You have the expertise. Nobody knows it.


"I haven't been on a field trip since like…elementary" one of my student's chuckled with a grin flashing across his face.

I told them that we'd be going to the aquarium and part of their assignment was to notice the unnoticeable. This meant looking around at all the roles people have to fill to keep the animals alive and the people safe, educated, and entertained. I work with teens on their behavior and social/emotional skills, so part of the trip is an opportunity to engage in community as well as expose them to different transition opportunities.

After laying out logistics and expectations—I exposed students to various roles one could have working at an aquarium. This included:

  • Aquarist
  • HVAC
  • Tour guide (and many more)

Not going to lie, I hadn't realized how much has to happen for a place that size to run smoothly.

When they peppered me with questions about how they care for the animals or how they keep the tanks clean, I was lost for words.

That narrow sense of understanding hit something: when you hide what you do, people misunderstand what you offer.

And coaches run into the same wall. Their best work happens behind closed doors, and nobody outside the room ever sees it.

Mental performance is one of the hardest things to explain to someone who hasn't felt it.

Working out the mind doesn't show visual results like muscles do.

Talking about the benefits sometimes feels like it's landing on deaf ears.

Every conversation I have with a mental performance coach teaches me something new. And makes me reflect on the gap between knowledge and action.

Like how there's restless sports coaches laid up at night trying to find a way for their team to connect. Or athletes on the brink of quitting because worry tapes swell their mind. Or how parents are struggling to navigate all the emotional turmoil their child is going through during the season.

These problems grow because coaches sit on their best insights with no clear way to get them out.

Every touchpoint is an opportunity for people to know exactly what you do, who you are, and how you can help them. Create the awareness. Clarify what you stand for. Otherwise, you're shooting in the dark.

The mental performance coaches who clarify their point of view are the ones who make the biggest impact.

If you're a mental performance coach who has more to say than you have time to say it, that's what I work on. Reply to this email and we'll figure out where to start.

As always, thanks for reading.

Until next time,

- Marcus W.

Between Sessions

For performance coaches building practices between sessions. Build a practice on your own terms by turning expertise into client conversations.

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