The Neuroscience of Comparison—Why It Feels Like a Mental Gut Punch

• Your brain’s reward system keeps score—comparison makes dopamine drop, killing motivation.
• The Default Mode Network (DMN) overanalyzes your self-worth, fueling insecurity.
• Social pain feels like real pain—your brain processes comparison like a physical injury.
• Chronic comparison spikes cortisol, making you stressed, reactive, and mentally exhausted.

The Sports Psychology of Comparison—How It Kills Your Edge

• It shifts focus to what you can’t control, instead of what you can dominate.
• It yanks you out of the present, making you second-guess instead of execute.
• It hijacks your confidence, outsourcing your self-worth to someone else’s scoreboard.
• It forces reactive decisions, taking you out of the high-performance mindset.

How to Flip the Script and Use Comparison as Fuel

• Recognize admiration vs. envy—admiration is a roadmap to your own potential.
• Own what makes you unique—your strengths aren’t the same as theirs, and that’s your power.
• Shift from inaction to action—ask, “If they can do it, why not me?” and start moving.
• Use their success as a blueprint, not a block—study, adapt, apply.
• Celebrate others without shrinking yourself—because a true competitor lifts, not wallows.

Actionable Steps to Kill Comparison for Good
✅Control the controllables—write down 3 things in your control and commit to them daily.
✅Reframe in real time—catch the comparison spiral and shift into strategy mode.
✅Stay present—use mindfulness or deep breathing to stay locked into your game.
✅Track your own wins—momentum builds confidence and focus.
✅Curate your inputs—clean up social media, follow those who fuel action, not insecurity.

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW

Main Topics Discussed:

• Why traditional trial prep is often inefficient and reactive—and how a structured approach saves time and stress.
• The Trial Fight Camp framework: how trial preparation mirrors fight camp for elite athletes.
• Four mental performance mastery techniques to optimize trial readiness, sharpen strategic thinking, and execute under pressure:
  • Your Trial MVP
  • MIT (Most Important Task Method)
  • E+R+O - Pre-Trial Visualization & Rehearsal
  • Maintaining Focus & Strategic Resets at Trial using the WIN Method and the Physiological Sigh.
• Actionable strategies that trial lawyers can implement immediately to streamline preparation and enhance performance.

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW

Key Takeaways & Actionable Strategies

🏆 1. Process Over Outcome: Focus on the System, Not Just the Goal

Success isn’t about motivation or willpower—it’s about structured, repeatable systems that create momentum.

Daily success checklists eliminate decision fatigue and help make high-performance behaviors automatic.

Neuroscience Insight: The Reticular Activating System (RAS) filters what we focus on, reinforcing repeated actions as automatic behaviors.

🌅 2. Bookend Your Day for Maximum Focus & Energy

Start and end each day with a non-negotiable routine to maintain motivation and momentum.

Jess’s 4-Step Morning Formula (from Coach Gina DeVee):

1️⃣ Movement – Wake up your brain and body with exercise to boost dopamine and cognitive function.

2️⃣ Meditation – Just 5-10 minutes improves focus, emotional regulation, and mental clarity.

3️⃣ Reading – Engaging with strategic or creative content sharpens decision-making and primes your brain for the day.

4️⃣ Journaling – A quick reflection builds focus, gratitude, and goal alignment.

Evening Routine: Prepares you for the next day by identifying your top priority, unwinding from screens, and reinforcing your Mission, Vision, and Core Principles (MVP Method) for clarity and commitment.

📝 3. The Science of Writing: How to Train Your Brain for Success

Writing things down activates the RAS, improves memory encoding, and strengthens neural pathways related to focus and goal achievement.

Studies show that writing enhances emotional regulation, reduces stress, and improves long-term cognitive performance.

Pro tip: Manually writing down your top priority each night increases commitment and follow-through.

✨ 4. Adopt a Glimmer Practice to Train Your Brain for Joy

A glimmer is the opposite of a trigger—small moments that bring joy, ease, or comfort.

Neuroscience Insight: Actively noticing positive moments strengthens dopamine pathways and rewires the brain to seek out more joy.

Practice: Write down one glimmer every night to build a habit of seeking, remembering, and feeling more positivity daily.

