On social media, people speak in absolutes: No alcohol, candy,...
Steve Magness@stevemagness
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Nov 17, 2025
~2 min read
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1
On social media, people speak in absolutes:
No alcohol, candy, sugar, etc.
Super strict crazy routines
Every world class athlete I know: eats some candy, drinks an occasional beer, has routines but is flexible
Why? Neuroticism gets in the way of performance.
No alcohol, candy, sugar, etc.
Super strict crazy routines
Every world class athlete I know: eats some candy, drinks an occasional beer, has routines but is flexible
Why? Neuroticism gets in the way of performance.
2
The best athletes I’ve been around have crazy discipline and many routines…but know when to release from it when it gets in the way.
Actual performance is about adaptability.
Actual performance is about adaptability.
3
Scroll through social media, and you'll be bombarded with absolutes.
No alcohol. No sugar. No days off.
We see these super-strict, crazy routines and are told this is the secret to high performance.
But here's the truth: every world-class athlete I've worked with eats some candy, or drinks an occasional beer, and is flexible with their routines.
Why? Neuroticism gets in the way of performance.
No alcohol. No sugar. No days off.
We see these super-strict, crazy routines and are told this is the secret to high performance.
But here's the truth: every world-class athlete I've worked with eats some candy, or drinks an occasional beer, and is flexible with their routines.
Why? Neuroticism gets in the way of performance.
4
There's a fine line between discipline that helps you and rigidity that gets in the way.
The gurus are selling you rigidity because it's simple and marketable.
The best performers on earth cultivate adaptability because that's what's effective.
The gurus are selling you rigidity because it's simple and marketable.
The best performers on earth cultivate adaptability because that's what's effective.
5
I've been there myself.
Early in my career, I thought if I could just be "perfect," it would unlock some new level of performance.
I cut out all alcohol, no soda, 100% focus on every "little thing."
But instead of making me better, it just drove me nuts.
I was just building anxiety.
Early in my career, I thought if I could just be "perfect," it would unlock some new level of performance.
I cut out all alcohol, no soda, 100% focus on every "little thing."
But instead of making me better, it just drove me nuts.
I was just building anxiety.
6
What you give attention to gains in value.
If you are constantly telling your brain that eating one piece of cake is a life-or-death event for your performance, your brain starts to believe it.
This creates a massive, disproportionate stress response.
You're no longer focused on the work, you're just ruminating on the cake.
If you are constantly telling your brain that eating one piece of cake is a life-or-death event for your performance, your brain starts to believe it.
This creates a massive, disproportionate stress response.
You're no longer focused on the work, you're just ruminating on the cake.
7
This is why the best performers are adaptable, not rigid.
They are incredibly, maniacally diligent about the 2-3 things that actually move the needle.
But they are ruthless about not driving themselves crazy over the small stuff that doesn't.
They save their cognitive and emotional energy for what truly matters.
They are incredibly, maniacally diligent about the 2-3 things that actually move the needle.
But they are ruthless about not driving themselves crazy over the small stuff that doesn't.
They save their cognitive and emotional energy for what truly matters.
8
It's the paradox of performance.
It's a "both/and" world, not the "either/or" of extremes.
The best do have crazy discipline and powerful routines.
But they also know exactly when to release from them.
They understand that a routine is a tool to serve performance, not a master to be served.
It's a "both/and" world, not the "either/or" of extremes.
The best do have crazy discipline and powerful routines.
But they also know exactly when to release from them.
They understand that a routine is a tool to serve performance, not a master to be served.
9
The people speaking in absolutes are selling you a brittle, fragile system.
Real, rugged performance is flexible and adaptive. It’s about knowing what matters and letting the rest go.
As Obi-Wan Kenobi wisely advised us many years ago, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes."
Real, rugged performance is flexible and adaptive. It’s about knowing what matters and letting the rest go.
As Obi-Wan Kenobi wisely advised us many years ago, "Only a Sith deals in absolutes."
