You want to eat better, study film, and train harder. But then… “right now” wins. The cookies on the counter, the video game after practice, the temptation to scroll on your phone instead of stretching. Impulsivity kills long-term goals. In this episode, Coach Pinkston shows you why willpower alone won’t save you—and how to outsmart your impulses by designing your environment. You’ll learn about temptation bundling, removing cues, and making the right choice the easy choice. Athletes succeed not because they’re robots with perfect discipline, but because they shape their surroundings for success. If “present you” keeps beating “future you,” this episode will give you the tools to flip the script. Stop losing to “right now”—and start setting yourself up for wins that last beyond the moment.

Today’s Action Step:

Step 1: Remove the Cue. Whatever tempts you most—sugar, screens, distractions—make it harder to access. Out of sight, out of reach, out of mind.

Step 2: Bundle Temptation. Pair something you want with something you should do. Only listen to your favorite playlist while lifting. Only watch your show while biking.

Step 3: Make Good the Default. Put the healthy snacks where you see them first. Put your workout clothes out before bed. Make the right choice the easy choice.

About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day.

Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.

• 1-on-1 Coaching Programs
• Team Consulting
• Leadership Development
• Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.

Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston

Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

If you don’t believe you can do it, you’ll never take the first step. Confidence isn’t just “feeling good about yourself”—it’s the foundation for every rep, every practice, every performance. In this episode, Coach Pinkston unpacks why athletes often sabotage themselves before they even begin. You’ll learn how confidence is built through action, not hype, and how small wins can create momentum. You’ll also hear strategies to replace negative self-talk with a growth mindset that reframes failure as feedback. Whether you’re trying to earn a starting spot, bounce back from injury, or finally trust your preparation, this episode will help you unlock unshakable belief in yourself. Because the truth is, confidence isn’t something you wait to have—it’s something you create, one rep at a time.

Today’s Action Step:

Step 1: Build Small Wins. Pick one thing you can guarantee success in every single day—a 10-minute stretch routine, hitting your hydration goal, journaling after practice. Stack wins you can control.

Step 2: Reframe Failure. After every mistake, ask yourself: What did I just learn? Write it down. Treat each failure as a rep that strengthens—not weakens—your foundation.

Step 3: Act First, Confidence Later. Don’t wait to “feel ready.” Take one action today you’ve been avoiding. Confidence won’t meet you at the starting line—it will meet you after the first rep

About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day.

Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.

• 1-on-1 Coaching Programs
• Team Consulting
• Leadership Development
• Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.

Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston

Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

Every athlete knows the cycle: you try to change a habit, a routine, or a mindset… and you fail. Then the self-talk kicks in: “I must not want it enough. I’m not tough enough. I don’t have enough discipline.” Sound familiar? You’re not broken, and you’re not weak. The truth is, real change isn’t about willpower—it’s about strategy. In this episode, Coach Pinkston unpacks why cookie-cutter approaches like “just do it” or “want it more” don’t work, and reveals a better way forward. You’ll learn how to identify the real obstacles holding you back, how to match the right tool to the right challenge, and how to stop beating yourself up when change feels impossible. Whether you’re in the gym, on the field, or chasing consistency in life, this episode will help you finally create lasting transformation. I highly recommend reading Katy Milkman’s book “How To Change” for a deeper dive into this week's principles, I know I learned a lot from it. I hope you do too.

Today’s Action Step:

Step 1: Identify the Block. What’s really holding you back right now? Is it confidence? Impulsivity? Procrastination? Forgetfulness? Laziness? Conformity? Pick one. Name it.

Step 2: Match the Tool. Now that you know the block, brainstorm one tool that could help. If it’s procrastination, maybe it’s a deadline. If it’s forgetfulness, maybe it’s a reminder on your phone. If it’s conformity, maybe it’s choosing to sit next to the hardest worker on your team.

Step 3: Run a Test. Don’t overthink it. Just test one tool for one week. Don’t try to fix everything. Just attack one obstacle with one strategy and see what happens.

About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day.

Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.

• 1-on-1 Coaching Programs
• Team Consulting
• Leadership Development
• Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.

Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston

Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.