🎯 Final Mindset Shift: Today + Today = Your Life

Your life is the sum of your todays. What you choose to focus on each day determines your long-term success and happiness.

"Tomorrow is a new day. You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Take Action: Win today, then win again tomorrow. Happy birthday to all of us!

🔥 Listen now for the full breakdown and start building success one focused day at a time!

And click this link to claim your Birthday Special 3-Month Transformation Package today, only through March 4th!

Key Citations

1. Matthews, G. (2015). Goal-setting research showing 42% greater achievement likelihood when writing down goals.
2. Mueller & Oppenheimer (2014). Study demonstrating handwriting enhances comprehension and memory better than typing.
3. Pennebaker & Beall (1986). Research proving that expressive writing improves mental and physical health.
4. Lieberman et al. (2007). Study showing that naming emotions in writing reduces amygdala activity, helping emotional regulation.
5. Emmons & McCullough (2003). Research on gratitude journaling demonstrating improved well-being and reduced depression.
6. Seligman et al. (2005). Long-term study showing that writing three daily gratitudes leads to higher happiness levels.

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW

Main Topics Discussed:

🔥 The Physical Benefits: How sauna sessions improve cardiovascular health, detoxification, and muscle recovery
🧠The Mental Benefits: How heat exposure reduces stress, enhances focus, and improves sleep
💡The Neuroscience of Sauna Training: How controlled heat stress builds resilience, mental toughness, and cognitive control
✅How to Make Sauna Sessions Work for You: Actionable steps to integrate sauna training into your high-performance routine

Mental Performance Mastery Techniques & Strategies:

✅ Preconditioning for Stress Resilience – Sauna sessions train your brain to handle discomfort, making high-pressure environments more manageable.
✅Heat Exposure as Mental Toughness Training – Just like lifting weights builds strength, sitting in a sauna strengthens your ability to push through challenges.
✅Visualization & Mindfulness in the Sauna – Using sauna time for mental training (deep breathing, visualization, or affirmations) maximizes performance benefits.
✅Strategic Recovery & Longevity – Sauna use reduces inflammation and supports long-term health, recovery, and performance.

Key Takeaways – Actionable Tips for High Performers:

1️⃣ Start Small & Build Up – Begin with 10-minute sessions at 160-180°F and gradually increase your tolerance.
2️⃣ Aim for 3-7 Sessions Per Week – The sweet spot for max benefits is 15-20 minutes per session.
3️⃣ Hydrate Like an Athlete – Drink plenty of water before and after to avoid dehydration.
4️⃣ Use Sauna Time for Mental Training – Incorporate mindfulness, breathing exercises, or visualization to sharpen focus and mental resilience.
5️⃣ Make It a Non-Negotiable Habit – Just like physical training, consistency is key to seeing long-term performance gains.

Want to dive deeper? Check out these studies to explore the science behind sauna training, recovery, and resilience!

📌 Cardiovascular Health & Longevity

Laukkanen, T., et al. (2015). Association Between Sauna Bathing and Fatal Cardiovascular and All-Cause Mortality Events. JAMA Internal Medicine, 175(4), 542-548.
🔗 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/2117373
💡Key Finding: Frequent sauna use (4-7 times per week) was associated with a 50% lower risk of cardiovascular disease mortality and a 24% lower risk of all-cause mortality compared to those using a sauna once per week.

📌 Detoxification & Heavy Metal Excretion

Sears, M. E., et al. (2012). Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury in Sweat: A Systematic Review. Journal of Environmental and Public Health, 2012, 1-10.
🔗 https://www.hindawi.com/journals/jeph/2012/184745/
💡Key Finding: Sauna-induced sweating helps excrete environmental toxins such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, supporting the body's natural detoxification processes.

📌 Muscle Recovery & Inflammation Reduction

Leppäluoto, J., et al. (2008). Effects of Long-term Sauna Bathing on Inflammatory Markers in Healthy Men. Annals of Medicine, 40(6), 431-441.
🔗https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18609162/
💡Key Finding: Regular sauna use reduces C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, a key marker of inflammation, supporting faster muscle recovery and reduced chronic disease risk.

