The Routine That Unlocks Your Best Performance

Bear, my dog, goes absolutely wild the second he hears the Apple Pay chime because he knows exactly what follows. That reaction is Pavlov in real life, and it made me think hard about how routines work on all of us. In this episode, I break down why having a pre-shot routine in the areas that matter most to you is not about packing your calendar but about creating a reliable mental state that blocks out noise and locks in focus. I also get into why the best routines are not rigid, they evolve as you experiment and find what actually produces your optimal performance. Key Takeaways Routines create a conditioned mental state that signals your body and mind it is time to perform. A pre-shot routine is not about scheduling every minute. It is a small, specific action that triggers focus. Consistency in your routine removes variables, and fewer variables mean more predictable progress. Your identity and your process do not change just because the environment or audience is new. Tweaking your routine through experimentation helps you find the optimal version rather than blindly repeating the same sequence forever. Action Steps Identify two or three areas of your life where performance matters most, then design a small repeatable action sequence you do before each one. Run your current morning routine for two weeks, then swap the order of one element to test whether a different sequence produces a better mental state. Before your next high-stakes moment, commit to your pre-shot routine fully and notice how it shifts your focus away from outside stress and onto execution. Notable Quote Routine means this is not the first time. It is a reminder to yourself that I do this.