Steve Magness (@stevemagness)

We love to say athletes are driven by one of two things: Love winning. Or hate losing. Kobe Bryant saw it differently. “I’m neither. I play to figure things out.”...

The paradox of winning: The more you obsess over it, the more likely you are to play not to lose. That’s why some of the greatest coaches in history—Nick Saban, John Wooden, Tom Tellez, Bill Walsh—have all told their athletes the same thing: Stop focusing on winning. Here’s why that counterintuit...

Most people think better self-talk means telling yourself “I’ve got this” on repeat. It’s not that simple. Your inner dialogue is messy, a mix of competing voices, motives, and modules all vying for control. Some push you forward. Others hold you back. If you want better self-talk, you need to u...

The most fascinating thing I’ve learned in 2 years of parenting? Toddlers weigh the cost of effort. They don’t randomly try or give up. They observe. Evaluate. Persist...when it seems worth it. And we play a huge role in whether they try or throw in the towel. Here’s what parenting, science, an...

Performance isn’t just about doing the right things. It’s about unlearning the habits, fears, and stories that get in the way. Most of coaching is helping someone let go— Of perfection, pressure, and the need to prove themselves....

Your brain doesn’t care about greatness. It cares about survival. So when things get hard, it starts running the calculus: “Is this worth it?” “What’s the risk?” And if you came in expecting easy, even small discomforts feel catastrophic. The problem isn’t the discomfort, it’s the mismatch betwee...

We love the idea that it’s the mind that sets champions apart. Mental toughness. Grit. Mindset. But what if that story is too clean? After 18 years of researching Olympians and elite athletes, I’ve learned: The truth about mental performance is messier—and more useful—than we think. Let's dive ...

Can you still recall the sting of a small comment from years ago? A parent, a coach, a friend...it didn’t seem like much at the time. Yet it stuck with you. That’s not a flaw. It’s how our brains work. New research reveals why we forget praise but replay criticism for years...and what to do abou...

Confidence is earned. It needs evidence. But when the pressure rises, your brain latches on to every reason you might fail. We have a negativity bias. This isn’t a glitch. It’s protection. The solution? Give your brain proof that you're ready. Keep an evidence journal....