#510 How I Trained My Mind to Stop Avoiding Discomfort

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You say you want to grow— but not if it’s uncomfortable.

If it doesn’t suck a little, it’s probably not worth doing.

Do you want to grow? But do you also want comfort? 

You can’t have both.

In this episode of “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man,” I revisit one of my most replayed— and most needed— episode about the role of pain and discomfort in personal growth, mental toughness, and living a meaningful life. 

Whether you’re building a business, chasing a goal weight, or trying to reignite your relationships, you’re going to face resistance. And that’s a good thing.

I share personal stories from nearly quitting mid-marathon training to battling limiting beliefs that I’m just “not a runner,” plus insights from clients, Navy SEALs, and high performers who chose the hard path and reaped the reward. 

You’ll discover how to shift from “just grinding” to inspired action by connecting discomfort to your core values.

And if you're ready to do more than just think about change, I’ll give you 4 tactical steps to structure your goals, welcome accountability, and commit to something that scares you just enough to matter.

Are you ready to stop drifting and start building? This episode is your first step.

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

#509 The #1 Leadership Mistake That’s Quietly Killing Your Team— With Ross Bernstein

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Ross Bernstein has been in more championship locker rooms than most coaches— what he found in them might change the way you lead.

You’ve heard of speaking on stages... but what about a keynote on a research vessel off the coast of Antarctica? 

That’s just one of the wild stories Ross Bernstein brings to this episode— but the real gold lies in his hard-earned insights on championship team culture, elite leadership, and the line between gamesmanship and integrity.

Ross has interviewed over 1,000 pro athletes, written 50+ books, and keynoted on seven continents. But what matters most? What he’s learned about the DNA of winning teams, and how that applies to your boardroom, locker room, or even your very own living room.

In this episode of “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” podcast, we talk about what great leaders actually do, why culture isn’t fluff, and how to build your own Environment of Excellence. 

After listening to this, you’ll walk away challenged, maybe a little uncomfortable— and that’s a good thing.

If you’re a leader at work, at home, or in your community, this conversation will challenge the way you think about winning. Because it’s not about being the best guy in the room, it’s about being the one they’ll follow when everything’s on the line. 

Hit play now!

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

#508 3 Reasons You Don’t Have Enough Time (and How to Fix Each One)

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If you're constantly saying “I don’t have enough time,” it’s not because your calendar is full… it’s because prioritizing the wrong things.

I’ve worked with hundreds of high-achieving men— former athletes, business leaders, and busy professionals— and one theme comes up again and again: they struggle to make time for what matters most.

In this solo episode of “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man,” I break down the three real reasons high-achieving men stay stuck in the loop of busyness— and more importantly, how to break out.

You’ll hear why your lack of direction is costing you more than you think, why leadership isn’t about having a title but about managing your life, and how your environment might be sabotaging your success without you even realizing it.

I’m not offering hacks or feel-good mantras. I’m giving you the exact mindset shift that helped one of my clients go from stuck and unfocused to energized, dialed-in... and running for Congress.

So if you’re tired of watching your potential collect dust while you chase low-impact tasks, this episode is for you.

Forget the hacks. Let’s fix the root. Tune in now!

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

#507 How Anthony Robles Built Unstoppable Confidence (With One Leg and No Excuses)

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They saw a disability. Anthony Robles saw an opportunity– .and he’s got the medals (and scars) to show for it.

He was born without a right leg. Doctors had no answers. 

At five years old, he climbed a 50-foot pole by himself. 

By 22, he was an NCAA champion.

This is the story of Anthony Robles— a three-time All-American wrestler, the 2011 NCAA National Champion, and a Nike-sponsored athlete who turned every so-called “limitation” into a competitive edge.

In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode, Anthony reveals the mindset that made him unstoppable: from walking into his first wrestling practice just to “see what he was capable of,” to breaking a Guinness World Record, building a speaking business, and becoming a powerful example for anyone chasing personal greatness.

We get into mental toughness, building a resilience game plan, the exact moment he nearly quit and the unexpected letters from a third-grade classroom that pulled him back in.

This isn’t inspiration for inspiration’s sake. This is a tactical, real-world masterclass in overcoming adversity, leveraging what you’ve got, and dominating in life— not just sport.

If you’ve got a list of excuses, this episode will tear it up and hand you a better one: a game plan.

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

#506 13 Lessons from the Pathfinder Retreat That Will Transform Your Next 30 Days

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22 men walked into the Pathfinder Retreat. What they left with wasn’t what they expected.

What happens when a room full of high-performing men— entrepreneurs, executives, husbands, and dads— drop their titles, leave the chaos behind, and finally get real?

In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode, I take you behind the scenes at the very successful 2025 Pathfinder Retreat, so you can also benefit from what we learned at the comfort of your own home.

We came together last May to sharpen our edge professionally. But what happened had little to do with tactics and everything to do with vulnerability, honest reflection, and resetting what really matters.

I’m breaking down the 13 unexpected lessons that emerged from that weekend. From why “low-hanging fruit tastes just as good” to what one guy called “Good Dude Ville”— and why that oddly perfect phrase might just unlock your next breakthrough.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your head, pulled in too many directions, or like you're succeeding on the outside but drifting on the inside, this one’s for you.

And at the very end of the episode, I’ll share the story and the exact strategy I used when I was sitting in the stands in tears after losing at the NCAA Championships... the same strategy I shared with the men at the retreat to help them stay on fire long after the retreat ended. Let’s dive in!

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

#505 Alcohol Is Killing Your ROI: The Science Behind How One Drink Costs You $684 with James Swanwick

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What if your next drink is quietly costing you $684?

