Locker Room Power

Can wanting something too much make you worse at getting it?Sébastien Page runs investments at T. Rowe Price and wrote The Psychology of Leadership. He and David compare what elite tennis and top-level investing teach about pressure, self-doubt and the goals that quietly take over. From Everest climbers to Wimbledon, from Neil Armstrong's heartbeat to leading people more qualified than you.In this episode:- Why a goal held too tightly narrows what you can see, and how to set a stop-loss on your own ambitions- How stress becomes fuel, and how to widen the band where pressure helps you- How to lead people who are older or more qualified than you: listen, and be willing to say "I was wrong" and "I don't know"Key moments00:00 Sebastien Page's path from Quebec to investment leadership

03:12 Imposter syndrome, positive psychology, and 200 rejections

08:25 Goal-induced blindness: when targets distort judgment

11:16 Rest as part of performance, from Simone Biles to Wimbledon

14:29 A personal lesson in quitting before goals cause harm

20:27 Mastery vs. ego, and what sports psychology brings to business

22:40 Stress, performance, and widening the manageable zone

30:00 Why business accountability is foggier than sports

34:00 Leading highly capable people through listening and vulnerability

36:01 Why negative emotions and basic habits matter

39:23 Page's advice to his younger self: prioritize self-careAbout SébastienSébastien Page is Co-head of Global Investments and Chief Investment Officer at T. Rowe Price, where he has worked since 2015. He has 26 years in investing, including senior roles at PIMCO and State Street. His book The Psychology of Leadership (2025) draws on positive, sports and personality psychology to help leaders read people, motivate teams and stay resilient. He also wrote Beyond Diversification. LinkedIn named him a Top Voice in Finance. He grew up in Quebec and studied at Sherbrooke University.Connect with SébastienBook, The Psychology of Leadership: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.harriman-house.com/authors/sebastien-page/the-psychology-of-leadership/9781804090930&source=gmail&ust=1794385416715000&sa=ESubstack: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://sebastienpage.substack.com&source=gmail&ust=1794385416715000&sa=ET. Rowe Price profile: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.troweprice.com/financial-intermediary/us/en/search.html/biokey/sebastien-page&source=gmail&ust=1794385416715000&sa=EWork with DavidLeading a team through pressure? I help leaders and their teams make clear decisions when it matters most. Get in touch: https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.davidsammel.com/contact&source=gmail&ust=1794385416715000&sa=E or email [email protected] from Locker Room PowerPart 2, where Sébastien interviews David: out Thursday 26 November.If this helped, follow the show and leave a rating. It helps more leaders find it.

In this solo episode, David Sammel explores why disagreement can be valuable, even when it's uncomfortable. He discusses how leaders can look beyond the way feedback is delivered, understand different perspectives, and use challenging questions to make better decisions.

David also reflects on why people sometimes stop speaking up and the importance of creating an environment where others feel safe to disagree.

Because better decisions often begin with the willingness to listen.

🎙️ Locker Room Power with David Sammel

Mindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.

👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.

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Stay connected with David:

Website: https://www.davidsammel.com/the-sammel-method

Podcast: https://lockerroompower.podview.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_sammel/

In Part 2 of his conversation with Ron Cox, David Sammel takes the hot seat as Ron turns the questions toward leadership, mindset, and high performance. They explore what separates talented individuals from true leaders, why leading by example matters, and how self-talk, confidence, and clarity influence performance both on the field and in the boardroom.

David shares why great competitors can still perform under pressure even when things aren't going perfectly, and why experience helps people stay composed when the stakes are high. He also reflects on two major influences in his life: his father, who taught him to find another way when things go wrong, and Tony Robbins, whose work helped set him on a lifelong journey of personal growth and self-awareness.

Connect with Ron:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rcdevsolutionsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/rcdevsolutionsWebsite: https://www.rcdevsolutions.com/

🎙️ Locker Room Power with David Sammel

Mindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.

👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.

🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.

Stay connected with David:

Website: https://www.davidsammel.com/the-sammel-method

Podcast: https://lockerroompower.podview.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_sammel/

In Part 1 of this conversation, David Sammel speaks with Ron Cox about his remarkable journey through adversity, resilience, and leadership. Ron shares how being raised by his grandparents shaped his values, how battling a rare illness led him to Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits, and how his experiences inspired his books, Me and My Best Friend: 30 Stories over 30 Years (2024) and Unbroken: From Bullied to Boardroom (2025).

Ron also discusses overcoming serious health challenges, the importance of accountability and having the right people around you, and how he helped transform a struggling organization through better leadership, culture, systems, and putting the right people in the right roles. A powerful conversation about resilience, mindset, leadership, and the importance of never giving up.

Connect with Ron:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rcdevsolutions

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rcdevsolutions

Website: https://www.rcdevsolutions.com/

Locker Room Power with David Sammel

Mindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.

👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.

🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.

Stay connected with David:

Website: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.davidsammel.com/the-sammel-method⁠⁠⁠

Podcast:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lockerroompower.podview.com/⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david_sammel/⁠

In this solo episode, David Sammel explores why nerves are not something high performers need to eliminate. After 35 years of working with elite athletes, CEOs, and other high performers, David has seen that even the best performers get nervous before moments that matter.

