In this bridge episode, Coach Steve connects the principles of service leadership from the locker room to everyday life — at school, at work, and at home. Learn how the same habits that make you a great teammate also make you a better friend, student, and family member. Today’s Action Step:  Choose one arena outside of sport  “How can I serve here this week?” Practice “listen-first” leadership. For one day, speak last in every conversation. Let others feel heard. End your day with gratitude. Write one sentence: “Today I made someone’s life a little better by…” 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.

 What do you do when the season’s tough, leadership feels lonely, and you’re tempted to pull back? Coach Steve shares how to stay grounded in service when the pressure’s on — because that’s when leadership matters most. Today’s Action Step:  When adversity hits, pause and ask: “What does my team need from me right now?” Replace self-pity with selfless action — a word of encouragement, a hard rep, a calm voice. Reflect after every challenge: “Did I serve or shrink today?” 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.

 Coach Steve breaks down how culture isn’t built in meetings or mission statements — it’s built in daily acts of service. Discover how small, consistent serving behaviours compound into unstoppable trust and performance. Today’s Action Step:  Identify one serving behavior that defines your team — do it every day until it becomes culture. Start a “servant shout-out” routine — highlight acts of service after each practice. Ask yourself nightly: “Did my actions lift the team today?” 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.

 This episode flips leadership upside down — Coach Steve explains why learning to follow well is the first step toward leading well. Every champion team starts with great followers. Today’s Action Step:  Defer intentionally. Let someone else take the spotlight and celebrate them. Practice active listening this week — hear to understand, not to respond. Reflect: How does following build trust and prepare me to lead later? 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.

Coach Steve dives into one of the biggest killers of team chemistry — ego. Discover how unchecked pride destroys trust and how true confidence comes from serving others, not proving yourself. Today’s Action Step:  Write down one way your ego shows up under pressure.  Maybe it’s frustration, needing praise, or withdrawing when you’re not the star. Replace that moment with one small act of service — cheer louder, give more effort, lift a teammate’s energy. Ask a teammate or coach for honest feedback: “Do I lead to help or to impress?” 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.

 In this kickoff episode, Coach Steve breaks down the hidden strength of serving others in sport. Discover why the greatest teams — from college championships to Olympic rosters — are led by athletes who care more about “we” than “me.” Learn how real leaders win by lifting others first. Today’s Action Step:  Do one invisible act of service every day for a teammate. Something no one will post on Instagram. Ask this question once a day: “What can I do to help you today?” Reflect nightly: Who did I lift today — and what did I learn about myself in the process? 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.

 In this final episode, Coach Steve shares how your One Word connects to faith. Using biblical stories and verses, he shows how God often gives us a single word — a calling — for the season we’re in. Today’s Action Step:  Pray or reflect: “God, what word are You giving me this year?” Write it down and keep it where you’ll see it daily. Live it as worship — not performance 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.

 Sports end, but the lessons don’t. In this episode, Coach Steve bridges the One Word principle from athletics to real life — in school, relationships, and personal growth. Today’s Action Step:  Translate your word. How does it apply outside your sport? Share it. With family or friends — let them know what it means to you. Live it. Consistently, not just when you’re winning. 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.

 Your word is more than a slogan — it’s your anchor when the season gets hard. Coach Steve breaks down how to use your One Word during adversity, competition, and pressure moments. Today’s Action Step:  Anchor it: Use your word as your pre-performance cue. Speak it: When adversity hits, repeat it — quietly, confidently. Reflect it: After games, ask “Did I live my word today?” 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.

 Now that you’ve found your One Word, it’s time to live it. Coach Steve shares practical ways to make your word part of your daily routine — in the locker room, classroom, and life. Today’s Action Step:  Make it visible. Write it on your mirror, your locker, your water bottle. Make it habitual. Say it to yourself before practice, class, or competition. Make it accountable. Share it with a teammate or coach who can remind you of it when you forget. 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.

