The Increase Your Impact Newsletter is your Monday morning edge, created for growth-minded individuals. Each issue is a 2-3-minute read that delivers actionable strategies and powerful stories straight from my work with the world’s top performers. I 'd love to have you join my weekly email list and join thousands of others who are striving to get better, just like you.
IYI Newsletter: struggle + stack + go
|
Approximately a 3.5-minute read Happy Monday! This week's newsletter is about the difference between moving forward and getting stuck. When things get tough, most freeze. But progress isn’t about avoiding struggle, waiting for the perfect moment, or mastering just one thing. It’s about asking sharper questions, owning what sets you apart, and taking bold action—especially when it feels hard. struggle. When the world is crumbling around you, what will make you rise when others collapse? NBA legend Kobe Bryant once taught Chris Bosh a lesson that changed everything: Love the struggle. When things got tough, Bosh remembered Kobe’s advice and asked himself, “How many people would quit right now?” That one question pushed him forward while others fell away. Adversity is part of every journey. The difference between those who rise and those who fall often comes down to the questions we ask ourselves. When you hit a wall, start with: “How many people would quit right now?” Then, dig deeper—What can I learn from this? Who can help me through? What will I do next? Hard times don’t disappear with positive thinking. But the right questions can help you see through the storm and make your next best decision. The time to prepare for adversity is before it arrives. If you’re in a good place, write down the questions you’ll ask yourself when life gets hard. When the tough times come, you’ll be ready to keep moving forward. try it: If you are in a difficult situation, ask yourself these questions:
stack. Don’t aim to be the best—aim to be the only. One tech founder puts it this way: "Your edge comes from assembling a rare combination of talents, experiences, and traits that no one else can match." Kevin Kelly calls this “being the only.” It’s not about dominating a single field, but about stacking your skills—ability to connect, hard work, storytelling, listening, leadership—until you become impossible to copy. You may not be the top performer in any one area, but your unique blend sets you apart. It’s the intersection of your abilities, background, and passions that creates something truly extraordinary. Maybe it’s a hidden hobby, a past job, or a personal trait that gives you an insight others lack. That’s your one-of-one advantage. I learned this firsthand early in my career, when I discovered that my teaching background set me apart from my peers in performance consulting. I didn’t expect it, but it became my X factor. Your unique experiences might be your greatest advantage, even if they seem unrelated. try it: What’s your talent stack? What do you have or do that no one else does? What previous experience do you have that may not be related to what you do now, but allows you to look at things differently than everyone else? Lean into that, and you’ll carve out a space only you can fill. go. What’s the one thing you’re dreading today? That task you keep pushing back—the tough conversation, the uncomfortable workout, the challenge you wish would disappear. Here’s the truth: the cold water doesn’t get warmer if you jump late. Attack the hard thing first. It’s tempting to trick yourself with “productive” procrastination—making lists, reading, doing anything but the thing that matters most. But every moment you wait, that task grows heavier in your mind. Action is the antidote. Don’t let fear or overthinking paralyze you. Take the first step: pick up the phone, have the tough conversation, start the workout. The sooner you dive in, the lighter you’ll feel and the more you’ll accomplish. try it: What’s your hard thing? What’s one action you can take—right now—to move it forward? Stop waiting. Jump in. Your future self will thank you for doing so. Three final things:
Hope you have a great week! Justin Su'a If this email was forwarded to you and you want it to come directly to your inbox, click here to subscribe |
Justin Su'a
The Increase Your Impact Newsletter is your Monday morning edge, created for growth-minded individuals. Each issue is a 2-3-minute read that delivers actionable strategies and powerful stories straight from my work with the world’s top performers. I 'd love to have you join my weekly email list and join thousands of others who are striving to get better, just like you.
Approximately a 3-minute read Hello! There are three ideas I keep circling back to this week—all through the lens of performance systems. One came up on stage in Fresno. Another is a lesson from the lived experience of a prisoner of war. The third is something I see daily in the athletes and teams I coach. On the surface, they seem unrelated. But each one gets at the heart of building reliable, high-performing systems: Small issues, if ignored, don’t stay small. They compound. They can take...
Approximately a 3-minute read Happy Monday to you! This week I’ve been thinking about what makes a system produce consistent results. In my work, the strongest systems stem from simple principles. Three of which are purpose, inputs, and constraints. Purpose gives the system direction. Inputs drive results. Constraints create the consistency needed to execute. Below are three short ideas on how each of these principles can strengthen the system you’re operating in right now. purpose. One of...
Approximately a 3-minute read Hello! In this week’s newsletter, I’m sharing three simple lessons that can help you think more clearly and respond more effectively under pressure. Today's message includes what to do when negative thoughts show up, how to separate what truly matters from what only feels urgent, and how to learn from mistakes without turning on yourself. My hope is that each one gives you a practical way to move through your week with more clarity, confidence, and intention!...