Latest news with #peakperformance
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Times
Irish sailors off to positive start despite tricky winds at European ILCA Championships in Sweden
It was far from the ideal start to her final peak performance regatta of the year but Eve McMahon still has grounds for optimism after day one of her European Championships in the ILCA 6 event in Marstrand, Sweden. Coming just over two months since winning bronze at the world championships in China, she is aiming to finish the season with a similar result this week. Except the plan didn't fully appreciate the strong current off Sweden's west coast which met strong winds left over from earlier stormy conditions at the weekend that saw practice racing cancelled. Nor was she alone as a clutch of other top competitors also found themselves in trouble at the start of the first race when they all mistimed their starts. After two abandoned attempts, the dreaded 'black flag' was brought into force by the race committee. READ MORE On the third attempt, nine athletes found themselves black flag disqualified, incurring maximum points for the race. It's a worst possible score that can be discarded once three races of the series have been sailed but it removes space for further errors. Nevertheless, the Howth sailor showed her true form and determination in the race that followed by leading her 45-strong division around the course until the breeze started to fade. By the finish, the wind had dropped to almost nothing and she was overtaken but still managed a second place. Ironically, the top three boats in the second race had similarly been black-flagged in the opener. 'It was just a mistake that she didn't repeat in the next race,' said Irish Sailing coach Vasilij Zbogar. 'From now on its very tough because she cannot afford any more mistakes like this which are tiny but (with) a big downside in points. She has to be very careful and sail a little bit more conservatively.' McMahon's older brother Ewan will be pleased with his opening day, listed as third European in the 153-boat ILCA 7 class. A second place and a sixth were exactly the form he needs to secure a place in gold fleet by Thursday. Ireland's double Olympian Finn Lynch also had a strong start with a third and an 11th in his division and is in 12th place overall at this early stage of the championship. For both women and men, the respective fleets are divided into flights to decide qualification for the final round after six races, with two flights for the former and three for the latter. Gold fleet for each is always the goal, but in the past two seasons Irish sailors are now routinely featuring in the top 10 boats to decide the medal races and eventual podium results at the end of the series.
Forbes
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Forbes
How Top Performers Sustain Greatness Through Adaptation, Reinvention
MUNICH, GERMANY - JUNE 08: Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal celebrates scoring his team's second goal ... More during the UEFA Nations League 2025 final match between Portugal and Spain at Munich Football Arena on June 08, 2025 in Munich, Germany. Ronaldo's professional debut was in 2002. His excellence on the soccer field has endured the test of time. (Photo by) Greatness is not solely defined by reaching the pinnacle of success in a particular field. It also involves finding a way to stay there, even as circumstances change. Top performers in fields like sports, music, and business are constantly seeking a competitive edge. But no one stays on top forever. The reality is that factors such as age, injury, cultural shifts, and evolving preferences inevitably contribute to a decline in performance. How, then, does a world-class athlete, musician, or other peak performer combat aging, overcome new challenges, and stay relevant? In top-level competition, time acts as both an ally and an adversary. Sustaining success can be just as impressive as achieving it in the first place. The very best in any sphere are able to reinvent themselves in the face of adversity or when circumstances change. Qualities such as adaptability, commitment, preparation, anticipation, resilience, and determination are key ingredients in an individual's quest to stay on top. These qualities are clearly reflected in the careers of individuals who have managed to defy the odds and remain at the top of their game. Adaptable Athletes Who Defied Time A prime example is Michael Jordan. Early in his career, much of Jordan's offensive game relied on his athleticism and advanced skillset. However, upon returning to the NBA from an 18-month retirement in 1994, he developed his signature fadeaway jumper to complement his game, which enabled him to remain effective as his physical abilities began to decline. His mastery of the fundamentals contributed to his sustained greatness on the basketball floor. TAMPA, FLORIDA - FEBRUARY 07, 2021: Former Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady #12 reacts after ... More defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 7, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. Brady won the Super Bowl MVP award at 43 years old. (Photo by) Jordan developed new skills to compensate for physical changes, but others extend their careers by prioritizing physical maintenance. To continue performing at an elite level into his forties, seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady made a commitment to improving his nutrition and muscle pliability. He completely changed his diet and adopted an exercise routine focused on preventing injuries. Another example of reinvention came from fellow former NFL MVP quarterback Steve Young, who refined his playing style to become a more balanced player. In his first few professional seasons, Young relied heavily on his scrambling ability rather than attacking defenses from the pocket. Through strong mentorship and determination to improve, he became a dual threat, ultimately leading to a Hall of Fame career. While quarterbacks often receive the most attention on the football field, other NFL greats have demonstrated remarkable adaptability as well. Hall of Fame offensive lineman Bruce Matthews played 17 seasons with a single franchise, playing five positions along the offensive line and earning All-Pro