In this episode, I sit down with Itamar Marani, a former Israeli special operator turned elite performance coach, to talk about what it really takes to win the battles inside your own head. Itamar shares a wild story from his undercover days that completely reshaped how he viewed fear, identity, and control — and how those lessons now help high-level entrepreneurs break mental patterns that hold them back.

We unpack how pressure shows up in business, the three default responses people fall into when stressed, and why slowing down might be the most powerful move you can make.

This is a deep dive into the psychology of performance, leadership, and mindset — from survival mode to peak potential.

Key Takeaways:

- Fear is context. Whether it’s life-or-death or payroll-on-Friday, your nervous system can’t tell the difference.

- Awareness first. You can’t out-work a pattern you don’t even know exists.

- The three stress defaults: go harder, play nice, or prove them wrong — and how each can quietly destroy progress.

- Performance ≠ pressure. You can achieve big goals without the emotional chaos that usually comes with them.

- Future-first focus. Clarify what you want, identify the bottleneck, and only then explore what’s holding you back.

- Toxic achievement is real. Hustle built on resentment or a chip on your shoulder burns fast and leaves you empty.

- Coaching that works creates results. Healing is part of growth, but measurable impact keeps it grounded and real.

If this episode hit home, send it to a friend who needs a mindset reset. Rate and review the show to help more high-achievers build calm, confident momentum.

👉 Stop playing small, book a call! Link in bio 👉 For more information visit https://www.austinlinney.com/ 👉 The @constructyourlifepodcast is available on ALL platforms More Resources: Discover Proactive Operators at https://www.proactiveoperators.com/. We’re not just coaches—we’re operators and investors with real skin in the game. Our battle-tested strategies come straight from our own businesses. No theory, just execution.No theory, just real execution. Book a call and let’s make things happen! #MINDSETPODCAST #BUSINESSPODCAST #REALESTATEPODCAST Powered by https://www.podcastproducer.com/