Today is National Quitters Day, which is the point in the year when most New Year’s goals and resolutions begin to fall apart. In this episode, we explore why New Year’s resolutions often unravel, why and how to shift your focus from outcomes to inputs, and a simple daily question that can keep you aligned with the person you want to become. We’ll also challenge the idea that quitting is always failure and offer a more intentional way to think about when to persist and when to stop.

• If you’re a coach committed to leveling up in 2026, I'm offering free coaching calls to help you get clarity on your goals, identify what's getting in the way, and outline practical steps we can create for you to become the leader you aspire to be. You can book this free call using this link: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Most people don’t fall short of excellence because they lack ability, but rather because the work becomes mundane, repetitive, and unrewarding long before the payoff ever arrives. In this episode, we unpack how excellence functions like a filter, gradually removing people, along the journey. 

• If you’re a coach committed to leveling up in 2026, I'm offering free coaching calls to help you get clarity on your goals, identify what's getting in the way, and outline practical steps we can create for you to become the leader you aspire to be. You can book this free call using this link: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Drift is inevitable in the pursuit of any meaningful goal. Our focus will inevitably fade as initial enthusiasm wears off. Our standards will soften as we start cutting corners or making small compromises along the way. And most of the time, this all happens slowly and subtly. In this episode, I explore why I believe coaching is about helping people manage drift andhow we can function like rumble strips to keep our people from veering off-course.

• If you’re a coach committed to leveling up in 2026, I'm offering free coaching calls to help you get clarity on your goals, identify what's getting in the way, and outline practical steps we can create for you to become the leader you aspire to be. You can book this free call using this link: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

This is the second episode of the From the Other Side of the Mic series where I'm cross-sharing a conversation from a different podcast I've been on. Today's episode is a recording of a discussion I was part of for the Coach Your Brains Out podcast, where I joined Billy Allen, Ceci Clark, and Bernie Holliday for a deep dive into what it truly takes to create a high-performance environment.

In this conversation, you’ll hear three different perspectives from practitioners who have led mental performance departments in Major League Baseball. Together, we unpack how environments are intentionally designed, how standards and behaviors are shaped, and why culture is one of the most powerful performance drivers available to leaders.

Finally, be sure to subscribe to the show to stay current with upcoming short-form and long-form episodes throughout 2026. New guest interview epidoes will be released in a few weeks.

 Learn More About the Coach Your Brains Out Podcast:

• You can listen to other episodes on the Coach Your Brains Out podcast here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/coach-your-brains-out/id1060183650
• You can also watch a previous discussion from this panel where we discussed our perspectives on "positive thinking": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fB2JPz0XpEc
• You can learn more about Billy Allen here:
• You can learn more about Ceci Craft here:
• You can learn more about Bernie Holliday here: 

 Learn More About Zach:

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

Two teachers witnessed the same moment with the same child and told two completely different stories. In this episode, we explore how the event didn’t change, but the interpretation did. For athletes, our explanations play a significant role in shaping our confidence and momentum (especially after mistakes). For leaders and coaches, our explanations will impact decisions, conversations, and the culture for those we lead. Thus, today's episode is a reminder that outcomes are often driven less by what happens and more by the meaning we assign to it. 

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

In the span of three days, an NBA superstar had two wildly different performances, but he was adamant that his process stayed the same. This episode unpacks why elite performers have to learn to trust their process and not overreact to results, even when their career might be dependent on them. 

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

In the early 2000's, Steve Wynn and other executives set out to redefine Las Vegas by intentionally changing the public's perception of the city. Through stories from the Wynn organization, this episode breaks down what coaches and leaders can learn about the power of one's environment on shaping behavior and identity. We'll discuss why first-class behaviors require first-class environments and how coaches influence a team's culture and identity far beyond facilities or resources.

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

This episode features a conversation from my recent appearance on the Being Champions Podcast with Matt Booth. We talk about the biggest challenges facing coaches today, identity traps in coaching, and how mindset, leadership, and environment influence both performance and well-being. 

Learn More About Matt Booth:

• To learn more about Matt’s work, you can follow him here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthew-booth-27699676?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• You can listen to other episodes from the Being Champions podcast here: https://open.spotify.com/show/41X6O0OtGqQWIZg12o1Px3?si=cNuHdgqlRCyzVmm3wFuSlQ

 Learn More About Zach:

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

A leader's presence is never neutral. This episode highlights a recent quote from college football head coach, Jon Sumrall, that challenges leaders to take responsibility for the energy and value they bring into every space. Using examples from elite college football coaches and Liz Wiseman's research on "multipliers," this episode offers a simple self-audit to help coaches lead with greater intention, consistency, and impact.

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/

This episode marks the beginning of a new chapter for the show. In this episode, Zach introduces Win More, Live Better and unpacks the philosophy behind the rebrand. He explains why this show will continue to commit to helping coaches and high performers pursue excellence without sacrificing their well-being, joy, relationships, and fulfillment in the process.

This episode is an invitation to rethink what success looks like, how it’s sustained, and how coaches can win more, while living better along the way.

• If you’re a coach or leader striving for more clarity, consistency, and fulfillment, feel free to sign up for a free discovery call to see how I can best support you: https://calendly.com/zachbrandon/discoverycall
• For more practical tools and mindset stories like this, you can subscribe to my free newsletter here: https://winningwithwords.beehiiv.com/