honors at three. Similarly, Rod Woodson transitioned from cornerback to safety after injuries impacted his athleticism later in his career, earning All-Pro selections at both positions. This kind of adaptability is not unique to basketball and football. Athletes in other sports have made similar adjustments to extend their careers and continue reaching peak performance. In baseball, Pedro Martínez evolved from a dominant power pitcher into a master of control and pitch sequencing after the velocity of his fastball declined. His ability to change speeds also contributed to his sustained success, earning All-Star selections with three different teams. Likewise, international soccer superstar Cristiano Ronaldo compensated for a natural decline in pace and dribbling by focusing on his finishing, positioning, and decision-making. He successfully transitioned from a midfielder to a striker while maintaining superb conditioning, allowing him to remain a top performer well into his thirties. FLUSHING QUEENS, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 9, 2006: Former tennis star Martina Navratilova and teammate ... More Bob Bryan won the mixed doubles final against Kveta Peschke and Martin Damm at the 2006 US Open at the USTA National Tennis Center on September 9, 2006 in Flushing Queens, New York. Navratilova was 49 years old. Her professional tennis career spanned over 30 years. (Photo by) Tennis has also produced champions who reinvented themselves over time. Martina Navratilova and Steffi Graf both adapted their tactical approaches and training regimens to maintain their dominance, even as they faced younger, more powerful baseliners. In Navratilova's case, she was competitive for decades in both singles and doubles competition. Likewise, Rafael Nadal has made strategic adjustments to his game as he has aged. According to The New York Times, improvements to his serve and a greater willingness to approach the net have been keys to his continued success. Some athletes have also exhibited extraordinary physical resilience. Olympic gold medalist Lindsey Vonn, an alpine skier, showed remarkable tenacity by overcoming multiple injuries and undergoing a partial knee replacement. She adjusted her equipment and training methods, ultimately making a big comeback at age 40. Paralympian Susan Hagel exemplified longevity and sustained excellence in a different arena, competing in six Paralympic Games across three sports: para track and field, para archery, and wheelchair basketball. She enjoyed the longest career of any woman in the wheelchair division. These athletes exemplify how adaptation can lead to longevity and sustained success. However, this pattern is not limited to the sports world. Top performers in music and business have taken similar approaches to remain industry leaders. Chart Toppers and CEOs Who Never Stopped Evolving PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 31, 1993: Michael Jackson performs during halftime of a 52-17 Dallas Cowboys ... More win over the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII on January 31, 1993 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Steve Granitz/WireImage) The ability to adapt and evolve is not exclusive to professional athletes. In music, business, and other high-performance domains, top performers must also find ways to stay relevant as trends shift and competition grows. Many have not only reinvented themselves but also reshaped their industries in the process. One of the greatest musical talents of all time, Michael Jackson, constantly pushed creative boundaries, landing 13 solo top 10 hits on the Billboard charts. Known as the King of Pop, Jackson displayed his genius not only through his rhythm and dancing, but also his embrace of diverse music styles. This contrast is evident by the distinct differences between his Off the Wall (1979) and Dangerous (1991) albums, which evolved from a disco and funk sound to include elements of hip hop and rock. Similarly, Taylor Swift has successfully transitioned across genres, becoming a global superstar in the process. She started in country, moved to pop, and later embraced alternative sounds. With 59 Top 10 Billboard hits and 12 singles reaching number one, Swift has shown the ability to evolve and stay at the cutting edge of the music industry for more than a decade. Eddie Van Halen, widely regarded as one of the most innovative guitarists in rock history, adapted his playing style through innovative techniques, custom equipment, and willingness to experiment, ultimately revolutionizing rock guitar. In a different creative role, Dr. Dre has achieved lasting success not only as a producer and rapper but also as a visionary entrepreneur and mentor to artists such as Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and 50 Cent. SAN FRANCISCO - JUNE 07, 2010: Apple CEO Steve Jobs holds the new iPhone 4 after he delivered the ... More opening keynote address at the 2010 Apple World Wide Developers conference June 7, 2010 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by) In the business world, Steve Jobs not only changed technology as we know it, but rescued Apple on the brink of bankruptcy. Upon reassuming his leadership role in 1997, Jobs instilled a strong emphasis on innovation and the development of exceptional core products. In the subsequent years, Apple enjoyed a series of successes with popular products, including the iPod, iTunes, and eventually the iPhone and iPad, which propelled the company to global dominance. Similarly, former CEO of PepsiCo, Indra Nooyi, demonstrated a forward-thinking approach by shifting the company's strategy to focus on healthier products and sustainable practices. Under her leadership, PepsiCo's revenue grew 80 percent, growing from $25 billion in 2006 to $63.5 billion in 2018, according to a 2018 interview with NPR. Whether on a football field, concert stage, or in a corporate boardroom, greatness encompasses more than a single achievement. The individuals who remain at the top are those who strategically evolve, find ways to reinvent themselves, and dedicate themselves wholeheartedly to their craft. Their successes serve as reminders that while attaining greatness is impressive, delivering encore performances can be even more challenging, especially as competition continues to intensify.