📌 Stress Reduction & Mental Clarity

Janssen, S., et al. (2016). Effects of Whole-Body Hyperthermia on Depression and Anxiety in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder. JAMA Psychiatry, 73(8), 789-795.
🔗 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapsychiatry/fullarticle/2523343
💡Key Finding: Heat exposure triggers the release of endorphins and lowers cortisol, reducing stress, anxiety, and symptoms of depression.

📌 Cognitive Function & BDNF Release

Raichlen, D. A., et al. (2013). Physical Activity Patterns and Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) in Humans. Progress in Brain Research, 209, 9-27.
🔗https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24267550/
💡Key Finding: Heat exposure increases brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which plays a crucial role in learning, memory, and cognitive performance.

📌 Resilience & Mid-Cingulate Cortex Activation

Wager, T. D., et al. (2017). Neurocognitive Mechanisms of Resilience and Stress Adaptation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, 11, 455.
🔗 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2017.00455/full
💡Key Finding: Regular exposure to controlled stressors (like sauna heat) strengthens the mid-cingulate cortex, improving grit, mental toughness, and emotional regulation.

📌 Sleep Improvement & Recovery

Horne, J. A., et al. (2018). Passive Body Heating and Sleep: A Review of the Evidence. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 41, 31-39.
🔗https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1087079217301468
💡Key Finding: Passive body heating, such as sauna use, improves sleep onset, quality, and duration by promoting deep, restorative rest.

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW

Main Topics Discussed:

• The mental performance mastery required to summit the world’s highest and most dangerous mountains
• How preparation and pre-planning for potential obstacles reduce stress and decision fatigue
• The role of fear in high-stakes environments and how to use it as a tool instead of a roadblock
• How visualization, meditation, and mantras enhance mental resilience
• The parallels between elite mountaineering, MMA fighting, and high-performance law
• The power of all-women’s teams in building confidence, support, and peak performance

Mental Performance Mastery Techniques & Strategies:

✅ Pre-Planning & Mental Rehearsal – Writing down potential risks and responses in advance to eliminate panic in critical moments. (E + R = O: Event + Response = Outcome)
✅Fear as a Companion, Not a Controller – Acknowledging fear without letting it dictate decisions, using logical risk assessment to maintain control.
✅Mantras for Mental Strength – Using positive, movement-based affirmations like “I am strong” to break negative thought spirals and reinforce confidence.
✅Visualization for Success – Mentally rehearsing successful execution of high-stakes moments to strengthen neural pathways and prepare the body for action.
✅Meditation for Clarity & Focus – Building resilience by practicing stillness, reducing stress, and improving concentration in high-pressure situations.
✅The Power of Supportive Communities – How all-women’s climbing teams foster confidence, camaraderie, and higher performance levels through oxytocin and dopamine release.

Key Takeaways – Actionable Tips for High Performers:

1. Anticipate & Adapt – Identify potential challenges, plan responses, and develop a flexible mindset to handle the unexpected.
2. Reframe Fear as Fuel – Treat fear as a passenger, not the driver; use it for heightened awareness, but don’t let it steer your actions.
3. Train Your Mind Like a Muscle – Implement daily mental training rituals such as visualization, mantras, and meditation to enhance focus and resilience.
4. Surround Yourself with the Right People – Build a community that supports, challenges, and strengthens you, both personally and professionally.
5. Let Go & Elevate – Set ambitious goals but release control over the how—trust the process, embrace growth, and welcome unexpected opportunities.

If you’re ready to elevate your mindset and push past your limits, this episode is for you. Don’t forget to share your biggest takeaway in the comments!

Resources: 
Finding Elevation: Fear and Courage on the World's Most Dangerous Mountain, Lisa Thompson (Girl Friday Books, 2023)

Taylor, S. E., Klein, L. C., Lewis, B. P., Gruenewald, T. L., Gurung, R. A. R., & Updegraff, J. A. (2000). Biobehavioral responses to stress in females: Tend-and-befriend, not fight-or-flight. Psychological Review, 107(3), 411–429.

"Tend and Befriend Theory" - 2011 Update by Shelley E. Taylor, University of California, Los Angeles, to appear in A. M. van Lange, A. W. Kruglanski, and E. T. Higgins (Eds.), Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology. Sage Publications.

