Pre-"Race" Routine

Written By Reed Steele

I’ve been speaking in front of crowds for the past 20 years.

Twenty years in, I’m still waiting for the night I go to bed before a presentation — totally ready — and sleep like a baby.

I’m also still waiting for the day I wake up the morning of a presentation — totally ready — without a worry in the world.

At this point, though, after 20 years, I don’t know if I’ll ever be totally ready.

But, I sure have learned how to get ready.

Over the past 6 weeks, I’ve been traveling frequently to Salt Lake City to deliver a 4-part leadership development program.

Each time, I sleep like garbage the night before and wake up early full of dread.

This past Tuesday was Session 3.

There was a little added “eek” going into this session as I was co-facilitating a portion of it with Reed Hastings, the co-founder of Netflix.

And, par for the course, I slept like garbage the night before.

Upon waking at 4am…

…doubt…

…dread…

…paralyzed.

Thank God for sports — they’re such a wonderful teacher.

Many athletes develop pre-race or pre-competition routines.

Top-performing athletes even develop daily practice routines.

As I see it, the whole purpose is to create a sense of control — physically, cognitively, and emotionally — when walking into something that has so many uncontrollable variables.

These routines create a sense of structure.

These routines create predictability.

These routines enhance performance.

Throughout my lifelong athletic endeavors, I’ve found great solace — and success — in pre-race routines.

Additionally, my daily practice routines are proving to be more and more powerful in leading to peak performance.

Within sport, for me, these routines prep my body, tidy up my thoughts, and align my emotions.

They set me up for success.

Thank God for sports — because these routines can set us up for success in life, too.

In my 20 years of speaking, I guess I’ve learned a few things over the years.

I’ve developed a routine that serves me despite my physical, mental, and emotional state upon waking.

Just like in sport, it preps my body, tidies up my thoughts, and aligns my emotions.

It’s like a physical, mental, and emotional refiling process — out with the bad and in with the good.

I’ve learned how to get ready.

At this point, it’s become automatic:

  • Alarm @ 4am

  • Get a cup of coffee

  • Put ear buds in and listen to motivational music

  • Spend 1 hour with presentation: tweak slides, take notes, and make mental connections

  • Head out the door and exercise for 60 minutes

  • Stretch

  • Go back to room

  • Do 3 Rounds of Wim Hof breathing

  • Take ear buds out

  • Shower

  • Dress intentionally

  • Pack up

  • Walk out the door and go

Here’s the thing: as I’m doing it, I don’t ever feel like it’s doing anything.

But, somehow…somehow…it always works.

My body is primed.

My thoughts are right.

And my emotions are grounded.

And, I think that’s the thing with these mindset tools — we have to try ‘em, work with ‘em, attend to the data that we collect from ‘em, stick with ‘em, and then trust ‘em…more and more.

Session 3 on Tuesday was a huge success.

And I’m so thankful for the routine that set me up — it’s become like a nice warm blanket.

Wanna bring out your best self?

Wanna get ready?

Develop a routine that primes your body, cleans up your thoughts, and gets your emotions right.

Onward.

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Reed Steele
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