Your Results Will Never Rise Higher Than Your Identity

“Coach, I don’t know what’s going on, but I feel nervous every time I think about the season starting.”

That’s what a college basketball player told me recently.

Now, this athlete had just come off his best year yet — leading his team in scoring, earning All-Conference honors, and with a strong chance of going pro if he keeps progressing. From the outside, everything looked great. So, when he said the word nervous, it caught me off guard.

“What are you nervous about?” I asked.

He thought for a second. “Honestly, I don’t even know. I just don’t feel like I’m where I was last summer. Something feels… off.”

As we dug deeper, the answer became clear.

It wasn’t talent. It wasn’t pressure. It wasn’t his teammates.

It was inconsistency.

When I asked how consistent he’d been with his workouts, film sessions, and mental prep, he looked down.
“If I’m being real… not very. I’ve been in and out. Missed days. Got distracted. Haven’t locked in.”

And here’s something people often forget:
Even elite athletes aren’t machines. They have doubts. They fall off track.

The difference is that the best don’t stay off track. They know how to reset and get back to who they really are.

So I asked him, “Do you think maybe the nerves come from knowing you’re skipping the details that make you great?”

You could see it hit him.
“Yeah… that’s exactly it.”

We set him up on a simple 7-day reset — nothing fancy, just getting back to the basics of his routine. By the middle of the week, he texted me:

“Coach, the nerves are gone. I feel like myself again.”

Of course they were. Because the work matters.

Your Identity Shapes Everything

Here’s the truth: you don’t build consistency through shortcuts or hacks.

You build consistency by living in line with who you believe you are.

If your identity is “I’m someone who works hard when it’s convenient,” your results will reflect that.

If your identity is “I’m someone who shows up every day,” your habits will match that too.

So the real challenge isn’t just building better habits. It’s creating a stronger identity.

4 Keys to Staying Consistent

Here’s how athletes — and honestly, anyone — can lock into an identity that produces results:

1. Get clear on who you want to be.
Most athletes say, “I just want to get better.” But “better” is vague, and your brain hates vague. Be specific. For this player, it was clear: “I want to play at the next level.” That gave him direction.

2. Be honest with yourself.
Too many athletes have championship dreams but “sometimes” habits. And “sometimes” always shows up in competition. Your performance is just a reflection of your preparation.

3. Shape your environment.
Your surroundings can either support your identity or sabotage it. If you want to eat clean, don’t keep junk food in the house. If you want to train early, set your gear out the night before. Make it easier to win.

4. Define what’s at stake.
Motivation isn’t just about chasing goals — it’s about knowing the cost of standing still. Ask yourself: What happens if you don’t change? What opportunities will you lose? Then flip it: What gets better if you stay locked in? Review this daily.

Consistency isn’t flashy. It’s not about highlight reels or Instagram posts.

It’s steady. It’s simple. It’s boring.

And that’s exactly why it works.

Keep Grinding!

Coach Dave

503-351-3812

www.coachdave.me

1 - TOGETHER with Coach Dave. www.coachdave.me
2 - ON YOUR OWN with our monthly membership platforms.
3 - FOR FREE on YouTube and our social media platforms.