Go for the Bronze

Our culture tells a relentless story: to succeed, you must be a superhero. You have to be the champion, the conqueror standing alone at the top of the hill, no matter the cost. But what is the true cost of this superhuman achievement mentality? For two-thirds of workers, it's burnout, shame, and the crushing weight of feeling like you are never enough.

In this episode, host Brett Hill shares a powerful and transformative moment from a coaching session with Hakomi co-founder Phil delPrince. Deep in the anxiety of striving to have a greater impact, he was offered one piece of advice that changed everything: "Go for the bronze."

This episode is a powerful invitation to release the impossible standards our culture imposes. It's a guide to reconnecting with your "embodied authority"—the unshakable, internal sense of your own goodness, independent of any external scoreboard. Discover why it's enough to simply be in the race, why your colleagues will benefit more from your grounded presence than your burned-out brilliance, and why your goodness is the real gold.

In this episode, you will learn:

• The true human cost of the "superhero" or "win-at-all-costs" mentality that leads to widespread burnout.
• The concept of "embodied authority" and how to ground your sense of self-worth in something that no one can take from you.
• The story behind the powerful advice to "Go for the Bronze" and how it can release you from the anxiety of constant striving.
• Why showing up with your authentic goodness is more valuable and impactful than chasing an impossible ideal.

Connect & Go Deeper:

• THE BOOK: Discover the principles behind this episode in Brett's upcoming book.
• THE LETTERS: If you enjoyed this episode, get a letter like this each week by signing up for The Mindful Coach Letters at themindfulcoach.com.
• CONNECT: Did the idea of "going for the bronze" resonate with you? Brett would love to hear about it. Email your thoughts to brett@themindfulcoach.com

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The most important leadership skill... isn't a skill.

It's the quality of your presence.

In a world of constant disconnection, the ability to deepen your presence is what makes you memorable and believable. How you speak, listen, and connect— are all transformed, allowing you to turn ordinary conversations into extraordinary experiences.

This principle is the foundation of The Mindful Coach Podcast where we explore the practice of presence and mindful communications in life and work - in way that practical and actionable.

Hosted by Brett Hill—ICF-certified coach and coach trainer, former Microsoft technologist, public speaker, and founder of The Mindful Coach Association. This show is a space to explore how presence, somatic awareness, and authentic communication can improve the quality of your professional life and moment-to-moment experience.

Through honest personal stories, practical tools, and deep reflection, each episode is an invitation to show up with more clarity, compassion, and connection.

Connect & Go Deeper:

• THE MINDFUL COACH LETTERS - twice weekly reflections, stories, and insight
• THE BOOK: Sign up for updates on Brett's upcoming book, The Language of Mindfulness.

👉The Language of Mindfulness - Pre Release

• THE PROGRAM: For hands-on guidance, explore the 8-week experience, The Presence Process for Professionals.

The Mindful Coach Podcast: Where presence is the foundation for extraordinary leadership and a life connected to deeper meaning.