You Don’t Rise to the Level of Your Talent...
You Rise to the Level of Your Training
The other morning, I was walking my dog, Jack. We were in sync—jogging at a calm, steady pace. His leash was loose. His eyes were relaxed. We were in cruise mode.
Then… a squirrel darted across the path.
Jack exploded.
His legs turned into blur mode, his ears shot back, and the leash ripped out of my hand. He didn’t just run. He matched the squirrel. Every pivot, every juke, every burst of speed—the dog who was jogging at my pace seconds earlier was now flying like he was part of a high-speed chase.
I stood there catching my breath and thinking, Wow… so that’s how fast he can run.
And then it hit me:
Jack wasn’t lazy earlier.
He just wasn’t running with someone who pushed him.
That moment stuck with me.
We don’t rise to the level of our potential.
We rise to the level of the people, pace, and environment we train in.
I’ve seen this play out with elite athletes over and over. When players train with low performers—those who complain, cut corners, or just go through the motions—they eventually match that energy. Maybe not intentionally. But unconsciously.
They stop pushing their limits.
They stop demanding more from themselves.
They settle for “good enough.”
But when they train with high performing athletes who take reps seriously, compete with purpose, and hold high standards—it flips everything.
The bar moves.
And suddenly, they match that pace.
Not because they magically became more talented.
But because they were forced to level up. Their brain, body, and energy shifted to match the environment.
Here’s the truth:
Talent matters.
But talent without pressure, accountability, or challenge fades.
Your nervous system learns what’s normal by what it’s repeatedly exposed to.
If “normal” is showing up late, giving 60%, and showing no discipline in how you practice, don’t be surprised if you get stuck there when competition comes.
But if “normal” is high standards, hard feedback, and deep focus, you start training at that level—even when it’s uncomfortable.
Who are you training with?
Who’s challenging you to be better?
Who makes you uncomfortable in a good way?
And here’s a final thought I would like all of us (including myself) to think about today…
Who would you become if you trained with someone faster, sharper, and more driven than you—every single day?
Jack reminded me that we all have another gear.
But we don’t find it jogging alone.
We find it when something faster, sharper, and more focused crosses our path.
Your Mental Coach,
-Dr. Mat