Guest:
Spite drew world-class mountaineer Lisa Thompson [ website: https://lisaclimbs.com ] into the male-dominated world of mountaineering. After her first Rainier summit in 2009, she knew that she wanted more. Her drive to learn and become a more skilled climber led her to climbs all over the world. In 2015, just before her first Himalayan expedition, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her diagnosis and eventual victory over cancer led Lisa to reprioritize her life and goals. In 2018 she became the second American woman to summit the savage mountain, K2. Then in 2021, Lisa also completed the Seven Summits, successfully summiting the last of all seven of the highest peaks on every continent in the world (including Everest).

Lisa is passionate about encouraging and supporting more women to explore and gain confidence in the mountains. In 2022 she organized an all-women’s summit of Cholatse in Nepal. This climb became the foundation for future all-women’s climbs with a philanthropic focus.

Lisa is the founder and own­er of Alpine Ath­let­ics, where she coaches mountain athletes of all levels to prepare physically, mentally and tactically for their next mountain adventure. She uses her first­hand expe­ri­ence in the moun­tains to cre­ate custom train­ing plans for her clients.

Lisa Instagram: @lisaclimbs
Alpine Athletics Instagram: @alpineathletics_

Host:
With over 22 years of experience spanning law, business, and high-performance sports, Jess Sargus brings a unique, results-driven approach to coaching that’s grounded in real-world experience. Her background includes:

• Leadership in High-Stakes Legal and Business Roles: Jess has held positions such as Chief Legal Officer for a leading Southwestern law firm and Global Head of Business Affairs at Jellysmack, a $1B+ unicorn tech startup. She has also represented clients in high-stakes litigation, including appeals up to the United States Supreme Court, where she is admitted to practice.
• Elite Negotiation Skills: Jess’s work negotiating high-profile deals for Marvel Studios, Disney Parks & Experiences, and other global brands demonstrates her ability to perform at the highest level under pressure.
• Competitive Combat Sports Success: As an undefeated boxer and MMA fighter, Jess mastered the art of resilience, strategy, and focus—skills she now teaches to lawyers striving for elite performance.

This rare combination of expertise and a fighter's grit gives Jess unparalleled insight into what it takes to succeed in demanding careers while maintaining balance and fulfillment.

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW

Main Topics Discussed:

• Habit Stacking Defined
• The Habit Loop Framework
• Neuroscience Behind Habit Stacking
• Real-World Example

Key Takeaways & Actionable Tips:

1. Identify the Habit
2. Break Down the Habit Loop
3. Adjust the Routine
4. Practice Consistently
5. Reduce Decision Fatigue

Remember, we are creatures of habit, for better or worse. Let’s choose to make it for better. Keep stacking those daily wins and elevate your performance both in and out of the courtroom!

Resource mentioned: LinkedIn post with Habit Stacking Infographic

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW

Main Topics Discussed:

🏎 Why mental performance training is the competitive advantage for trial lawyers
🏎 How race car drivers train for focus, emotional control, and decision-making—and how these skills apply in trial
🏎 The three core mental skills trial lawyers must master to dominate in the courtroom:
✔ Present-moment focus – Controlling attention, processing key details, avoiding mistakes.
✔ Mental discipline – Staying locked into strategy even when things don’t go as planned.
✔ Consistency under pressure – Executing at a high level despite unpredictability.

Mental Performance Mastery Techniques & Strategies Covered:

🔹 "Win the Next Play" Mentality – Let go of past mistakes and focus on the next best move.
🔹 Focus on Controllables – Control your mindset, breath, preparation, and effort instead of external chaos.
🔹 Reset Routines – Develop a pre-planned cue (breath, phrase, action) to refocus instantly.
🔹 E+R=O (Event + Response = Outcome) – Train your mind to respond strategically instead of reacting emotionally.
🔹 Mental Imagery & Visualization – Prime your brain for peak execution by mentally rehearsing trial moments before they happen.
🔹 Reticular Activating System (RAS) Training – Strengthen your brain’s ability to filter distractions and lock in on what truly matters.
🔹 Scenario Rehearsal & Pivot Training – Mentally prepare for unexpected challenges so you can pivot with confidence.

