Today Matters Podcast With Steve Pinkston

Every athlete dreams about championships, scholarships, starting positions, or personal records. But what if focusing too much on those outcomes is actually holding you back? In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explains why elite performers learn to fall in love with the process instead of chasing the scoreboard. You'll discover why daily habits, consistent effort, and controlling what you can control create confidence that lasts. Through stories from sports, business, and everyday life, you'll learn practical ways to shift your focus from results to preparation, build resilience when progress feels slow, and trust that today's small actions become tomorrow's victories. If you've ever felt frustrated because success seems farther away than you expected, this episode will remind you that greatness isn't built on game day—it's built in the ordinary moments that most people overlook.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step One: Write down your biggest goal.
Step Two: Create your Control List.
I Can't Control
I Can Control
Step Three: Celebrate consistency
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

What if self-control isn't just a mental skill—but a spiritual one? In this special episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores how God develops discipline, perseverance, and self-control in our lives through everyday choices and faithful obedience. Drawing from Scripture and the lives of biblical men and women, you'll discover that God is often more interested in shaping your character than changing your circumstances. Learn how Jesus modeled perfect self-control under pressure, how Joseph remained faithful through years of waiting, how David learned discipline long before becoming king, and why the Apostle Paul compared the Christian life to the training of an athlete. Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or leader, this episode will encourage you to trust God's process, strengthen your faith, and remember that every act of obedience is preparing you for something greater.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step One - Begin every morning by surrendering your day to God.
Step Two - Choose one Scripture to memorize this week.
Step Three-Practice faithfulness in ordinary things.
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

Mental performance isn't just for athletes—it's for anyone who wants to live with purpose and consistency. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston connects the principles of self-control, discipline, delayed gratification, positive self-talk, and resilience to everyday life. Whether you're preparing for an exam, building a career, strengthening a marriage, raising children, or leading a team at work, the same habits that produce success in sports create success everywhere else. Discover why championships eventually end, but character lasts a lifetime. Learn practical ways to apply the mindset of elite performers in school, relationships, business, and leadership. Because the greatest victory isn't winning a game—it's becoming the kind of person who wins at life.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step One - Identify one role you have outside of sports.
Ask yourself, "What would discipline look like in this role?"
Then choose one behavior that reflects that answer.
Step Two - Focus on becoming dependable.
Step Three - Invest in people the way you've invested in performance.
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

What separates athletes who stay calm under pressure from those who panic when the stakes are high? More often than not, the answer is preparation.
In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores why preparation is one of the most overlooked performance skills in sports and life. You'll learn how preparation builds confidence, reduces anxiety, eliminates decision fatigue, and allows athletes to perform freely when the big moment arrives. Through stories from sports, school, leadership, and everyday life, you'll discover practical ways to prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally for success.
If you've ever felt nervous before a game, overwhelmed before a test, or unprepared for an important opportunity, this episode will help you understand a powerful truth: confidence isn't something you hope for—it's something you prepare for.
Today’s Action Step: 
1 Identify your next important event.
2 Create a preparation checklist.
3 Spend five minutes each night preparing for tomorrow.
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

Mistakes are inevitable. Staying stuck in them is optional. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores one of the defining characteristics of elite performers: the ability to reset quickly after setbacks. Whether it's a missed shot, a turnover, a poor test grade, a difficult conversation, or a disappointing performance, the difference between average and exceptional isn't avoiding mistakes—it's recovering from them faster. You'll learn why one mistake often becomes many, how your brain responds to failure under pressure, and practical strategies to interrupt the downward spiral before it gains momentum. Discover how to develop a "Next Play" mentality, build a personal reset routine, and turn every setback into an opportunity for growth. Because champions aren't the people who never fall—they're the ones who get back up the fastest.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step One - Practice resetting during practice—not just competition.
Step Two - Create your personal reset cue.
Step Three - End every day with two questions.
"What did I do well today?"
"What did I learn today?"
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

