Your Armor Is Stopping You | Mat Cashman on Dissolving the Self That's Holding You Back

In this episode of Just Press Record, Matt Ziegler sits down with Mat Cashman for a wide-ranging conversation about practice, performance, mastery, and the pursuit of meaningful work.Inspired by a clip featuring Jess Bost and Tom Morgan, the discussion explores how identity, ego, and deliberate practice shape personal growth over time.Drawing on experiences from trading, music, education, and creative work, they unpack the tension between doing what’s comfortable and pushing into the uncomfortable spaces where real growth happens.The result is a thoughtful conversation about flow states, mastery, and why the pursuit of something meaningful may be the key to a fulfilling life.The idea that our “armor” or persona can prevent us from growing into our giftsHow mastery exists within specific domains and why confidence collapses in unfamiliar environmentsThe difference between practice as internal resistance training and performance as external resistanceWhy real growth requires deliberately practicing things that make you uncomfortableThe tension between repetition and experimentation in the pursuit of masteryHow identity changes over time and why major career transitions often take yearsThe role of practice and performance in building a fulfilling and balanced lifeWhy musicians, traders, and creators often experience powerful flow statesHow AI may change the value of mastery, taste, and deep focusThe importance of pursuing meaningful work even in an uncertain future0:00 — Introduction and the clip that sparked the conversation3:00 — Introducing Mat Cashman and the idea behind the episode5:45 — The CrossFit vs. volleyball story and mastery within domains8:00 — Your armor is preventing you from growing into your gifts10:00 — Practice versus performance and internal versus external resistance15:00 — The pull toward comfortable practice versus real growth20:00 — Identity change, career transitions, and the three-year rule24:00 — Pursuit versus running away from something in life29:00 — Music, trading, and how passions evolve over time33:00 — AI, creativity, and the expanding gap between good and mastery40:00 — Choosing what to pursue in an uncertain future42:30 — Flow states in trading, music, and creative work45:00 — Why practice and performance both matter for happiness49:00 — The balance between learning and performing52:00 — Where to find Mat Cashman and closing thoughts