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW

Episode 13 – The Secret to Your Success is Love with Dr. Mackenzie Cramblit
 

Main Takeaways:

1. Love is a Differentiator for Success: Genuine love for your work or role enhances motivation, productivity, and resilience while combating burnout.
2. The Role of Belonging: A sense of belonging—to yourself, your values, and your community—fuels performance and personal growth.
3. Self-Love is Foundational: Self-trust is at the core of self-love and essential for discerning what aligns with your highest potential.
4. Avoid Transactionalism in Love and Work: Relationships (personal and professional) thrive on authenticity, not transactional exchanges.
5. Alignment Over Hustle: Focusing on alignment with your values leads to sustainable success in work and relationships.
6. The Path is Always Unfolding: Obstacles and detours are part of the journey toward growth and fulfillment.

• [00:01] Introduction to Dr. Mackenzie Cramblit: Exploring her journey from anthropology and consulting to relationship coaching.
• [03:08] The Importance of Belonging: How community and alignment drive performance and happiness.
• [09:06] Love as a Workplace Superpower: Discussing the role of love and passion in career success.
• [11:33] Parallels Between Work and Relationships: How career habits reflect in personal relationships.
• [23:08] Reframing Limiting Beliefs: Moving beyond achievement-based worthiness.
• [34:35] Building Self-Love and Emotional Resilience: Practical steps to cultivate self-trust and stillness.
• [43:16] Closing Thoughts: The profound ripple effect of self-love and alignment.

1. Practice Receiving Compliments: Next time someone gives you a compliment, simply say “thank you” without deflecting or minimizing it. This strengthens your ability to receive love and appreciation.
2. Create Daily Moments of Stillness: Dedicate even a few minutes daily to sit quietly with yourself—without distractions—to connect with your inner wisdom and align with your values.

• Dr. Mackenzie Cramblit’s Website: mackenziecramblit.com
• Dr. Cramblit’s Podcast: Your Next Big Love (featuring an episode with Jess Sargus on burnout and relationships).
• Books: Calling in "The One" by Katherine Woodward Thomas, Love + Work by Marcus Buckingham.
• Apps: Calm and other mindfulness tools for cultivating stillness.

Self-love isn’t a destination—it’s a daily practice that enhances every aspect of life. As Dr. Cramblit says, “You’re always on the path, even when it feels unclear.” Embrace where you are, trust yourself, and let love guide the way to happiness, community, and success.

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW

In this special guest episode of The Legal Athlete Podcast, Dean Soukeras, Zen Master of Scaling Success, joins Jess Sargus to discuss the Zen of High-Growth for Trial Lawyers.  

Dean is the CEO and Founder of Zen to One, a transformative coaching company that helps founders scale not just their businesses but also their mindsets. Dean graduated law school and practiced real estate law in NY before deciding to change directions and reinvent his career. He founded a tech company that grew to $40M in revenue and then went on to found 2 more startups before landing a role at Meta.

Today, Dean has reinvented himself yet again, from a seasoned tech entrepreneur to an executive coach who shares what he's learned, through success and failure, about building and scaling high-growth businesses. Dean’s unique approach that blends the high-stakes world of business growth with the grounding principles of Zen practice, arising out of his decades of experience as an avid Zen practitioner.

Now, Dean's insights aren’t just for founders—they hold powerful lessons for trial lawyers, who navigate their own high-stakes environments daily. Having built and scaled high-growth companies himself, Dean understands the relentless pressure and burnout that come with striving for success. His work now focuses on helping leaders reconnect with their core values, align their actions with those values, and create the "permission structures" that allow for innovation, play, and sustainable growth.

In this episode, we’ll explore what the Zen mindset and the art of scaling businesses can teach trial lawyers (and all of us) about reinvention, overcoming burnout, reconnecting with their purpose, and thriving in their practices.

If you’ve ever felt like your actions are out of sync with your values—or wondered how to unlock the energy and freedom to experiment and grow—this conversation is for you. Prepare to discover the Zen of High-Growth for Trial Lawyers.

Actionable Tips:
1. Align Your Work with Your Core Values

To avoid burnout and increase satisfaction, identify what truly drives you. Reflect on the types of cases, clients, or tasks that energize you versus those that drain you. Use this insight to make intentional choices about the work you take on, ensuring it aligns with your personal and professional values.

