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In this episode of Muscles and Management, Gerry sits down with Brijesh Patel—longtime Director of Athletic Performance at Quinnipiac University—for a masterclass in building culture, earning athlete buy-in, and leading with purpose in the strength and conditioning world.

Brijesh shares lessons from over 20 years in the field, including how to:

• Build sustainable in-season training that actually improves performance
• Create a weight room culture where effort and discipline are non-negotiables
• Train athletes with vastly different bodies, personalities, and needs under one roof
• Use logistics and constraints as a tool—not an excuse
• Turn average athletes into exceptional ones through intention and consistency
• Teach athletes to become 24/7 performers, not just show up for an hour lift

They also discuss leadership development, athlete motivation tiers (survivors, contenders, competitors, commanders), and how real progress comes not from the perfect program—but from consistency, clarity, and culture.

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, or someone managing a high-performing team, this episode delivers truth bombs on what really drives long-term success.

Timestamps:

0:00 – Introduction and Brijesh’s Background
 2:12 – The Real-World Value of Logistics and Flexibility in Programming
 5:00 – Early Challenges: Culture, Buy-In, and Accountability
 8:21 – Creating a “Do Extra” Culture and a Packed Weight Room
 10:01 – Training Different Body Types? Focus on Mentality First
 12:26 – Effort > Program: Why Execution Matters Most
 15:00 – Building a 24-Hour Athlete: Nutrition, Sleep, and Recovery
 17:45 – Peer Accountability and Building a Competitive Training Environment
 21:07 – Discipline Over Motivation: Lessons from Real Life
 24:30 – Using Role Models and Metrics to Drive Intrinsic Buy-In
 28:05 – Leadership Tiers: Survivors, Contenders, Competitors, Commanders
 32:13 – Team Roles, Intangibles, and How Leaders Are Made
 34:20 – In-Season Training: Why “Maintenance” Isn’t Enough
 36:39 – Adjusting Loads, Managing Travel, and Keeping Force Output High
 39:14 – Buying In to Heavy Lifts In-Season (Without Fear)
 41:33 – How Education and Transparency Build Long-Term Trust
 43:52 – Final Thoughts: Invest in Yourself to Serve Others

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