For the first 18 months of my sobriety, I was embarrassed to talk about it.

Then something changed. I stopped seeing recovery as something I needed to hide and started seeing it as one of my superpowers.

And something else happened: people started reaching out.

Alcohol. Mental health. Relationships. Life falling apart behind the scenes.

In this episode of Win Well, I ask a question I’ve been thinking about a lot lately: Are more people struggling—or are we finally becoming more willing to talk about it?

We talk about shame, vulnerability, anonymity, asking for help, and what I’ve learned about sharing my own recovery while respecting the privacy and anonymity of others.

You don't have to fix everyone.

Sometimes you just have to go first.

Recover out loud. Your story might give someone else permission to tell theirs.

🎙️ Win Well with Jared Sunsdahl
Leadership • Performance • Recovery • Purpose

Get 1% Better Every Day.

#WinWell #Recovery #Sobriety #MentalHealth #AlcoholRecovery #PersonalGrowth #1PercentBetter

Description

You probably already know what you need to do.

Sleep better. Move your body. Eat reasonably well. Put the phone down. Make the call. Have the conversation. Stop the habit you know is hurting you.

So why is actually doing it so hard?

In this episode of Win Well, I talk about the gap between knowing and doing, why information overload can actually keep us stuck, and why we may be quitting on change too soon.

We also look at the research behind the “21 days to form a habit” myth—and why the real answer is closer to 66 days on average, with a lot of individual variation.

Simple doesn’t mean easy.

Maybe you don’t need another hack, app, podcast, or perfect plan.

Maybe you need to pick one thing you already know you need to do—and start doing it.

🎙️ Win Well with Jared Sunsdahl
Leadership • Performance • Recovery • Purpose

Get 1% Better Every Day.

🌐 sunsdahlgroup.com
📱 Instagram: @jaredsunsdahl

#WinWell #PersonalGrowth #Habits #Performance #Leadership #1PercentBetter

Twenty-five years ago, September 11, 2001 changed America—and it changed the next 20 years of my life.

I was a Sergeant stationed at Fort Knox, Kentucky when the planes hit the Twin Towers. Fort Knox locked down. We began conducting daily patrols and guarding the gold vault. I remember thinking that whatever came next, those of us wearing the uniform were going to be part of it.

I couldn't have known then that I would eventually deploy to Iraq once and Afghanistan twice, or that America would spend roughly the next 20 years at war.

But this episode isn't a history lesson about 9/11.

It's about what I remember—and what I don't want us to forget.

I've visited the World Trade Center Memorial three times and have also stood at Pearl Harbor. Both are incredibly solemn places. And they've made me realize something:

Eventually, memory becomes history.

There are adults today who weren't alive on September 11. Someday, 9/11 will be to future generations what Pearl Harbor was to many of us—a story passed down by the people who remember it.

We have a responsibility to tell that story.

But I hope we tell them about September 12, too.

I remember an America that was grieving, angry and afraid—but also incredibly united. People checked on their neighbors. Flags were everywhere. Communities came together. For a moment, our differences didn't seem nearly as important.

I don't want another September 11. But I'd give a lot to experience another September 12.

Maybe we don't need another tragedy to become those people again.

Never forget September 11.

And don't forget September 12.

— Jared Sunsdahl
Win Well Podcast
Sunsdahl Performance Group
Leadership • Performance • Recovery
Get 1% Better Every Day.

#September11 #NeverForget #September12 #911Anniversary #Veterans #Leadership #WinWellPodcast #SunsdahlPerformanceGroup

How bad does it have to get before you're willing to change?

For me, that question showed up with alcohol. I knew something wasn't right long before I finally decided to do something about it. But I was still working, leading, exercising, paying the bills and taking care of my responsibilities.

I was functioning—so I convinced myself I was okay.

But this isn't just about alcohol.

We do the same thing with our health, relationships, careers, mental well-being and countless other areas of our lives. We see the warning signs, but we keep pushing until something finally forces us to change.

