The Lion’s Will & Where I Learned It
We live in a world of performances—curated moments, confident faces on demand. But real confidence isn’t a show. It’s quiet, steady, and built through making hard choices, surviving discomfort, and having a relentless will.
The Lion’s Will—the mindset that chooses hard day in and day out—is calm, patient, and performs when it matters. Not for approval…only to get the job done.
Performed confidence is an outward display for someone. It’s typically loud, immediate, and reactive. It’s built on image, temporary wins, and the constant need for validation. It may work here and there in the short term, but it breaks under pressure.
Real confidence comes from inside. It’s quiet, composed, and resilient. It shows up in high performers who have spent years working at their craft. They’ve been through tough times, but they’ve seen their work pay off—so they keep going. Real confidence is silent but highly effective when it’s needed. It’s not for show or the cameras. It produces lasting results.
Willpower is at the heart of a Lion’s Will, and it has to be built over time. It’s always easier to do something after you’ve already done it before. Why? Because you’ve seen the road. You know what might happen. You’re more prepared the second time around.
That’s how you build it—choose something hard every single day. Especially when you don’t want to.
That’s what increases your capacity to endure tough times. At the end of the day, it’s all a mental game. If you can tell yourself, “I’ve been here before. I choose hard every day—how is this going to stop me?”…you’re already on your way to developing the Lion’s Will.
And a big part of that is how you speak to yourself.
How you talk to yourself in the mirror might be the most important conversation you have all day.
Do you speak boldly—or do you whisper doubts?
Performed confidence is an outward display for someone. It’s typically loud, immediate, and reactive. It’s built on image, temporary wins, and the constant need for validation. It may work here and there in the short term, but it breaks under pressure.
Real confidence comes from inside. It’s quiet, composed, and resilient. It shows up in high performers who have spent years working at their craft. They’ve been through tough times, but they’ve seen their work pay off—so they keep going. Real confidence is silent but highly effective when it’s needed. It’s not for show or the cameras. It produces lasting results.
Willpower is at the heart of a Lion’s Will, and it has to be built over time. It’s always easier to do something after you’ve already done it before. Why? Because you’ve seen the road. You know what might happen. You’re more prepared the second time around.
That’s how you build it—choose something hard every single day. Especially when you don’t want to.
That’s what increases your capacity to endure tough times. At the end of the day, it’s all a mental game. If you can tell yourself, “I’ve been here before. I choose hard every day—how is this going to stop me?”…you’re already on your way to developing the Lion’s Will.
And a big part of that is how you speak to yourself.
How you talk to yourself in the mirror might be the most important conversation you have all day.
Do you speak boldly—or do you whisper doubts?
Indiana has played a huge role in building that mindset in me.
Indiana is a very special place, and it has a special place in my heart. The most important thing it’s taught me is how to consistently show up for others.
From a young age, I’ve had people pour into me—taking me places, helping me, guiding me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without people showing up for me.
Early on, my dad and I would take care of landscaping for several family members. We enjoyed the work, being together, and just being outside. But looking back, that’s not what stuck with me the most.
The real lesson was this—sometimes you have to take care of others expecting nothing in return, simply because it’s the right thing to do.
Not everyone operates that way. And especially when you get away from Indiana, you start to realize just how special that mindset really is.
As I’ve gotten older, you can tell who was raised to show up for others—and who wasn’t. And that’s okay. But I truly believe that when you put others before yourself without expecting anything in return, there’s a much bigger return waiting for you down the road…one you could never predict.
I’ve seen it firsthand—coaches, trainers, family friends—people who sacrificed their time and energy for others. And somehow, it always finds its way back to them later.
That’s just how it works.
Indiana is different.
Next to sports, I think showing up for people is one of our greatest strengths.
One thing I’ve learned is that everyone is coming from a different perspective, a different life experience. If you can challenge yourself to shift your mindset from
“What do I have to do today?”
to
“How can I help someone today?”
—you’ll find your life gets not only easier, but a lot more meaningful.
As always—keep finding ways to get 1% better every single day.
Indiana is a very special place, and it has a special place in my heart. The most important thing it’s taught me is how to consistently show up for others.
From a young age, I’ve had people pour into me—taking me places, helping me, guiding me. I wouldn’t be where I am today without people showing up for me.
Early on, my dad and I would take care of landscaping for several family members. We enjoyed the work, being together, and just being outside. But looking back, that’s not what stuck with me the most.
The real lesson was this—sometimes you have to take care of others expecting nothing in return, simply because it’s the right thing to do.
Not everyone operates that way. And especially when you get away from Indiana, you start to realize just how special that mindset really is.
As I’ve gotten older, you can tell who was raised to show up for others—and who wasn’t. And that’s okay. But I truly believe that when you put others before yourself without expecting anything in return, there’s a much bigger return waiting for you down the road…one you could never predict.
I’ve seen it firsthand—coaches, trainers, family friends—people who sacrificed their time and energy for others. And somehow, it always finds its way back to them later.
That’s just how it works.
Indiana is different.
Next to sports, I think showing up for people is one of our greatest strengths.
One thing I’ve learned is that everyone is coming from a different perspective, a different life experience. If you can challenge yourself to shift your mindset from
“What do I have to do today?”
to
“How can I help someone today?”
—you’ll find your life gets not only easier, but a lot more meaningful.
As always—keep finding ways to get 1% better every single day.
