Today Matters Podcast With Steve Pinkston

 “I’ll do it tomorrow.” Famous last words. Procrastination steals your progress one delay at a time. And as athletes, those delays compound—until the season ends, and we realize we left potential on the table. In this episode, Coach Pinkston unpacks why procrastination is so dangerous and why “future you” can’t be trusted without systems. You’ll learn how to use commitment devices, accountability, and deadlines to stop pushing important work down the road. This isn’t about guilt—it’s about building a structure where procrastination has no chance to win. If you’ve ever delayed recovery, skipped film, or told yourself you’ll “start next week,” this episode will give you the practical tools to act now. The game isn’t won tomorrow—it’s won today.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step 1: Create Deadlines. Set specific dates for your goals. Write them down. Don’t let “someday” exist.
Step 2: Find Accountability. Tell a teammate, coach, or friend what you’ll do—and ask them to check in. Accountability is a procrastination killer.
Step 3: Lock the Door Behind You. Remove escape routes. Sign up for the race. Register for the camp. Commit publicly so quitting isn’t an option.
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.
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.

 You want to eat better, study film, and train harder. But then… “right now” wins. The cookies on the counter, the video game after practice, the temptation to scroll on your phone instead of stretching. Impulsivity kills long-term goals. In this episode, Coach Pinkston shows you why willpower alone won’t save you—and how to outsmart your impulses by designing your environment. You’ll learn about temptation bundling, removing cues, and making the right choice the easy choice. Athletes succeed not because they’re robots with perfect discipline, but because they shape their surroundings for success. If “present you” keeps beating “future you,” this episode will give you the tools to flip the script. Stop losing to “right now”—and start setting yourself up for wins that last beyond the moment.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step 1: Remove the Cue. Whatever tempts you most—sugar, screens, distractions—make it harder to access. Out of sight, out of reach, out of mind.
Step 2: Bundle Temptation. Pair something you want with something you should do. Only listen to your favorite playlist while lifting. Only watch your show while biking.
Step 3: Make Good the Default. Put the healthy snacks where you see them first. Put your workout clothes out before bed. Make the right choice the easy choice.
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.
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.

 If you don’t believe you can do it, you’ll never take the first step. Confidence isn’t just “feeling good about yourself”—it’s the foundation for every rep, every practice, every performance. In this episode, Coach Pinkston unpacks why athletes often sabotage themselves before they even begin. You’ll learn how confidence is built through action, not hype, and how small wins can create momentum. You’ll also hear strategies to replace negative self-talk with a growth mindset that reframes failure as feedback. Whether you’re trying to earn a starting spot, bounce back from injury, or finally trust your preparation, this episode will help you unlock unshakable belief in yourself. Because the truth is, confidence isn’t something you wait to have—it’s something you create, one rep at a time.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step 1: Build Small Wins. Pick one thing you can guarantee success in every single day—a 10-minute stretch routine, hitting your hydration goal, journaling after practice. Stack wins you can control.
Step 2: Reframe Failure. After every mistake, ask yourself: What did I just learn? Write it down. Treat each failure as a rep that strengthens—not weakens—your foundation.
Step 3: Act First, Confidence Later. Don’t wait to “feel ready.” Take one action today you’ve been avoiding. Confidence won’t meet you at the starting line—it will meet you after the first rep
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.
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 athlete knows the cycle: you try to change a habit, a routine, or a mindset… and you fail. Then the self-talk kicks in: “I must not want it enough. I’m not tough enough. I don’t have enough discipline.” Sound familiar? You’re not broken, and you’re not weak. The truth is, real change isn’t about willpower—it’s about strategy. In this episode, Coach Pinkston unpacks why cookie-cutter approaches like “just do it” or “want it more” don’t work, and reveals a better way forward. You’ll learn how to identify the real obstacles holding you back, how to match the right tool to the right challenge, and how to stop beating yourself up when change feels impossible. Whether you’re in the gym, on the field, or chasing consistency in life, this episode will help you finally create lasting transformation. I highly recommend reading Katy Milkman’s book “How To Change” for a deeper dive into this week's principles, I know I learned a lot from it.  I hope you do too.
Today’s Action Step: 
Step 1: Identify the Block. What’s really holding you back right now? Is it confidence? Impulsivity? Procrastination? Forgetfulness? Laziness? Conformity? Pick one. Name it.
Step 2: Match the Tool. Now that you know the block, brainstorm one tool that could help. If it’s procrastination, maybe it’s a deadline. If it’s forgetfulness, maybe it’s a reminder on your phone. If it’s conformity, maybe it’s choosing to sit next to the hardest worker on your team.
Step 3: Run a Test. Don’t overthink it. Just test one tool for one week. Don’t try to fix everything. Just attack one obstacle with one strategy and see what happens.
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.
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.

In this final episode, we take the principle of motivation and commitment into a spiritual context. We look at Scripture, stories of faith, and what it means to stay committed to God’s purposes even when the path is difficult.
We’ll connect:
faith
perseverance
calling
discipline
Today’s Action Step: 
1 — Pray or reflect over your goals
2 — Release results — commit to faithfulness
 3 — Choose one spiritual habit to build
 
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.
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.

Sport is training for life. In this episode, we bridge motivation and commitment from athletics to school, relationships, work, faith, and personal goals. We talk about discipline, commitment to people, and staying true to your values even when it’s not easy.
Today’s Action Step: 
1 — Choose one life area to level up
2 — Define one daily action
3 — Identify who benefits if you stay committed
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.
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.
 
 

Visualization is powerful — but misunderstood. Many athletes try to picture easy success and then feel crushed when adversity hits. This episode teaches realistic optimism: see success, expect adversity, and commit to the work required.
You’ll learn:
the right and wrong way to visualize
the difference between realistic and unrealistic optimism
how to mentally rehearse adversity
how to use vision boards the right way
Today’s Action Step:
1 — Create a mental highlight… of the process
2 — Write two adversity plans
3 — Put a visual reminder somewhere you see daily
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.
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.

Big goals can inspire you — or overwhelm you. This episode teaches you how to break huge dreams into daily actions using the Telescope and Microscope Method. We reverse-engineer long-term goals into simple, controllable steps.
You’ll learn:
how big visions can create pressure or clarity
how to reverse-engineer goals
how daily habits connect to long-term success
how to avoid burnout and overwhelm
Today’s Action Step: 
1 — Write one telescope goal
2 — Break it into microscope actions
3 — Find an accountability partner
 
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.
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.

Most athletes think they need massive motivation to make massive progress. Wrong. You need small, consistent starts. In this episode, we break down the “Physics of Productivity” — why action creates motivation, how to beat procrastination, and how tiny wins build huge results.
We’ll cover:
why the start is the hardest part
how motivation follows action
how to lower the barrier to starting
small daily wins that build elite confidence
Great for: athletes who delay, overthink, or feel stuck getting going.
Today’s Action Step: 
1 — Create your “Minimum Standard”
2 — Shrink the first step
3 — Track streaks, not perfection
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.
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.

When motivation fades, most athletes assume something is wrong with them. Nothing is wrong — they just haven’t built a powerful WHY. In this episode, we walk you through Start With WHY + WHAT, a proven strategy for building deep, lasting motivation that actually survives bad days.
You’ll learn:
the Start With WHY + WHAT framework
how to connect your goals to meaning
how to anticipate sacrifice and stay committed
how to build a mission statement you can read daily
Today’s Action Step: 
1 — Write your real WHY
2 — Expect obstacles
3 — Build your mission statement
 
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.
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.