The difference isn’t how nervous you feel - it’s what you believe those nerves mean. David explains how to reframe nerves as a sign that you care and your body is preparing to perform, rather than seeing them as a warning that something is wrong.

He shares a simple approach for turning nerves into readiness: focus on the evidence that you are capable, remember what you do well, and direct your attention toward the first move you need to make.

Nerves with direction become readiness. Nerves without direction become panic.

Locker Room Power with David Sammel

Mindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.

👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.

🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.

Stay connected with David:

Website: ⁠⁠https://www.davidsammel.com/the-sammel-method⁠⁠

Podcast:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://lockerroompower.podview.com/⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david_sammel/⁠

In Part 2 of this conversation, Jonathan Cave flips the mic and puts David Sammel in the hot seat with a series of deep and unexpected questions.

David opens up about his deepest fear, what he would change about his past, the lessons he learned through his coaching journey, and the impact of losing his father. He also shares what he would want his descendants to remember and the three words he hopes people would use to describe him.

The conversation explores self-awareness, responsibility, confidence, vulnerability, and what it really means to keep growing beyond external success.

Jonathan and David finish by reflecting on self-awareness as one of life’s most important journeys.

Connect with Jonathan:

LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cave/⁠

Website: ⁠https://www.jonathancave.com/⁠🎙️

Locker Room Power with David Sammel

Mindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.

👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.

🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.

Stay connected with David:

Website: ⁠https://www.davidsammel.com/the-sammel-method⁠

Podcast:⁠ ⁠⁠https://lockerroompower.podview.com/⁠

Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/david_sammel/⁠

In Part 1 of this conversation, David Sammel speaks with Jonathan Cave about his journey from a successful legal career to discovering the importance of inner alignment, fulfillment, and peace.

Jonathan shares what he learned from working with high-performing entrepreneurs, why external success doesn’t always lead to internal fulfillment, and how high achievers can reconnect with themselves.

They explore the hidden pressures behind high achievement, imposter syndrome, becoming comfortable with discomfort, and why continually chasing the next mountain may not bring the fulfillment we expect.

Jonathan also introduces his approach to discovering your core values, talents, and deepest aspirations, along with a simple question that can change how you start your day: “Who do I want to be today?”

Connect with Jonathan:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-cave/

Website: https://www.jonathancave.com/🎙️

Locker Room Power with David Sammel

Mindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.

👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.

🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.

Stay connected with David:

Website: https://www.davidsammel.com/the-sammel-method

Podcast: https://lockerroompower.podview.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_sammel/

In this solo episode, David Sammel explores why imposter syndrome often appears just as you’re stepping up, achieving more, and entering a new level of performance. Rather than seeing self-doubt as proof that you don’t belong, David explains why it can actually be a sign that you’re growing.

He shares five practical steps to manage imposter syndrome — from auditing the evidence and speaking your doubts out loud to avoiding unfair comparisons and taking action before confidence arrives. A practical reminder that confidence isn’t the entry ticket; it’s the receipt that comes after you take action.

🎙️ Locker Room Power with David Sammel

Mindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.

👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.

🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.

Stay connected with David:

Website: https://www.davidsammel.com/the-sammel-method

Podcast: https://lockerroompower.podview.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/david_sammel/

In Part 2 of this conversation, the tables are turned as Phyllis Borenstein interviews David Sammel about the lessons he's learned from decades of coaching elite athletes and navigating high-pressure environments. David reflects on career-defining moments, the opportunities he wishes he’d pursued, and why growth often comes from embracing uncertainty rather than avoiding it.

Together, they explore resilience, decision-making under pressure, emotional control, the importance of perspective, and the value of compartmentalizing challenges without ignoring them. David also shares the story behind writing his book, his move from the UK to Florida, and why family, purpose, and long-term fulfillment ultimately shape the biggest decisions we make. This thoughtful conclusion offers practical insights for leaders, entrepreneurs, coaches, and anyone striving to perform at their best.

🎙️ Locker Room Power with David Sammel

Mindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.

👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.

🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.

Connect with Phyllis:

⁠LinkedIn⁠, ⁠Instagram⁠, ⁠Facebook⁠

Stay connected with David:

⁠⁠Website⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Podcast⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Instagram

In Part 1 of this conversation, David sits down with South Florida real estate expert Phyllis Borenstein to explore what it takes to build a career that lasts. Drawing on decades of experience, Phyllis shares how relationships, consistency, and a passion for helping people have been the foundation of her success in an ever-changing industry.

Together, they discuss overcoming self-doubt, building confidence, creating daily systems for success, handling pressure with composure, and why personal growth never stops. Whether you're in real estate, business, or simply looking to perform at a higher level, this episode is packed with practical lessons on mindset, resilience, and long-term success. Stay tuned for Part 2, where the conversation continues from the other side of the microphone.

🎙️ Locker Room Power with David Sammel

Mindset and leadership for high performers from an Olympic-level coach.

👇 Subscribe for weekly episodes that go inside the locker room.

🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a drop.

Connect with Phyllis:

LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook

Stay connected with David:

⁠Website⁠, ⁠Podcast⁠, ⁠Instagram