Motivation Isn’t Something You Find—It’s Something You Build

People often ask me, “How did you stay motivated to climb Mount Everest?” Or they’ll ask how I kept pushing through five seasons in the NFL, built multiple businesses, or helped lead Sports Illustrated’s digital transformation from the #17-ranked sports publisher to #1 in Comscore, surpassing one billion monthly page views.

The truth surprises them.

I don’t wake up every day feeling motivated.

Nobody does.

Motivation comes and goes. Discipline lasts. The habits you build every day determine whether you move closer to your summit—or drift farther away from it.

Whether you’re leading a company, training for an endurance event, growing your career, or simply trying to become a better version of yourself, success is rarely about one defining moment. It’s about what you repeatedly do when no one is watching.

These are the seven daily habits that have helped me stay motivated, focused, and mentally strong throughout my career in professional sports, business, and mountaineering.

1. Start Every Day with Purpose

Before checking emails or social media, I spend a few quiet minutes reminding myself why I’m doing what I’m doing.

Purpose creates energy.  This is 7 days a week no matter where I”m at in the world.  

When I was preparing to climb Mount Everest, every training session had meaning because it was connected to a larger mission. The same was true when building businesses or leading teams at Sports Illustrated.

Ask yourself every morning:

• What matters most today?
• Who am I serving?
• What is the one thing I can accomplish that moves me forward?

When your “why” is clear, your daily decisions become much easier.

2. Move Your Body Every Day

Physical movement creates mental momentum and creativity. 

Exercise isn’t just about fitness. It’s about preparing your mind for whatever challenges lie ahead.

My training has ranged from NFL workouts to marathon preparation and high-altitude mountaineering, but one principle has never changed:

Movement improves mindset.

Some days it’s strength training.

Some days it’s hiking.

Some days it’s a long walk to clear my thoughts.

The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is consistency.

Your body and mind are connected. Taking care of one strengthens the other.  Again, 7 days a week.  

3. Focus on the Next Step, Not the Entire Mountain

Standing at the base of Mount Everest can feel overwhelming.

So can launching a business.

Writing a book, this was the hardest one for me.  

Leading a company.

Recovering from failure.

I’ve learned that the fastest way to create momentum is to stop worrying about the entire journey and concentrate on the next step.

During long expeditions, we don’t climb the whole mountain in one day.

We simply make it to the next camp.

Life works the same way.

Break big goals into daily actions you can actually complete.  “Just 10 more steps, Just 10 more steps as I said on Mt EVEREST.”

Progress creates confidence.

4. Protect Your Mind from Negativity

Your environment shapes your mindset.

That includes the people you spend time with, the conversations you have, the books you read, and the information you consume.

Negativity spreads quickly.

So does optimism.

I’ve learned to be intentional about protecting my mental environment by surrounding myself with people who challenge me, encourage me, and inspire me to think bigger.

Feed your mind the same way you fuel your body.

Choose inputs that make you stronger.  Remember: negative weight will ONLY hold you back.  

5. Learn Something Every Day

The best leaders never stop learning.

Whether I’m reading leadership books, studying business trends, listening to podcasts, or reflecting on past experiences, I believe growth should never stop.  I do this everyday..

Curiosity creates opportunity.

When I transitioned from professional football into entrepreneurship and later into digital media, I had to become a student again.

Every new chapter required learning new skills.

The world changes too quickly to rely only on yesterday’s knowledge.

Great leaders remain lifelong learners.

6. Practice Gratitude—Especially During Difficult Times

This may be the most underrated performance habit I know.

Gratitude changes perspective.

Even on difficult expeditions, there were always reasons to be thankful:

• A strong climbing partner.
• Good weather.
• A safe return to camp.
• Another opportunity to continue.

The same is true in business and life.

Challenges will always exist.

But focusing only on what’s missing blinds you to what’s already working.

Taking a few moments each day to recognize what you’re grateful for creates resilience during difficult seasons.

Gratitude doesn’t ignore problems.

It gives you the strength to solve them.  Remember:  you can’t have gratitude and be mad / pissed off at the same time. Brain doesn’t work like that.  

7. End Every Day with Reflection

Every evening, I ask myself three simple questions:

• What went well today?
• What could I improve tomorrow?
• Did I move closer to my summit?

This habit creates continuous improvement.

Small daily adjustments produce extraordinary long-term results.

No championship season…

No successful business…

No Everest expedition…

No meaningful life is built by accident.

They’re built one day at a time.

Reflection helps ensure tomorrow becomes better than today.

Success Is Built Long Before Anyone Notices

People often see the summit photo.

They rarely see the thousands of training sessions and hours I put in. 

The early mornings.

The setbacks.

The failures.

The difficult conversations.

The sacrifices.

Those unseen moments are where greatness is created.

The same is true for leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, and anyone pursuing meaningful goals.

You don’t become mentally strong overnight.

You build mental strength through consistent habits repeated day after day while overcoming challenges.

That’s how championships are won.

That’s how businesses grow.

That’s how mountains are climbed.

And that’s how extraordinary lives are built.

Final Thoughts

Every one of us is climbing a mountain.

Your mountain may not be Everest.

It might be leading a company through uncertainty, building a business, repairing a relationship, improving your health, or pursuing a dream you’ve postponed for years.

Whatever your summit looks like, remember this:

You don’t have to conquer the entire mountain today.

Just take the next step.

Repeat the habits that move you forward.

Stay focused on your purpose.

Trust the process.

And never stop climbing.

Because the summit is never just a destination.

It’s the person you become along the way.

To Know : 

How Great Leaders Perform Under Pressure: Lessons from the NFL, Everest, and the World’s Toughest Challenges that I experienced