In this episode of Win Well, I talk about my own experience and one simple idea:

You don't have to wait for life to choose your bottom. You can choose it yourself.

You don't have to change everything today. Identify the one area you already know needs attention and take one small step.

Get 1% Better Every Day.

— Jared Sunsdahl
Sunsdahl Performance Group
Leadership • Performance • Recovery

We all have an internal voice. The problem is, sometimes we’ve listened to it for so long that we stop questioning whether what it’s saying is actually true.

“I’m an idiot.”
“I always screw this up.”
“I should be further along.”
“I’m not good enough.”

In this episode of Win Well, I share what I’ve been learning about my own negative self-talk, self-deprecating humor, and the stories I’ve repeated about myself for years.

I also share one simple practice I’m working on:

PAUSE. NOTICE. CHOOSE.

You don’t have to fix every negative thought today. Start by noticing the conversation you’re having with yourself.

🎙️ Win Well | Sunsdahl Performance Group

Leadership • Performance • Recovery
Get 1% Better Every Day.

From the outside, I looked successful.I had a military career, promotions, leadership opportunities, a family, and plenty of reasons to believe I had everything under control.What no one saw was the relationship that was quietly taking more than it was giving.In this episode of Win Well, I share my story of living as a functioning alcoholic, the lies I believed, why success can hide addiction, and how recovery became about much more than quitting alcohol—it became about learning how to truly live again.Whether you're struggling with alcohol, work, achievement, anxiety, or simply feel like you're surviving instead of living, I hope this conversation encourages you to take an honest look at what may be keeping you from becoming the person you were created to be.You don't have to lose everything before you choose something better.If this episode resonated with you, I'd love for you to subscribe, share it with someone who needs it, and join me each week as we learn how to Win Well.Leadership. Performance. Recovery.— Jared SunsdahlSunsdahl Performance Group

ave you ever felt like no matter how much you accomplish, it's never quite enough?For years, I believed success meant saying yes to every opportunity, taking on more responsibility, and constantly chasing the next goal. From enlisted Soldier to Army Lieutenant Colonel, Ranger School, combat deployments, and leadership roles, I learned how to perform at a high level.What I didn't learn was how to recover.In this episode, I share my own journey through burnout, why so many high performers struggle, and the lessons that helped me redefine success without giving up my drive to compete.If you're a veteran, leader, entrepreneur, first responder, or simply someone striving for excellence, this conversation is for you.In this episode you'll learn:Why high performers burn outThe hidden habits that lead to burnoutHow to pursue excellence without sacrificing yourselfWhy recovery is a leadership skillA question that changed the way I view successIf this episode encouraged or challenged you, I'd love for you to subscribe and join me each week as we explore leadership, purpose, resilience, and sustainable performance.Lead yourself well. Serve others. Get 1% Better Every Day.#leadership #burnout #veterans #purpose #resilience #personalgrowth #mentalhealth #highperformance

What happens when the mission changes?For many veterans, military service provides structure, identity, purpose, and a clear mission. But when the uniform comes off, many are left asking, "Who am I now?"In this first episode, I share my own journey of leadership, burnout, recovery, and rediscovering purpose—not by finding another title, but by learning to lead myself first and continue serving others in a new way.If you're a veteran, first responder, leader, or someone rebuilding your life after adversity, I hope this conversation reminds you that your mission doesn't end. It simply changes.This week's challenge:Find one person you can serve this week. A phone call, a conversation, a small act of kindness—purpose often grows when we stop chasing it and start helping others.If this message encouraged you, subscribe for weekly conversations on:• Leadership• Veteran transition & recovery• Health & performance• Resilience• PurposeLead yourself. Serve others. Get 1% Better Every Day.#Veterans #MilitaryTransition #Leadership #Recovery #Purpose #Resilience #MentalHealth #SelfLeadership #VeteranLife #PersonalGrowth