Could quitting alcohol be the simplest, most underrated high-performance move of your life?

You don’t have to hit rock bottom to be sabotaging your potential… just pour another “harmless” drink.

In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode, I sit down with James Swanwick, former ESPN anchor turned founder of Alcohol-Free Lifestyle, who exposes a truth that most high achievers don’t want to hear: even moderate drinking might be the very thing keeping you from peak performance.

From that moment at IHOP to building a 7-figure business and landing a dream job at ESPN (with zero TV experience), James walks us through how ditching alcohol became his ultimate unfair advantage.

We unpack the neuroscience of alcohol, the social lies we believe about “bonding” and celebration, and how most men are paying a massive cost— in energy, focus, and money— without even realizing it. 

You’ll also hear how one beer could be costing you $684 a night, and what you can do about it starting today.

Think you’re performing at your best? You might just be drinking your edge away. 

This is another important conversation you don’t wanna miss, so hit that play button now and share this with someone who’s ready to stop settling for average and start performing at their full potential.

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

#504 The 9-Step Framework for Rapid, Lasting Change

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Rapid change isn’t magic— it’s a system. Here are the 9 ways to make it work…

Reading more books or listening to more podcasts won’t change your life. But this 9-step framework will… and fast.

In this episode of the “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” podcast, I reveal the real reason why some people stay stuck— despite discipline, drive, and doing “all the right things.”

We’re going to talk about the 9-step rapid change framework I’ve used to help hundreds of men go from frustrated to fulfilled in a matter of weeks. 

This isn’t theory. It’s the same system my clients (they’re called Pathfinders) are using to drop weight, reconnect with their families, and finally get momentum in their careers.

I’ll walk you step-by-step through the exact process: from getting clear on your “why” to building real accountability, feedback loops, and daily habits that actually stick.

If you’re done feeling like you’re “almost” there, this is the episode that closes that gap.

You don’t need more podcasts to listen to or more books to read to create real, rapid change in your life. You need a system. And it starts here. Tune in now!

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

#503 Anthony Trucks on the Identity Gap: Why You’re Not Getting the Results You Want

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You’ll never outperform the man you believe you are. Anthony Trucks breaks down the real reason why you're stuck.

What if the biggest reason you're stuck… is you?

In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode with former NFL player turned transformation expert Anthony Trucks, we unpack how identity— not tactics— is the true lever of transformation, and why success without self-worth is a dangerous trap most high-achieving men fall into.

Anthony shares how he hit rock bottom— divorced, broke, hungover in a condo— and how a single realization gave him back his power: “I was the common denominator in all of my problems.” 

From there, he built his comeback on what he calls “Dark Work,” the unseen grind that forges real, lasting change.

If you’re a former athlete, a high-performer, or just a man who knows there’s another level inside of you, but keeps hitting a wall, this episode is for you. 

We also talk about performance psychology, discipline, and the difference between chasing praise vs. earning pride.

This is a masterclass on doing the gritty and powerful work that changes who you are, so you can finally create the life you say you want. Tune in now!

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

#502 Seeds Don't Matter: The Underdog Formula to Win in Life, Business, and Sport

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I didn’t become an All-American until I gave up trying to win. Sounds crazy, right? But it changed everything.

I used to think success was all about doing “more”— more reps, more work, more grind. 

But the truth hit me like a Mack truck… inside a packed arena with 19,000 people watching a nobody beat an Olympic gold medalist.

In this “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man” episode, I unpack what I witnessed at the NCAA Wrestling Championships: An underdog mindset masterclass featuring Wyatt Hendrickson and Olympic gold medalist Gable Stevenson.

We dive deep into why seeds don’t matter, why letting go of outcomes can unlock elite performance, and how to build an Environment of Excellence that turns potential into results.

You’ll also learn the 3 essential ingredients every underdog needs to win— on the mat, in business, or in life. 

This episode isn’t just for the competitive man who feels like he’s falling short, despite doing everything right.

If you’re chasing big goals and still wondering why you’re not seeing results, this is the perspective shift you’ve been missing.

Let’s go!

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.  

#501 How Luke Peters Built and Sold an $80M Business (And What He’d Do Differently)

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Chasing revenue is the fastest way to stay stuck. Luke Peters built an $80M business by doing the opposite.

Everyone wants an 8-figure exit... until they realize what it actually takes. 

Luke Peters accomplished the exit and shares what he’d do differently. 

He started out making 25 cents an hour in his family’s donut shop. He barely scraped through high school, became a hazardous waste scientist, and then he spotted a strange little opportunity online: portable air conditioners.

Most people would’ve shrugged it off. Luke leaned in.

Fast forward a few years, he’s running an $80M company, built from scratch, with zero investors.

You know those stories where someone “falls into success”? This isn’t that. Luke earned every inch. And in this episode of “Success for the Athletic-Minded Man,” he breaks down exactly how he did it.

We dive into how he bootstrapped his business, scaled smart (without losing his mind), and built a team that made his company sellable— a crucial move for anyone eyeing an exit.

You’ll hear why most entrepreneurs are stuck at 5% margins, how Luke used SEO to cash-flow from day one, and the difference between grinding and unfocused grinding.

This is the stuff no one tells you, but everyone wishes they knew sooner. Tune in now. You’re gonna want a notebook for this one!

If you don’t have time to listen to the entire episode or if you hear something that you like but don’t have time to write it down, be sure to grab your free copy of the Action Plan from this episode— as well as get access to action plans from EVERY episode— at http://www.JimHarshawJr.com/Action.