Grant yourself the freedom to try new approaches in your practice or personal life. Whether it's streamlining your trial preparation or exploring innovative courtroom strategies, give yourself "permission to play" without fear of failure. Even small experiments can lead to breakthroughs and a renewed sense of purpose.

Surround yourself with trusted colleagues, mentors, or friends who can provide honest feedback and encouragement. Their perspective can help you recalibrate when you’re stuck, offering clarity and motivation to stay aligned with your goals. Remember, thriving in law—and life—is not a solo endeavor.

Resources:

Connect with Jess Sargus, Founder, Speaker & High-Performance Coach, The Legal Athlete on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicarichmansargus/

Connect with Dean Soukeras, Founder of Zen to One: Zen to One - Where Startup Skillset meets Zen Mindset, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deansoukeras/

Zero to One: Notes on Startups, or How to Build the Future by Peter Thiel, Blake Masters:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/zero-to-one-peter-thiel/1115559270

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW

Main Topics Covered:

• Understanding what trauma is and how it affects clients emotionally, mentally, and physically.
• Recognizing how trauma manifests in legal settings, including common behavioral and communication patterns.
• Preparing clients to testify while addressing their emotional and mental well-being.
• Building trust and rapport with clients to improve communication and case outcomes.
• Avoiding re-traumatization and supporting clients in highly stressful situations.
• The importance of self-care for lawyers to maintain emotional resilience.

Main Themes to Remember in a Trauma-Informed Legal Practice:

1. Empathy and Awareness: Understanding trauma’s impact on clients and witnesses helps lawyers build stronger relationships. Trauma is about what happens within you, not just the event that happened to you.
2. Present Moment Practices for Regulation: Helping clients develop practices and resources to manage emotions and stress, and to stay in the present moment, before and during testimony is essential. The key here is substantial preparation, for which there is no substitute.
3. Self-Care for Lawyers: Acknowledging secondary trauma and implementing personal resilience strategies allow lawyers to be their most effective advocates for trauma survivor clients.

3 Actionable Tips for Lawyers to Create a Trauma-Informed Practice:

1. Check Yourself First: Before working with clients, regulate your own nervous system. Be the "thermostat" that sets the emotional tone for your interactions.
2. Create a Safe Environment: Assess your office setup and communication style to ensure they promote trust and comfort. Small adjustments, such as seating arrangements or word choice, can make a significant difference.
3. Prepare Clients for Stress & Build Rapport and Trust: Use techniques like breathing exercises, grounding activities, or counseling referrals to help clients manage emotions and recall events accurately under pressure. Build rapport and trust with your clients by acknowledging that this may be hard for them, and that their memory may be imperfect, but that you are there to support them to be as effective as possible for them.

Resources Mentioned:

• What Happened to You by Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey (book on trauma and healing).
• Patty Montagnino’s website: pattymontagnino.com

Are you looking for a speaker to energize and empower your organization to develop a fighter's mindset and master their mental performance every day? Or are you interested in a talk or workshop on The Green Light Method, a neuroscience- and performance psychology-based system that helps individuals and teams live and work with Fierce Agency (TM), override fear-based hesitation, rewire limiting beliefs, and take aligned, empowered action toward peak performance and purpose-driven success?

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

Ready to win more at trial without burnout? Limited spaces are still available to secure your own 1:1, 8-week Accelerated Trial Fight Camp.

DM me today on LinkedIn or email me at [email protected].

The Legal Athlete Website: Click to learn more about engaging Jess Sargus as a speaker for your group or event, or to explore coaching with Jess Sargus to master your mindset, execute under pressure, and thrive in your career and life for the long term through science and sports psychology.  

Also, through the website, you can download a free copy of The Legal Athlete Daily Planner to help you organize and prioritize easily to grow and get better every day, practice the 6 longevity habits studies show have the greatest positive impact, and implement your Daily Glimmer habit to bring more resilience and happiness into your life. Or, download and print the 4 Steps to Elite Habits flow chart PDF for free to guide your daily and weekly elite habits. 

Music: Bounce Like This, by Wolves - YouTube ID UUFGDERWUSZ9LXWL

Ready to Fight, by Arenas - YouTube ID XKO39W3SJHGS9EKW