Entrepreneur
25-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
Former Athlete Turns Sales Burnout into Peak Performance Systems
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media. The sales world is a pressure cooker. Long hours, mental fatigue, and the expectation to deliver at all costs leave many professionals feeling exhausted. As a result, Joe Wanner recognized the need for a new training program specifically designed for high-performing entrepreneurs and sales professionals. The athlete-turned-sales coach discovered that systematizing elite athlete habits was the key to achieving optimal productivity. The Fitness Struggles of Salespeople Salespeople want to look and feel great. However, they're exhausted from working 10- to 14-hour days, managing teams, clients, and their families. How could they stay mentally sharp and physically fit under these conditions? Enter Wanner. Peak Performance Prospecting is Wanner's training brand. It's designed for busy professionals who don't have an hour to spare. The 30-minute training frameworks mirror the habits of world-class athletes with routines, intensity, and feedback loops. As he sees it, managing one's physical energy can boost productivity. A Track Star Turns Sales Star Wanner's training program stems from his background in both athletics and sales. The scholar-athlete graduated from Jesuit Portland as a salutatorian and a three-event varsity track athlete. It's a notable feat, considering the school has been ranked number one among the top athletic programs in the country. At Marquette University, he was one of only two students selected for the coveted men's basketball internships. After college, Wanner entered the field of commercial insurance sales. The young professional earned Rookie of the Year honors and hit his first $1 million in cumulative income before age 30. Meanwhile, he has maintained a 258-month streak of physical training. Wanner has gained insights into sales psychology and human physiology. However, his road to building Peak Performance Prospecting had its challenges. When Everything Falls Apart 2023 was a year of tremendous victories and devastating lows for Wanner. In three years, he received five promotions. Next, another company hired him to lead its enterprise division. Unfortunately, his newfound success would fall like a house of cards. In a matter of weeks, the firm dissolved the division. "There was a sense of panic," Wanner says. "At the time, I'd have to start over again." But within 48 hours, Wanner regrouped and returned to commercial insurance sales. Within months, he rebuilt his book from a $1 million premium to a nearly $5 million premium. In one year, the company promoted him to a management role, where he coached and trained reps. "I had officially bounced back," he says. Yet again, his career took an unexpected turn. The company let him go. "All of it just disappeared on one phone call on Veterans Day, 11/11, at 11:11 am," Wanner says. Despite it all, he remained resilient and leveraged adversity into stepping stones for new opportunities. Concierge-Style Wellness for Top Achievers Now, Wanner is building off of Peak Performance Prospecting. Imagine a global platform for high performance on the move. Think of it as white-glove access to their favorite gym, nutrition, personal care, recovery tools, and travel experiences wherever they land. His goal is to remove friction from the routines that high performers rely on so they can show up at 100% anywhere. Additionally, he launched his "Built for the Cold" podcast. The show's premise taps into extreme resilience to overcome life's challenges. "If we build systems to make our worst days into most others' best days, we can bounce back quickly in the face of adversity," Wanner says. Energy Management for Sales Growth The secret to being a high-performing sales professional or entrepreneur transcends talent. It's also about readiness, routine, and the ability to respond quickly when things go awry. That's what Joe Wanner discovered on his journey from an athlete and professional strength coach to an elite sales coach. With his Peak Performance Prospecting training program, he's showing others how to optimize their lives without sacrificing their well-being.
