All we had to do was get in 500 yards — 20 lengths of the pool — before 7am. The only ask:

All 20 lengths had to be an all-out sprint

Our coach didn’t care how we did it. I looked at the time, quickly did the math, and threw out…

I’m fascinated by the mind. It’s one of our greatest tools. And one of our greatest inhibitors. Like a muscle, it has to be worked. I was reminded of this over the past few days. On Monday, I listened to Chris Williamson’s Modern Wisdom podcast where he was speaking with David Goggins. Like David Goggins does…

August is coming to a close, which means that mixing things up with the young pups is about to end.

As I mentioned last week, every August a number of college swimmers join us for our masters swim practices.

I’ve had the opportunity to swim in the same lane with these kids the whole month.

They’ve taught me a bunch.

In August we’re gifted with college swimmers joining us for our masters swim practices — they’re fast.

A new one showed up on Monday.

I automatically stepped back to let the college swimmer lead.

Part way through the practice my coach said…

Resistance has been a beast in my life lately. Thank God for camping. What’s camping got to do with resistance? I’ll take a stab.

I never sleep all that well when I camp — especially the first night. This past Saturday was no different…

June 2012. I was in the Boundary Waters with my friend, Greg, and a couple of his college buddies, Chris and Kyle, for Greg’s bachelor party. I remember waking up early and being the first one out of the tent. There was a bite in the air, but the sun coming up to reveal the reflections on the lake provided a sense of warmth. I grabbed a camping chair…

On August 2nd, I learned first-hand about updrafts and cloud formation.

On August 2nd, I checked off a bucket list item.

On August 2nd, for 24 minutes, I sat — dancing in the clouds over Dennison, MN — with my fears.

On August 2nd, I flew a glider plane.

I come back again and again

Comfort

Discomfort

A space for both

Often, in conjunction…

More and more, I believe that life is a choice—of utmost importance, our perspectives. A simple—albeit hard to implement—hack that has helped lead me here: “What is the gift of [insert anything]?” It’s funny to think about old me who used to cringe at the constantly upbeat, rose-colored glasses folks.

Am I becoming one of those?

Mastery in action is an awe-inspiring thing to watch. Watching human peak performance is mind-blowing.

Earlier this week, Gretchen Walsh continued to do what Gretchen Walsh does best: wow the swimming world. The 2025 World Aquatics Championships are in full swing this week. Despite the United States Team being obliterated by “acute gastroenteritis”, Gretchen Walsh came through with the 2nd fastest time in history in the 100-meter butterfly — 2nd to her own World Record. Prior to her swim, Gretchen Walsh owned the 7 fastest times in history in the 100-meter butterfly. She now owns the 8 fastest times in history.

Here’s the race video.

Earlier this week, I did a deep dive into a podcast with Dr. Mike Israetel around motivation, habits, and discipline. He provides a powerful framework for thinking about adherence. The constructs he discusses are thrown around all the time. However, the way — and the order in which — he presents these constructs provide a mental framework for you as you work toward something. Here’s a summary.