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Have a great week,

Justin Su'a

For Athletes: Excuses vs. Reasons

I recently read a quote by Alex Hormozi that I like:

The tough times you go through can be seen as either an excuse or a reason.

If you’re not getting much playing time, you can use it as an excuse to feel sorry for yourself or as a reason to maximize every rep you get.

If you haven't been playing very well lately, you can use it as an excuse to take your foot off the gas pedal or as a reason to stay disciplined and continue to trust the process.

I recently saw this principle play out with an MLB client I work with. He recently had a historic performance on the biggest stage in the MLB playoffs. As we were debriefing the series this weekend, he gave me numerous factors outside of his control that could have been used as excuses, but he chose to use them as reasons to focus deeper and prepare better.

You don't have to be a professional athlete to make a decision like this. Whatever you’re facing, you have a choice: You can use it as an excuse, or you can use it as a reason.

Exercise: Flip the Script

This strategy can help you turn your excuses into reasons:

Step 1: Write the Story

Think of a challenging situation you’re facing right now, something that could easily become an excuse.
​Example:

• A nagging injury
• Limited playing time
• A tough coach
• A recent slump

In one sentence, write down the story you've been telling yourself about that challenge.
Example: “My coach doesn’t believe in me, so what’s the point of giving full effort?”

Step 2: Flip the Script

Now rewrite that story, but turn it into a reason to grow.
​Example: “My coach pushes me hard, so I’m going to keep showing up with great energy and effort until I earn trust.”

Step 3: Speak It Out Loud

Read your new “reason” statement out loud before practice or a game.
Speaking it out increases commitment to it and wires your mindset toward action.

Step 4: Act on It Today

Do one small thing that aligns with your “reason” statement; something visible and controllable.

Example: Better body language, extra reps, and encouraging a teammate.

For Coaches: Magic Words

Tampa Bay Rays @RaysBaseball We got knocked down. We punched back. Now we need to finish the fight. #StayHungry 10:45 PM • Oct 10, 2019 361 Retweets 1621 Likes Read 56 replies

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One of my favorite parts of being a leadership performance advisor is helping head coaches craft intentional messages for their teams.

It’s always powerful to watch those words take root. After games, I love to listen to player interviews and hear them echo the exact phrases the coach worked hard to make stick all week.

There’s a quote that says, “Language is like magic, and words are your wand.” As a coach, you wield the wand of words every day.

The best coaches are mindful of what they say, what they don’t say, and how they say it. They speak on purpose and with purpose.

The words players consistently hear from you become the words they say to each other and to themselves. That’s why it’s crucial to intentionally design your messaging before practice, during practice, and after games.

A coach’s job is to direct attention. Your words guide focus, emotion, and energy. And you’ll know they’ve struck a chord when players start to feel and repeat them.

Exercise: Speak on Purpose

Try this to help you craft productive communication to your team:

Step 1: Clarify the Message​
Decide what you want your team to think, feel, or do today.
Ask:

• What’s the one idea I want them to remember?
• What behavior or mindset do I want to reinforce?

Write one short, clear sentence that captures it.
​Example: “Win the communication battle.” or “Be calm under chaos.”

Step 2: Communicate with Consistency​
Plan when and how you’ll use that message:

• Before: Introduce it at the start of practice or a meeting.
• During: Reinforce it through short, repeatable phrases.
• After: Connect it to what you saw—acknowledge when players lived it out.

Say it the same way, often enough for players to start saying it too.

Step 3: Align Words and Actions​
Ask yourself:

• Did I model what I said today?
• Did my tone, body language, and behavior match my message?

The strongest messages aren’t just heard, they’re seen.

For Parents: Family Pulse

You can’t change what you’re not aware of.
As parents, it's helpful to stay attuned to three key areas: individual family members, the family as a whole, and the conditions your family is navigating.

The best professional coaches do this constantly. They check in with individual players—not just how they’re performing, but how they’re doing. What’s their stress level? Their confidence? Their life outside the game?

Then, they zoom out to assess the team: What’s the energy? The emotions in the locker room? Do they need a spark, some love, or more confidence?

Finally, they study the conditions: Where are we in the season? What challenges or turbulence might be coming? How are the interpersonal relationships?

Parents can do the same. Check in with each child—emotionally, mentally, and physically. Look at the family as a whole—what’s the tone of the household, the connection, the communication? And be mindful of your current conditions—stress at work, busy schedules, and your children's school and sports schedules.

Great parents, like great parents, stay aware of the individual, the team, and the conditions. Awareness creates understanding, and understanding drives better leadership.

Exercise: Your Home Culture

Try this exercise to get a pulse on how your family is doing.

Step 1: Check Each Child

• “How are you feeling this week—1 to 10?”
• “What’s been good?”
• “What’s been hard?”
• "What's been on your mind lately?"

This helps your children feel seen and gives you a sense of their emotional temperature.

Step 2: Check the Family as a Whole

When you are all together, discuss these questions:

• “How do you think our family is doing—1 to 10?” Discuss.
• “What’s something that’s been fun lately?”
• “Is there anything we could do better as a family?”

This helps your family reflect, connect, and work together to improve the “team energy” at home.

Step 3: Check the Conditions ​
Talk about the environment:

• “What’s coming up this week that might be stressful or exciting?”
• “How can we support each other?”

This helps everyone prepare for what’s ahead and manage stress.

Message of the Week:

Colin Jonov @ColkyJonov10 Some insights stick with you forever. These did. Justin Su'a thinks differently about elite Performance: After a decade working with World Series champions, Professional organizations and NFL superstars, Su'a has identified the exact patterns that separate those who reach the 1:39 PM • Oct 12, 2025 8 Retweets 64 Likes Read 4 replies

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At the Performance Advisory Group, we serve some of the most respected coaches, executives, and athletes in professional sports. Our team is trusted to provide leadership guidance, performance coaching, and culture-building support behind the scenes, where the pressure is high and the margin for error is razor-thin.
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PAG is where elite leaders go to get better. We help this population navigate the human side of performance: leadership, communication, decision-making, team dynamics, and culture-building. Our approach is tailored, evidence-based, and rooted in trusted relationships.

If you are interested in seeing how we can support you, your child, your team, or your organization, we'd love to connect!

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