Articles Worth Reading

Unlearning Morning Chaos: How My Mom’s Catchy Jingle Shaped Our Lives

Unlearning Morning Chaos: How My Mom’s Catchy Jingle Shaped Our Lives

The first 30 minutes of your morning quietly shape your brain, mood, and outlook—maybe even your life. Here's how my mom's playful wake-up phrase unknowingly tapped into neuroscience.

Steve Mesler
Let’s Talk About OpenAI, Nonprofits, and Reality

Let’s Talk About OpenAI, Nonprofits, and Reality

A clear-eyed look at OpenAI’s shift—and what most miss about scaling mission-driven work when growth, governance, and purpose collide at speed.

Steve Mesler
(Archives) The pivot of a lifetime. And, the Olympics.

(Archives) The pivot of a lifetime. And, the Olympics.

When injury ended my track dreams, I wrote an email that changed everything—launching me toward Olympic gold in bobsled. This is the story of how a moment of honesty and uncertainty opened the door to everything that followed.

Steve Mesler
The elite don’t tolerate pain best, they do this.

The elite don’t tolerate pain best, they do this.

Pain isn’t just part of the process—it’s part of our design. This piece breaks down how pain works, what it’s trying to tell us, and how high performers learn to use it, not avoid it.

Steve Mesler
Is Our Satisfaction Problem Solvable?

Is Our Satisfaction Problem Solvable?

You got what you wanted—so why doesn’t it feel like enough? Arthur Brooks defines satisfaction as dividing wants by our haves. Can it be that simple? For people who have hit goals and still feel empty, not quite.

Steve Mesler
Winning Without Wreckage: Fuel High-Performance Sustainably

Winning Without Wreckage: Fuel High-Performance Sustainably

When Success Feels Like a Trap—And How to Break Free

Steve Mesler
Are You Irreplaceable?

Are You Irreplaceable?

Success doesn’t go to the most gifted—it goes to those who make themselves indispensable. Here’s how I did it 15 years go to win the Olympics.

Steve Mesler
The Simple Moment That Changed How I Handle Stress—And How You Can Use It Instantly

The Simple Moment That Changed How I Handle Stress—And How You Can Use It Instantly

A single moment made me rethink everything I thought I knew about stress. Turns out, the best way to reset your brain has been right in front of us all along.

Steve Mesler
3 Common Mistakes Executives Make in Their Fitness Routines—and a Roadmap to Fix Them

3 Common Mistakes Executives Make in Their Fitness Routines—and a Roadmap to Fix Them

There are opportunities for giant growth and optimization without doing anything new for anyone, not just execs, looking to dial in their focus, emotional control, and more.

Steve Mesler
Why the NCAA (and We) Should Stop Blaming the Final Straw: NIL, Self-Awareness, and Systems Thinking

Why the NCAA (and We) Should Stop Blaming the Final Straw: NIL, Self-Awareness, and Systems Thinking

Discover how the NCAA's struggles with NIL reveal deeper systemic issues—and what we can learn about addressing root causes in sports, organizations, and our own lives.

Steve Mesler
The Sleep Algorithm: Building Better Rest, One Step at a Time

The Sleep Algorithm: Building Better Rest, One Step at a Time

Addressing sleep in a holistic way changed my nights, and days, for the better.

Steve Mesler
Part 2: Negative thoughts hijacking your day? 3 simple ways to rewire your brain for the long term. (And, George Michael.)

Part 2: Negative thoughts hijacking your day? 3 simple ways to rewire your brain for the long term. (And, George Michael.)

It's natural—doubt, fear, negativity. I lived in this place for far too long. This two part series is incredibly personal for me and was born from a time when I just couldn't take it any more. And it turns out, I just needed to listen to George and have some faith.

Steve Mesler
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