Maybe—a simple word drawn from an ancient Chinese parable that challenges how we judge life's wins and losses.

In this episode, you'll hear the story of a farmer whose horse runs away, then returns with seven wild horses, then causes his son to break his leg, which saves him from war. At every turn, the neighbors rush to label each event as disaster or blessing. The farmer? He simply says: "Maybe."

This isn't about indifference or avoiding reality. It's about recognizing that we're often standing too close to the canvas to see the full picture. We don't know the consequences of our misfortunes, and we don't know the consequences of our good fortunes.

For coaches navigating the extremes—the crushing losses, the unexpected wins, the chaos of leading others—this ancient wisdom offers a powerful tool: the ability to feel the ends without letting them define you.

*NEW* Education - Captains & Coaches course, "Why They're Not Listening - Coaching Today's Athlete": http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

We train our athletes' bodies religiously—but what about their minds?

In this episode, I sit down with Shenna Jean [@shennajean], founder of Make One Day Happen, to explore why the mental training gap in athletics is costing our athletes performance, confidence, and long-term well-being. Shenna brings sound visualization, breathwork, and nervous system regulation to everyone from Division I teams to pro athletes to corporate leadership groups—and she's pulling back the curtain on what actually works.

Here's the reality: 90% of Olympians use visualization as a core part of their success, but the rest of the athletic world? They're being told to "just go visualize" without any real training on how to do it. It's like telling someone to get stronger without giving them a program or a barbell.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Thought Defense strategies - Zone defense (gratitude & affirmations) vs Man-to-Man defense (anti-thoughts for specific limiting beliefs)
• Why we're over-meditated and under-visualized - The difference between mindful awareness and conscious creation
• The 90-second emotion rule - How to separate body sensations from the mental narratives we attach to them
• Shame vs Guilt in coaching - Why leading with shame keeps athletes in fight-flight-freeze instead of flow state

This episode is for coaches who want to:

• Give their athletes mental training tools that actually work
• Understand how to regulate their own nervous system so they can lead with composure
• Help athletes build intrinsic motivation instead of performing out of fear
• Create team cohesion faster in the age of transfer portal and NIL

*NEW* Education - Captains & Coaches course, "Why They're Not Listening - Coaching Today's Athlete": http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

You don't have lazy athletes. You have athletes who don't feel ownership over who they're becoming.

In this episode, we break down the exact language progression that transforms teenage effort from something you have to demand into something they generate from within. Using the "I Want → I Am" framework, you'll learn how to guide athletes through seven identity-building stages that turn fragile motivation into unshakable self-leadership.

This isn't about yelling louder or running harder conditioning. It's about understanding that thoughts become reality—and the language we use as coaches either builds athletes who own their effort or creates performers who'll never push beyond our presence. If you want your team to actually give a sh*t this year, start here.

What you'll learn:

• Why modern athletes shut down when coaches use old-school motivation tactics
• The 7-stage identity ladder from "I want" to "I am" (with coaching cues for each)
• How to use writing, vocal awareness, and visualization to anchor commitment
• The difference between confidence-building and outcome-chasing
• Why helping athletes level-set their current skill is more powerful than hype

Language shapes identity. Identity drives behavior. This is how you raise the game.

*NEW* Education - Captains & Coaches course, "Why They're Not Listening - Coaching Today's Athlete": http://listen.captainsandcoaches.com

Training - Old Bull Program - 7 Day Free Trial - https://bit.ly/old-bull-train

#CoachingPhilosophy #AthleteMotivation #YouthSportsCoaching #TeenageAthletes #LeadershipDevelopment #CoachBetter #TransformationalCoaching #SportsCoaching #CoachEducation #TeamCulture #HighSchoolSports #CoachingMindset #AthleteDevelopment #CaptainsAndCoaches #ModernCoaching