Relentless: How the Best Stay Mentally Strong
Mastering Pressure, Emotions, and Mindset Like a Champion
I’ve always admired champions—the ones who rise when the lights are brightest, who keep showing up long after the excitement wears off. People like Kobe, Jordan, and Brady. Or in the business world—those entrepreneurs who get knocked down ten times and stand up eleven.
But for a long time, I thought they were born different.
Turns out, they weren’t born with something special—they built it.
And one thing they all have in common?
They’ve mastered the mental game.
In this post, we’re diving into what makes the best so relentless—what gives them that edge—and how we can start building it into our own lives, using insights from Tim Grover and Ed Mylett.
High-Pressure Performance: Don’t Rise—Train
Tim Grover, legendary coach to Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, says champions don’t "rise to the occasion"—they fall back on their training.
“Being relentless means demanding more of yourself than anyone else could ever demand of you.”
Pressure doesn’t break champions. Pressure reveals them.
Because they’ve done the reps when no one was watching.
They’ve shown up when it wasn’t exciting or convenient.
They don’t rely on hype. They rely on habits.
I think back to times I’ve felt pressure—at work, with family decisions, even in my faith life. I used to hope I’d “figure it out” in the moment. Now, I’m learning to prepare before the moment comes.
That’s the difference. Champions are built in the dark—so they shine in the light.
Inner Dialogue: The Voice That Matters Most
Let’s talk about the voice in your head—because that voice either builds you or breaks you.
Ed Mylett often says,
“The most important opinion in the world is the one you hold of yourself.”
I used to let my inner voice bully me:
“You’re not disciplined enough.”
“You always fall short.”
“You’ll never catch up.”
But Ed teaches something powerful: your identity is shaped by the promises you keep to yourself. And mental toughness grows when you stop negotiating with your feelings and start leading yourself with truth.
Now, when I keep a promise—like finishing that workout or waking up early—I talk to myself differently:
“I show up.”
“I don’t quit.”
“I’m built for this.”
That shift in self-talk? It’s not fluff. It’s fuel.
The Champion’s Mindset: Effort Over Ego
Here’s what I’ve learned from both Grover and Mylett:
The mentally tough don’t chase validation—they chase growth.
They’re not afraid to look foolish while learning.
They don’t let failure define them.
They measure themselves by effort, not just outcome.
Champions know the real competition is internal. It’s not “them vs. the world.”
It’s them vs. yesterday’s version of themselves.
This mindset has helped me in every area of life—at work, at home, in the gym, even in my walk with God. I remind myself often:
“You don’t have to be the best. Just don’t be the same.”
Try This: Build a Champion's Inner Game
Want to develop a relentless mindset? Start with these:
Keep micro-promises to yourself.
Start small: “I will not hit snooze.” “I will do 10 pushups.” “I will pray for 5 minutes.”
Keep the promise. Repeat. Build identity.Speak like a champion.
Write out 3 affirmations that reflect who you want to become.
Example: “I do hard things.” “I finish what I start.” “I stay calm under pressure.”Train under pressure.
Put yourself in small high-stress situations on purpose—cold showers, tough workouts, public speaking. Let the discomfort sharpen you.
You don’t need to be famous to think like a champion.
You don’t need a crowd to train like one either.
Mental toughness is built in the quiet.
In the reps no one sees.
In the promises no one else knows you made.
Next up: We’ll talk about how to handle failure and setbacks—and how the mentally tough learn to fail forward with insights from Angela Duckworth, David Goggins, and Robin Sharma.
We’re not done growing. Let’s keep showing up.
Thank you for this. Saving this for future re-reads.