Every meaningful goal comes with a question: Will you choose what feels good now, or what matters most later? In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores one of the most powerful predictors of long-term success—delayed gratification. Learn why discipline isn't about saying "no" to everything; it's about saying "yes" to something greater. Through stories from sports, business, education, and everyday life, you'll discover how elite performers consistently make small choices that lead to extraordinary results. You'll also learn practical strategies for resisting temptation, strengthening self-control, and building habits that make long-term success possible. If you've ever struggled to stay committed to your goals when distractions or comfort called your name, this episode will give you the mindset and tools to choose what you want most over what you want now.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step One - Ask a Better Question. Before making any important decision today, pause and ask,
"Am I choosing what I want now...or what I want most?"
Step Two - Create a Future Vision.
Step Three - Celebrate Disciplined Decisions.
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

The most important conversation you'll have today won't be with your coach, your teammates, your parents, or your competitors—it will be the one you have with yourself. Every thought you believe influences your emotions, your decisions, and ultimately your performance. In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores how your inner dialogue shapes your self-control, discipline, and confidence. You'll learn why elite performers don't eliminate negative thoughts—they learn to respond to them differently. Discover the power of neutral thinking, practical cognitive reframing techniques, and a simple process for replacing emotional reactions with productive responses. Whether you're an athlete, coach, student, or leader, mastering your inner dialogue may be the single greatest mental performance skill you ever develop.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step One - Become a Thought Detective.
Step Two - Replace labels with observations.
Step Three - Develop three personal cue statements.
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

Why do some athletes consistently do the right things—even when they don't feel like it? The answer isn't greater motivation or stronger willpower. It's better systems.
In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explains why elite performers don't depend on feeling inspired—they depend on routines they've intentionally built. You'll discover how habits reduce decision fatigue, why your environment often determines your behavior, and how to create systems that make discipline easier every day. Whether you're preparing for a championship season, building a business, excelling in school, or simply trying to become more consistent, this episode will show you how small, intentional routines create extraordinary long-term results.
Because winning isn't accidental...It's designed.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step One - Create a "Start Routine."
What are the first three actions you want to complete every morning?
Step Two - Remove one obstacle.  Ask yourself,
"What keeps me from doing what I know I should do?"
Step Three - Track consistency instead of perfection.
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

Everyone wants more discipline, but very few people understand what discipline really is. It's not a personality trait. It's not something you're born with. And it's definitely not reserved for elite athletes.
In this episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explains why self-control and discipline are trainable mental performance skills that anyone can develop. You'll learn why relying on motivation is a losing strategy, how to recognize when you're mentally in control—or losing control—and how simple daily routines can help you make better decisions under pressure. Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, student, or leader, this episode will give you practical tools to strengthen your discipline, recover from setbacks faster, and consistently move toward your goals.
Because success isn't built by doing what's easy...It's built by training yourself to do what's necessary.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step One - Choose one daily habit so small you cannot fail.
Step Two - Create your own Release Routine.
Step Three - Reduce the number of decisions you have to make.
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.

What if your greatest competitive advantage wasn't just mental—but spiritual? In this special faith-based episode of Today Matters, Coach Steve Pinkston explores how Scripture teaches the principles of focus, awareness, resilience, and present-moment living long before sports psychology gave them names. You'll discover how faith strengthens mental performance by anchoring your identity, calming your mind, and helping you respond to adversity with confidence instead of fear. Whether you're an athlete, coach, parent, or simply someone striving to live with greater purpose, this episode will challenge you to fix your eyes on what matters most and trust God one step, one play, and one day at a time.
Today’s Action Step: 
First Start every morning by fixing your focus before you check your phone.
Second Pause before you panic.
Third Ask
"How can I honor God with my effort, my attitude, and the way I treat others today?"
About Today Matters Today Matters is your 4-8 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.
Learn More & Work with Coach Pinkston 👉 CoachPinkston.com for strategies, skills, and drills to improve your mental performance.
1-on-1 Coaching Programs
Team Consulting
Leadership Development
Sign up for the Trust The Process Newsletter, so you can wake up every Monday morning to a message that will motivate you all week.
Stay Connected Instagram: @Mental.Strength.Coach X: @CoachPinkston Facebook: Steve Pinkston
Enjoying the Show? Share this episode with someone who needs a lift today. And don’t forget to hit Follow so you never miss your daily motivation.