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Unashamedly Superhuman Pt.2: Flow State Is the Missing Link to Peak Performance with Jim Steele
What if the secret to scaling your business isn't working harder — but mastering the mental and physical strategies that elite performers use to stay at the top of their game?
In this episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins continues his conversation with Jim Steele — CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, author of Unashamedly Superhuman, and performance consultant who has spent over 25 years helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and elite athletes unlock their potential without burning out.
This powerful second part dives deep into Jim's personal journey of completing an Ironman triathlon after three years of setbacks, injuries, and a global pandemic. Jim shares the exact recovery protocols, breathwork strategies, and nervous system hacks he used to finish the race feeling better at the end than at the beginning. Together, Paul and Jim unpack the science of oscillation, why recovery is not a luxury but a necessity, how to use peripheral vision to calm your nervous system under pressure, and why most entrepreneurs are burning out because they never learned how to recharge.
This episode is essential listening for founders and CEOs who want to perform at their peak, build sustainable energy systems, and understand that adaptation beats endurance every single time.
Key TakeawaysHow Jim completed an Ironman triathlon solo during lockdown — and what he learned about performance under pressure
The two goals every challenge needs: an end goal and a performance goal
Why being in flow is exhausting — and how to build recovery into your day
The oscillation model used by special forces: stress, recovery, stress, recovery
Why a one-hour speech can have the same physical strain as a two-hour run
How to use active recovery breaks to recharge cognitively and physically between high-stakes calls
The peripheral vision hack that drops your heart rate in 60 seconds and switches off your stress response
Why burnout doesn't happen overnight — and how to prevent it with daily protocols
The power of non-sleep deep rest, breathwork, and ice baths for nervous system regulation
Why the more you can adapt, the less you have to endure
Jim Steele is CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, a leadership and performance consulting organization specializing in helping entrepreneurs, executives, and elite athletes achieve peak performance without burnout. Jim is the author of Unashamedly Superhuman and has over 25 years of experience working with global organizations, sports professionals, and high-performing teams. His work focuses on the science of performance, mindset mastery, and building sustainable strategies for clarity, momentum, and well-being.
Next StepsApply it now
Schedule three 10-15 minute active recovery breaks into your day. Walk outside, do breathwork, or engage your peripheral vision. Notice the difference in your energy and focus.
Learn more from Jim Steele
Get your copy of Unashamedly Superhuman and discover the frameworks elite performers use to stay at the top of their game. Available on Amazon here https://amzn.eu/d/0bskT9l6
Join Jim at Scale-Up Summit 2026
Jim will be speaking at Scale-Up Summit on April 29-30, 2026. Secure your ticket now at https://www.scaleupsummit.co.uk
Scale with Paul
If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence.
Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/
Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call
Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in
About Paul Avins
Paul Avins is a scale-up business coach and founder of the Grown-Up Business framework. He works with founders and CEOs to help them move from operator to scale-up leader — building businesses that grow sustainably, scale beyond the founder, and create real enterprise value. Paul's work focuses on disciplined leadership, high-performing teams, and systems that replace chaos with clarity.
Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.
View all episodes
By Paul AvinsWhat if the secret to scaling your business isn't working harder — but mastering the mental and physical strategies that elite performers use to stay at the top of their game?
In this episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins continues his conversation with Jim Steele — CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, author of Unashamedly Superhuman, and performance consultant who has spent over 25 years helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and elite athletes unlock their potential without burning out.
This powerful second part dives deep into Jim's personal journey of completing an Ironman triathlon after three years of setbacks, injuries, and a global pandemic. Jim shares the exact recovery protocols, breathwork strategies, and nervous system hacks he used to finish the race feeling better at the end than at the beginning. Together, Paul and Jim unpack the science of oscillation, why recovery is not a luxury but a necessity, how to use peripheral vision to calm your nervous system under pressure, and why most entrepreneurs are burning out because they never learned how to recharge.
This episode is essential listening for founders and CEOs who want to perform at their peak, build sustainable energy systems, and understand that adaptation beats endurance every single time.
Key TakeawaysHow Jim completed an Ironman triathlon solo during lockdown — and what he learned about performance under pressure
The two goals every challenge needs: an end goal and a performance goal
Why being in flow is exhausting — and how to build recovery into your day
The oscillation model used by special forces: stress, recovery, stress, recovery
Why a one-hour speech can have the same physical strain as a two-hour run
How to use active recovery breaks to recharge cognitively and physically between high-stakes calls
The peripheral vision hack that drops your heart rate in 60 seconds and switches off your stress response
Why burnout doesn't happen overnight — and how to prevent it with daily protocols
The power of non-sleep deep rest, breathwork, and ice baths for nervous system regulation
Why the more you can adapt, the less you have to endure
Jim Steele is CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, a leadership and performance consulting organization specializing in helping entrepreneurs, executives, and elite athletes achieve peak performance without burnout. Jim is the author of Unashamedly Superhuman and has over 25 years of experience working with global organizations, sports professionals, and high-performing teams. His work focuses on the science of performance, mindset mastery, and building sustainable strategies for clarity, momentum, and well-being.
Next StepsApply it now
Schedule three 10-15 minute active recovery breaks into your day. Walk outside, do breathwork, or engage your peripheral vision. Notice the difference in your energy and focus.
Learn more from Jim Steele
Get your copy of Unashamedly Superhuman and discover the frameworks elite performers use to stay at the top of their game. Available on Amazon here https://amzn.eu/d/0bskT9l6
Join Jim at Scale-Up Summit 2026
Jim will be speaking at Scale-Up Summit on April 29-30, 2026. Secure your ticket now at https://www.scaleupsummit.co.uk
Scale with Paul
If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence.
Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/
Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call
Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in
About Paul Avins
Paul Avins is a scale-up business coach and founder of the Grown-Up Business framework. He works with founders and CEOs to help them move from operator to scale-up leader — building businesses that grow sustainably, scale beyond the founder, and create real enterprise value. Paul's work focuses on disciplined leadership, high-performing teams, and systems that replace chaos with clarity.
Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.