Forbes
24-06-2025
- General
- Forbes
From Skydives To Psychedelics: A New Map For Brave Leadership
In a culture obsessed with peak performance and "next level" leadership, we often equate success with certainty, control, and linear achievement. But what if the real frontier of growth lies not in what we know—but in what we don't? That's the question guiding world-record skydiver, bestselling author, and keynote speaker Melanie Curtis, whose definition of peak performance goes far beyond grit and achievement. For someone who's jumped out of planes over 12,000 times, it would be easy to assume she's fearless. But as Curtis puts it: 'There is courage in the leap. We need those big swings. The courage we lack… is in the look inward. We need both.' There is courage in the leap. The courage we lack is in the look inward. We need both. Melanie Curtis Her work challenges the myth that potential only lives in upward motion—promotions, accolades, wins. Instead, she invites leaders to access their greatest and most grounded power by going to the places they avoid: fear, grief, and the emotional blind spots that silently shape our choices. Here's how her story maps to the Lead in 3D framework of ME, WE, and WORLD—and what it teaches us about brave, embodied leadership. ME: Your Greatest Growth Might Start With What You Can't See In 2012, Curtis's carefully built life hit what she calls her 'midlife mushroom cloud.' Her personal life—marriage, direction, emotional health—was unraveling. 'Despite all my success,' she says, 'I couldn't understand why I still felt so stuck.' Like many high performers, Curtis was excellent at setting goals and achieving them. But she had unknowingly built her identity around performance, while pushing aside painful emotional truths. 'I had no idea how much healing I needed,' she says. 'As a very driven, Type A person, the problem is we don't think we need healing at all. I had ignored my own depth, and in that also had ignored my expanded potential.' That insight opened the door to a new phase of her growth—one rooted not in trying harder, but in looking deeper. With the support of a trusted therapist and close circle of friends, Curtis began to explore forms of healing she had previously dismissed—including psychedelic-assisted therapy. In 2018, she participated in her first plant medicine ceremony, approaching it with intentionality, safety, and deep reverence. In one ceremony, she revisited the moment of her grandmother's passing and was unexpectedly shown her own unspoken fear of losing her mother. 'I wept what felt like rivers of sadness,' she says. 'For the first time, I allowed myself to feel and release the full weight of that grief and fear.' That experience changed how she showed up with her mother—and with herself. 'Before, that fear was always between us. Now, when I'm with her, I'm with her.' As research from the Johns Hopkins Center for Psychedelic and Consciousness Research and the Global Ayahuasca Project shows, when used with proper guidance, psychedelic therapies can catalyze meaningful emotional breakthroughs. For Curtis, it was one path—among many—that helped her reconnect to her own wholeness. WE: Honesty, Not Armor, Builds Trust Curtis's transformation has had a profound impact on how she leads and coaches others. 'Being brave isn't just skydiving,' she says. 'It's being honest. It's admitting when you're avoiding something. It's getting help.' Too many leaders cling to certainty—not just in their strategies, but in their identities. 'I hear people say, 'That's just not me,'' Curtis notes. 'Whether it's therapy, public speaking, or softening into a new set of skills. What if the thing you're avoiding is the very door to your next level?' The most powerful leaders, she argues, are the ones who aren't afraid to be seen fully —messy, in-progress, and willing to evolve. That authenticity builds trust not just with teams, but within yourself. Her message aligns with emerging conversations about emotional risk-taking in leadership—from Michael Pollan's How to Change Your Mind to The New York Times' recent piece on psychedelic retreats for C-suite executives. In a world of surface-level strategy, what's gaining traction is real inner work. Still, Curtis is clear: this isn't about one specific method. It's about humility. Curiosity. The willingness to ask: What am I missing? And who can help me see it? WORLD: From Healing to Creating Change The final dimension of Curtis's leadership philosophy is about scale—not just in career terms, but in impact. 'Personal healing isn't the end game,' she says. 'It's the launch pad.' With her blindspots no longer driving the bus, Curtis found herself riding a creative and professional wave of alignment. Her keynote speaking surged. She began creating large-scale artwork to celebrate unapologetic female power. She poured her energy into helping other women question what they've ruled out, what they've settled for, and what they could step into instead. 'I'm riding the rapids now,' she laughs. 'And yes, sometimes I'm choking on metaphorical water! But I rest, I recover, and I dive back in. The flow is still there.' This shift from healing to impact is intentional. 'I've been working to recalibrate my focus,' she says. 'Healing can become its own loop if we're not careful. Healing is not the purpose. It's the preparation.' That perspective has become her next mission: to help others cross from internal growth into aligned external success. To help others truly access the expansiveness of their own unique potential. To build their businesses, communities, and lives with the power that's rooted in wholeness. Curtis's next mission is to help others cross from internal growth into aligned external success. getty Try This: 1. Question Your Certainty What's something you're sure is 'not for you'? Public speaking? Therapy? Asking for help? That certainty may be a shield. Get curious. 2. Write Down What You Avoid Name the pain, fear, or desire you've been avoiding. Even if it feels dumb or dramatic. Especially then. That's where the door to growth is. 3. Build a Brave Support Team The most elite performers don't go it alone. Who do you trust to help you see what you can't? Surround yourself with people who can hold space, challenge patterns, and walk beside you in your transformation. What's on the Other Side of 'Not Me'? 'Every time I've risked being seen—really seen—it's made everything more possible,' Curtis says. 'More love. More flow. More fire.' In a business world still addicted to certainty and control, her message is a counterintuitive call to courage: If you want to go higher, you have to be willing to go deeper. Whether it's plant medicine, a painful truth, or a bold new habit, your next level might live in the very thing you've been certain isn't for you. If you want to go higher, you have to be willing to go deeper. Melanie Curtis
