December 03, 2025

Why Most Founders Plateau Early (According to the Research)

25 minutes

Most people still believe excellence is a gift.

This episode shows you why that idea is false — and why that belief is quietly capping your potential.

Today I break down one of my favourite pieces of performance research: The Making of an Expert by Anders Ericsson (the researcher behind Peak). It’s a rare, compact overview of what actually creates world-class performance in any field — business, coaching, sport, relationships, leadership, anything.

Inside, we cover:

• why experts are made, not born

• why “being talented” predicts nothing

• why most founders plateau early

• the real definition of expertise (and why it’s uncomfortable)

• what deliberate practice actually looks like

• why most people never come close to their potential

• how to structure your own path to elite performance

• the role of coaches, feedback, and psychological stretch

• why your mind — not your tactics — determines your ceiling

If you’re a founder who feels capable of far more than you’re currently producing, this episode will give you a scientific blueprint for becoming exceptional — not through motivation, but through real sets and reps.

This is how world-class performers are built.

And it’s available to you.

...more