Talent opens the door, but effort keeps you in the room. In this episode, Coach Pinkston dives into one of the most misunderstood truths in sports: effort matters more than raw ability. Drawing from Carol Dweck’s growth mindset research, you’ll discover why relying solely on talent can sabotage your long-term growth, and why athletes who value effort consistently outperform those who don’t. With powerful stories from elite performers and practical coaching insights, you’ll learn how to fall in love with the grind, value consistent effort, and keep improving long after others plateau. Effort is the fuel that drives growth. And when you embrace it, there’s no limit to how far you can go.

Today’s Action Step:

1. Redefine Success as Effort: Winning isn’t always under your control. Effort is.
2. Track Effort Daily: At the end of each practice, rate your effort from 1–10.
3. Fall in Love With Reps: Start finding joy in the boring reps. That’s where greatness is built.

About Today Matters Today Matters is your 2–4 minute daily boost of motivation for athletes, parents, and coaches. Hosted by Coach Steve Pinkston, each episode delivers a simple mental performance strategy to help you win the day.

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