The Next Season Podcast

Is your athlete chasing hype instead of building something real? 

In this episode of The Pain Point Series, I tackle a pattern that frustrates parents and coaches alike: athletes jumping from goal to goal without a clear sense of identity. "He doesn’t know who he wants to be… he just copies what he sees on social," and "His goals change every week. He’s chasing the hype, not something deeper." Sound familiar?

I break down what's happening in the athlete’s brain, why delayed gratification is key, and how social media is might be destroying his ambition. You'll get insights on the real damage being done by instant gratification, comparison and chasing the flash, and I'll share some science-backed tools for building discipline and self-identity.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What’s going on in the brain when goals are constantly changing
• The impact of social media on identity and ambition
• How comparison and lack of authenticity are derailing athlete mental health
• Simple, actionable strategies to build real direction and self-discipline
• Real-world action steps that parents, coaches and athletes can use right now

🎯 Athletes, coaches and parents - this episode is packed with practical, brain-based tools to help athletes find their true path and focus on what really matters.

⚾ If you're looking for strategies to cut through the noise, this one’s for you.

Episodes Mentioned:

008 - Ambition is Essential https://youtu.be/0dnK-zEMmrQ

00:00 – Intro

02:27 – Ambition Pain Point: "Chasing Hype, Not Something Deeper"

05:47 – No Identity = No Anchor: The Brain Impact of Chasing Social Media Hype

09:17 – Comparison is Killing Ambition & Identity

13:00 – The Right Ways to Build Authentic Identity

16:11 – Tool 1: Delayed Gratification (& the Stanford University Marshmallow Test)

22:00 – Delayed Gratification Tactic: Build Time & Effort Between Desire & Reward

23:30 – Tool 2: Create Your Personal Highlight Reel

25:16 – Pro Highlight Reel Example: Corbin Burnes

28:13 – Recapping Actionable Steps: Watch Ep. 008, Create-A-Player, Delayed Gratification, Personal Highlight Reel

29:22 – If I'm Talking to This Athlete…

30:53 – Closing Thoughts, My Challenge to You & How You Can Help