You’ve looked in — now it’s time to look up. In this episode, Coach Steve walks you through discovering your One Word — a word that feels less like a choice and more like a calling. Today’s Action Step:  Find 10 minutes of silence today — no distractions. Ask yourself: “What’s the word that captures who I want to become?” Don’t force it. Wait. Listen. Trust the process 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.

 You can’t grow what you won’t face. In this episode, Coach Steve guides you through the first step in finding your One Word — looking inward. Learn how awareness creates focus and how honesty with yourself can transform your performance. Today’s Action Step:  Ask yourself three questions: What’s holding me back? What do I need most right now? Who do I want to become this season?   Journal your answers. No filters, no edits. Sit with them — your word is somewhere in there. 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.

 Tired of setting goals you forget by February? In this episode, Coach Steve introduces the “One Word” principle — a simple but powerful way to bring focus, clarity, and purpose to your season. Learn how a single word can shape your mindset, your training, and your life both on and off the field. Today’s Action Step:  Take 10 quiet minutes — no phone, no noise. Ask yourself: “Who do I want to become this season?” Write down every word that comes to mind — strength, confidence, trust, discipline, courage. 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.

Faith and focus go hand in hand. In this final episode, Coach Steve connects neutral thinking to Scripture—showing how trust, surrender, and peace in God align perfectly with the mindset of champions. Today’s Action Step:  When stress hits, pause and pray: “God, help me see this clearly.” Replace “What if?” with “Even if.” End your day with gratitude for the truths that didn’t change today—God’s character, His control, His love. 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.

Neutral thinking isn’t just a sports tool—it’s a life skill. In this episode, Coach Steve shows how to use neutral thinking to stay calm and grounded in everyday challenges—school stress, relationship conflict, or parenting chaos. Today’s Action Step:  When emotions rise, ask yourself: “What’s one fact about this situation?” Take one deep breath before you speak or act. That pause saves relationships. At day’s end, reflect: “Where did I respond instead of react today?”   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.

Pressure makes you overthink. Simplicity restores focus. In this episode, Coach Steve shares how champions from Kobe Bryant to Michael Phelps simplified their focus under pressure—and how you can do the same to perform with consistency and calm. Today’s Action Step:  Before every play, take a deep breath and name your next focus: “Ball. Snap. Follow-through.” Break big goals into small, controllable chunks: one rep, one possession, one moment. End each day with a one-line win: “What did I do well today?” That keeps your brain anchored to progress, not perfection. 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.

What you say to yourself determines how you perform. In this episode, Coach Steve dives into the science and stories behind self-talk—showing how elite performers like Russell Wilson, Michael Jordan, and Tom Brady use neutral language to stay calm and confident under pressure. Today’s Action Step:  Write down the 3 most common negative phrases you say during games or practice. Rewrite them neutrally—not fake positive, just factual. Say them out loud until they become habits. 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.

Everyone makes mistakes—but champions recover fast. In this episode, Coach Steve explains how elite performers like Kobe Bryant, Russell Wilson, and Serena Williams reset using neutral awareness and the Next Play mindset. Today’s Action Step:  Create a reset cue. A breath, word, or gesture that says, “Next.” Evaluate later. Don’t analyze mistakes mid-game—review film after. Practice pressure. Simulate failure in training and rehearse your reset. 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.

Pressure doesn’t break you—emotion does. In this episode, Coach Steve teaches how to anchor your mindset to facts, not feelings, so you can respond with clarity instead of chaos. Today’s Action Step:  After every performance, list three facts—no emotion. Rate your feelings (1–10). Compare the two. Ask, “Do my feelings match reality?” 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.

Athletes live on emotional rollercoasters—sky-high after wins, crushed after losses. But champions stay steady. In this episode, Coach Steve breaks down neutral thinking: what it is, why it works, and how it separates consistent performers from emotional ones. Today’s Action Step:  State the facts. After every practice or game, write one objective statement—no judgment. Ask the question. “What’s my next best action?” Repeat daily. Neutral thinking is a muscle—train it like one. 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.